I think that a basic open-standard shared-space server based on X3D is an obvious and safe step -- Flux Worlds will probably be very successful at what it does. But in my view, it doesn't bring us any closer to the "metaverse" and I hate when people through that word around (ever since the Lindens started doing so). To me it really is just more of the same -- we've had shared space servers around almost as long as VRML itself, and we're not that much closer to a true interconnected 3d "universe" on the internet. Someone has to stop playing it safe for anything revolutionary to occur.
But what's wrong with snowcrash-like thinking or visions anyway? ;) -Ken ----- Original Message ----- From: "Len Bullard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'VOS Discussion'" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 7:47 PM Subject: Re: [vos-d] Flux Worlds Server Announcement > 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 > [email protected] > http://www.interreality.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/vos-d > > > > > _______________________________________________ > vos-d mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.interreality.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/vos-d > _______________________________________________ vos-d mailing list [email protected] http://www.interreality.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/vos-d
