We learned the really hard way in the early years of VRML to take it slow when trying to create something intended to scale out the Internet. I won't quarrel with your requirements but I also am very leary of anything that reeks of Snowcrash-like thinking or visions. We got burned because that sort of thinking leads to expectations that are not just impossible in the short term, they aren't achievable. VRML still gets hammered in books, blogs and other articles for overreaching and not hitting those marks despite the fact that as a standard, ten years later, the content still works with current tools and a lot of current content sill works with old tools. That is what a standard has to achieve. Don't overdrive your headlights. It's a deadly mistake.
So I'm not criticizing, but take it to the bank that Parisi knows better than anyone what the cost of overreaching is. Your 'metaverse' is worth having, but he is good ways down the path of making his work now and he has been at the forefront of getting such standards built for over a decade now. He isn't 'now' realizing; he paid the price in blood before most of the rest of the current crowd was even trying. len -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ken Taylor Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 9:10 PM To: VOS Discussion Subject: Re: [vos-d] Flux Worlds Server Announcement "Remember, the Metaverse needs open protocols. Without them... everything else is Just a World." I agree with this, and I'm glad that more and more people are realizing it. However, though it's necessary, it's not sufficient to create the "metaverse." Some other requirements I would use to evaluate any "metaverse" system: - Not only can anyone run a server, but they can easily interlink and users can freely traverse the spaces between different servers, with the potential for seamlessly connecting virtual spaces (eg, with portals). - The protocol is "future-proof" and can keep up with developments in technology and new ideas for interaction while maintaining backwards compatibility and a reasonable experience for those with hardware or bandwidth that can't support the latest-and-greatest - The protocol should support use creation and ownership of content, including a flexible scripting system, and the ability to transfer user-created content between servers. It should support collaborative editing and interaction with content. - The protocol is highly extensible through 3rd-party plugins and not "locked-in" to whatever the committee decided at standardization time was, for example, the best parameterized-avatar system/voice-chat system/streaming-video protocol/physics system/what-have-you. However, at the same time, there should be a robust "baseline" spec that allows all users to have a decent experience even with no plugins added. I definitely see VOS as having the potential to meet all these requirements and beyond. I can't really tell from the press release how far they are planning to go with flux worlds. My guess is it's going to be yet-another-shared-space-server, this time based on X3D and easily integrated with web pages. So it'll probably be really neat, but not the metaverse yet ;) -Ken ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tony Parisi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'x3d-public list'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "'www-vrml'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 2:08 PM Subject: [www-vrml] Flux Worlds Server Announcement > Folks, > > We've been up to something over here - thought I would tell you about it > before you heard it on the street. > > Media Machines has been developing a multi-user server based on a new > protocol that we intend to put out into the open. We have dubbed it Simple > Wide Area Multi-User Protocol, or SWMP (pronounced "swamp"). The intent is > to work with Web3D and potentially other organizations to standardize SWMP. > We will also supply a basic open source implementation. Our overriding > goal-- one that we are pursuing with total passion and vigor-- is to create > an open infrastructure for the Metaverse. > > We have wrapped SWMP into a server product called Flux Worlds. Flux Worlds > is currently in alpha test. While the product is still several weeks away > from beta test, we announced it yesterday with the goal of attracting early > signups for the beta. We are also integrating a prototype of the new X3D > networking nodes being developing by the Networking Working Group, right > into Flux Player. The results look promising. > > Anyway, here is the announcement. We would love to have you be part of the > beta when it's ready! > > http://www.mediamachines.com/press/pressrelease-03292007.php > > Remember, the Metaverse needs open protocols. Without them... everything > else is Just a World. > > Yours virtually, > Tony > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Tony Parisi 415-902-8002 > President/CEO [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Media Machines, Inc. www.mediamachines.com > > Add 3D content to your web page with the Flux Player. > Go to www.mediamachines.com to upload and share your 3D content. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ vos-d mailing list vos-d@interreality.org http://www.interreality.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/vos-d _______________________________________________ vos-d mailing list vos-d@interreality.org http://www.interreality.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/vos-d
