ExitReality turns Web sites into 3D sandboxes

cnet news ^ | Sept. 17, 2008 | Josh Lowensohn

[beezdotcom]

ExitReality is the latest virtual world to come onto the scene and is launching out of private beta tonight. Its big bold feature is the capability to turn any site you're on into its own 3D world with interactive elements created from content found on the page. This includes photos, videos, and music files.

The service requires a small system plug-in that currently runs only on PCs. I was told no Mac version is planned, but may come into the picture if there's enough of a demand. Once the plug-in is installed, you just need to click a button in your browser and it will take you to the 3D version of that site. The tool will automatically scan any page you're on and make a "default" world where bits and pieces of content are pulled together and organized within a giant room. Site creators can put together their own creations, complete with a developer toolbox that lets people create some Second Life-esq environments using open-source 3D modeling standards.

[beezdotcom]

I'm playing around with this now. It's...interesting. I think there may be potential, here, but right now it's hard to use with some web sites.

I like the fact that, in essence, it creates a virtual space 'on the fly' for any website. The 'signpost view' of the links is good on some web sites, and atrocious on others (FR is one in particular). The ability to meet in realtime is nice, but if two people want to follow a link to another virtual space, it's not automatic.

[mnehring]

Bump, going to play with this tonight.

[beezdotcom]

At some level, this stuff is "fluff"...but it got me thinking about how web sites can leverage this to quickly implement their own virtual meeting spaces.

If this particular site survives, it may be worth exploring how easy/hard it would be to create a "view" of FR that lends itself to this interface. Then again, a virtual meeting space centered around a forum may be redundant in and of itself. Nonetheless, it's still fun to think about.

[mnehring]

The RNC has a fun site on Second Life I frequent a lot.

[Skooz]

B-U-M-P everyone’s accusing me

[ShadowAce]

[Gondring]

Anyone check the Terms and Conditions to see what info they’re harvesting, or whatever the angle is?

[Pantera]

Anyone that works with 3D CAD (such as SolidWorks, Pro/ENGINEER, SketchUp, etc) should take a look at this 3D application:

http://www.quadrispace.com/downloads/index.htm

There is a free personal edition here for importing 3D models and creating interactive 3D PDFs from them.

[martin_fierro]

Sounds like the old OnLive setup.

Anyone remember it?

[montag813]

"Who has time for that nonsense?"

[XR7]

BTTT

[VastRWCon]

bump for later

[stainlessbanner]

What’s the big deal about second life? I tried it and just walk/fly around aimlessly dodging other characters. What am I missing?

[mnehring]

It doesn’t make much sense unless you are a coder who buys property, an investor who sell property, or someone who attaches to an existing community and participates (like here on FR). If the latter, it isn’t much different than chatting. The challenge is finding the community because it isn’t as simple as typing an address. One thing I’ve also noticed is it isn’t useful unless you have top notch bandwith and processor power.. too much lag..

[mnehring]

BTW, so far, SecondLife is much better than Exit Reality, the latter isn’t as easy to navigate..

[stainlessbanner]

OK thanks. I've checked out a few locations and "seminars" on SL, but nothing to keep me going back. I've read all these stories about folks developing land and making money. One guy on TV was selling virtual pianos in SL and paying his REAL mortgage.

I know there is something to it, I'm just not there yet!

[mnehring]

I am in the educational development business so there are a lot of ‘conferences’ that apply to me. Our business have grabbed on this early. Some Universities have started classes on this.. I personally use CodeBaby and other forms in nonSecond Life development to create eLearning courses, so it is a good platform to me...

[JerseyHighlander]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v373r0to8Pk

 

"This is my avatar. It's all the latest rage. I can do business, I even own my own island! It's innovation!"

"But... can you make money?"

"Um... virtual or real money?"

"Real money. The point of innovation is to make real money."

"Oh. My avatar doesn't know how to do that."

[dan1123]

The problem with all of these 3-D internet worlds is that it adds difficulty to the user. If you really want to innovate in 3D on a 2D surface like a monitor, then take a hint from Apple and their Expose feature. It uses 3D, but it enhances rather than detracts from productivity.