Virtual Worlds, where did they come from, how are they used, and how can they assist us in devising

strategy for the future?Arlington Institute Energy Workshop (1/7/2003)

I. Origins of the visual interfaceII. Uses of virtual worldsIII. Acknowledgements and ResourcesIV. Demo of environmentsV. Virtual worlds in scenario visualization- discussion

I. Origins of the visual interface

Bush (Memex), NelsonEngelbart’s visionSRI - NLS1968 – Mother of all DemosE&S 60s–1970s

Visual Interfaces – Xerox PARC and elsewhere, 1970s-80s

3D interfaces - evolution

1970s wireframe to solid to ray traced - SIGGRAPHAlvy Ray Smith – PARC to PIXAREarly 80s SGIReal time renderingImmersive VRCommodity Virtual Worlds/Internet – 90s-2000s

II. Uses of Virtual WorldsEarly uses of 3D Interfaces

Simulation – weather, aerodynamics, cold warRender to film – Hollywood and TVExperimental informational interfaces

II. Uses of Virtual WorldsGeographical Information Systems

GeoFusion textured 3D model of earth with real satellite imagery

II. Uses of Virtual WorldsGeographical Information Systems

Overlay of real time data – Salt Lake Winter Olympics locations

II. Uses of Virtual WorldsGeographical Information Systems

Progressive texturing – Swiss Alps

Far Frontiers of 3D environments

Evolutionary virtual worlds (Sims, Biota.org)Modeling the large and the small scale (cosmology, quantum dynamics)Tele-immersion

The “killer app” of 3D - Gaming

The original Maze War - ARPANET1970s-80s DOD simulation and training1990s – Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM2000s Massive Multiplayer Online Gaming

Projects of the Contact Consortium & Digital Space 1995-2002

Alphaworld cityscapeLearning spacesCollaboration spacesCyber-conferencesNASA mars mission simulationUniversal simulation platform

Alphaworld cityscape –a public building space on the net

300,000 users as “avatars”

1 Billion objects placed

since 1995

Learning SpacesVirtual walk on the moon with Apollo IX

astronaut Russell Schweickart

Learning SpacesVirtual walk on the moon with Apollo IX

astronaut Russell Schweickart

Collaboration Spaces –Datafusion “war room” for Monsanto

Collaboration Spaces –Datafusion “war room” for Monsanto

Cyber-conferences

Cyber-conferences – Avatars2001 a cyberspace odyssey

Cyber-conferences – Avatars2001 a cyberspace odyssey

Cyber-conferences – Avatars2002 a merry cyber party

Cyber-conferences – Avatars2002 a merry cyber party

NASA Mars Mission Simulation –Life aboard the FMARS habitat

NASA Mars Mission Simulation –Life aboard the FMARS habitat

NASA Mars Mission Simulation –Modeling mars from orbit

NASA Mars Mission Simulation –Modeling mars from orbit

MOLA and surface texture data creating a real time model of Mars surface that is “walkable”

NASA Mars Mission Simulation –Drive on Mars – MER rovers

Universal Simulation Platform2003 platform from Digital Space

Embodies best of breed 3D and 2D technologiesDeveloped with Adobe and multiple industrial partnersReal word and abstract simulation, multi-user for distance collaboration, standard web plug-inRepurposes NASA work to government and industry simulation for design, training, visualization, user interfacesPossible use with Arlington Institute’s LISA

III. Acknowledgements and Resources

DigiBarn Computer Museum, Computer History MuseumDatafusion Inc. Monsanto, Safety-KleenNASA Ames Research CenterActive Worlds Inc.Adobe Systems Inc.GeoFusion

III. Acknowledgements and Resources

This presentation is at: www.digitalspace.com/presentations/arlington-energy/Contact: damer@digitalspace.com, 831.338.9400Arlington Institute: www.arlingtoninstitute.orgwww.digitalspace.com The Digital Space Commonswww.ccon.org Contact Consortiumwww.biota.org Digital Biology ProjectVirtual Windmill: www.digitalspace.com/dm3ds/virtual_windfarm/index.htmlDrive on Mars: www.driveonmars.com

III. Demo of Environments

V. Virtual worlds in scenario visualization- discussion

V. Virtual worlds in scenario visualization- discussion

Helping policy and business leaders understand the whole picture, complex systems and relationships (local to planetary level)Modeling and simulation for design of systems, engineering, testing, iterationSelling of concepts to communities (ie: how will a wind farm affect my neighborhood’s home values?)

VI. Bonus!

“Escape” in Finite State Fantasies (1976) by Rich Didday