3D World Developers' Future Challenge: Not Bringing People into the World, But Bringing the World to Them

If you have a pair of 3D glasses handy, you'll want to put them on before you watch this impressive augmented reality prototype demo (but you can still watch without them):

Augmented City 3D from Keiichi Matsuda on Vimeo

It was created last year by designer Keiichi Matsuda, and it imagines a near-future where augmented reality displays have integrated 3D data into our everyday lives. I first noticed it on a March blog post from virtual world consultant/Linden Lab vet John Lester, who made this insightful point I've been thinking about since:

I think the trick for all of us working with virtual worlds right now is to not only focus on building out the technology, but to also carefully think through how they might be integrated into our daily lives.

In other words, the future of 3D worlds will be less about bringing people into the virtual experience, but bringing the virtual to them. This isn't to say 3D worlds will go away, but as smartphones grow ever more pervasive and powerful, and as gesture-based technology becomes ever more mass market, I think the smart bet is that most people will interact with 3D graphics on a more regular basis this way, as opposed to logging into them as discrete experiences separate from the rest of their lives (as they largely are now.) For Second Life developers in particular, there's some great opportunities here to bring content to a much larger market and audience. Consider this augmented reality marketing campaign, for instance, which could have been much more cost-effective and fun, were it using a fully digital avatar. So consider this my call for more augmented reality applications of Second Life and other 3D worlds: If you know of a new project, including those you're working on yourself, I definitely want to know too.

Comments

[jo yardley]

The future looks like Hell!
I don't even have or want a mobile phone, something like in this video would annoy me beyond compare.
Besides, everyone will look insane waving their hands about all the time.
I'm still laughing at people who use headsets to answer their mobile phones because they look like they are talking to themselves.

[Ann Otoole InSL]

Might also want to read http://www.businessinsider.com/why-myspace-had-to-die-2011-7

[Gary Hayes]

Good to see you are looking beyond fixed screen based worlds now Hamlet! May like a compilation of Mixed Reality, particularly the AR world around us flavor from 2008 http://www.youtube.com/user/hayesg01#p/u/26/6TF9HOBTIYg oh and more on state of play re: pervasive locative AR gaming here http://www.personalizemedia.com/future-of-location-based-augmented-reality-story-games/ and one I did from last week looking at the evolution or rather, heritage of pervasive AR games http://www.personalizemedia.com/pervasive-entertainment-games-film-real-world-tv-merged-with-social-networks/

Busy developing a range of live actors and NPC AR worlds, EPOC video of one in progress using WoW placeholders - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMQ5DFkU794

Best

[Adeon Writer]

Internet on my glasses. Me gusta.

[Ole]

i want a viewer 2 of this including a functionality that makes it possible to store my new messages in the toilet-room instead of in front o' me eyes as i wake up >.<

settings -> mail -> go to toilet-room!

[chart]

I have seen the future and it's really annoying.

[Pathfinder]

Human beings are fantastic at filtering out unwanted stimuli, and we always forget how much this ability has evolved over time.

If you brought someone from the 16th century into our modern world, they would undoubtably ask "How can you drive those fantastic speedy automobiles without crashing? There's so much to read on those signs on the side of the road!"

We'll adapt. We always do.

[Victor]

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