VicRoads, a government authority responsible for vehicle, driver and roads administration, explored virtual worlds, both conceptually and hands -on in the Lab at Swinburne University of Technology. Melbourne Australia, 1st July 2010.

1. Mandy Salomon Senior Researcher Smart Internet Cooperative Research Centre www.smartinternetcrc.com.au [email_address]

3. But I don’t have time for my first life let alone my second life....

4. The world is increasingly immersive

5. Who do you want to be ? Image source : micazook.com

6. Where do you want to be ? Virtual London, Twinity http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIrbv1_JLMs

7. How do you want to get there ? Georgia State University: Peach Tree Corridor: Developers, planners and residents can access and navigate the 22-mile strip on a computer “ Georgia Tech Digital Building Lab collaborates with corporate and government entities on building research, ranging from conceptualization and design to fabrication & project management.” <http://www.coa.gatech.edu/imagine/PeachtreeCorridor.html>

8. What tools might help you get there ? ‘ Layar’ , an augmented reality browser combines real-world images with computer-generated images on a screen for iPhone, Android and soon Nokia. Games, guides, retail info, events, ‘floaticons’: 3D objects used to express yourself in the augmented space’ www.layar.com

9. What will you do there ?

11. Education and Training: Imperial College students study robotic surgery

12. vGov 5 U.S. Federal Agencies ...with National projects ...have Distributed workforce ...seeking Interoperability and Collaboration Government Singapore iN2015

13. For ‘uncertain times’: Virtual Trade Shows UNISFAIR.COM Q1 2009: 25 trade shows

14. Trending: Acquisition of Virtual Goods

15. Shopping and customisation

17. Proliferation of digital personas across the web

20. Taxonomy: the boundaries are increasingly diffused the sum is bigger than the parts

23. Online Immersion Synchronous ………………………..............Asynchronous ENVIRONMENT visual spatial auditory persistent editable PRESENCE shared expressive customised emotional tactile (touch) active agile identifiable INTERACTION space sounds objects relationships documents media

25. What are the expectations of virtual world ‘natives’ as they become adult and enter the work place? Registered virtual world accounts 671 million, having grown 92 million in Q3 2009 (KZERO) ives’ as they become adult and enter the work place. (K-Zero) Of these, close to 400 million are in the 10 -15 age range, with Habbo growing by 13 million in three months. However, the largest percentage growth is in the under 5-10 age range, averaging 40% over Q2 and 3 in 2009.

26. virtual world analytics

27. Virtual goods (source KZERO) In US$bn

29. Tools TOOLS Social networking Collaboration Content creation Metrics/Analytics Multi-media

32. Summary of virtual worlds features • Bespoke content, (making digital objects to order). • Programmable objects (objects move or behave in particular ways). • Persistent space (site remains intact when you log off, and reconfigures to that point when you come back to it, although modifications may be made by permitted users in the interim.) • Multiple media channels, streamed live from the physical world, or archived. • Physics, like shadows, wind, and other natural elements. • Embodied presence (avatars). • Interaction with other users in real-time via gesture, voice and text chat. • Activities aligned with online game-play and social networking such as building communities, setting goals and acquiring digital goods. • Ability to capture, store and replay action and events in the world. • Collaboration and document tools such as ‘drag and drop’ and importing of web or desktop data.

34. Why not every institution ?