Integration w/Other Virtual Worlds - Education
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:33 pm
(I hope this is in the right section)
There are so many things so many different people want to do in MOOS. There are also those that do not want anything to change. However that shakes down, there are some things that will likely get added.
I am hoping that one of those things can be HTTP links. Those of you in SL have seen these in action. You click a computer screen or something and web page (there is an ok dialog) opens in your web browser. What many do not realize is land marks in SL are a link also. They just cause the SL viewer to open a new region, which we call teleporting. All very similar in appearance to what MOUL does when we link to an age or a browser when opening a new age or a video.
While the HTTP links would be handy for getting people to various fan web sites for more back story and information and forums or rapidly changing information, there is more that is possible. For instance, ametist is using and looking to expand the use of MOUL/MOOS in teaching. See the thread at GoMa - Educational Uru Ages.
While opening web pages would be useful, consider allowing someone without heavy Blender and modeling experience to build in RealXtend or Open Sim and link to that virtual world from within MOOS. Plus it would provide them an environment in which they could work as teams and make quick simple changes, greatly reducing development time for an educational effort.
The simplest form of the link is an HTTP call targeted at an SL site that converts the URL (SLURL in SL’s case to an API –run/start- call). The viewer can be targeted at any compatible SIM (i.e., Open Life, Open Sim, RealXtend, etc.) My virtual world is called by: "C:\Program Files\SecondLife\SecondLife.exe" -loginuri http://127.0.0.1:9000/ -loginpage http://127.0.0.1:9000/?method=login –multiple I have to start the SIM ahead of that so port 9000 is actually there but that is not a user issue.
This would open the SL Viewer pointed to a private virtual world. By using an Internet facing IP anyone could come to my world (and die of boredom). But it would allow more people to build in easier environments and create much more dynamic classrooms. Plus it is looking more and more possible to move MOUL ages into SL like worlds (they are my test cases – fan ages are the goal as in SL -> MOOS). Once I can go one way it won’t be that hard to go the other.
I think the new virtual worlds allow teachers to do things that cannot be done in MOUL/MOOS. Having been in the classrooms of SL I know they have advantages (and disadvantages) over online tutorials and videos. The interactive nature of them is great. While online tutorials have a measure of permanence and great availability, the virtual class and its interactive nature with the ability to ask a question is a big advantage.
Whether the HTTP/API linking a good or desirable thing is debatable and probably better suited for other forums where people can shout. I am posting here as I am curious how much of a technical problem it might be to change MOOS to use links to reach outside.
I think if we used the MOOS logon servers to generate the ID/password logon for linking to another virtual world it would make for tighter integration. I’m not sure that is possible. I’m playing with both RealXtend and Open Sim to see how things work.
Opening a new window is not that great an integration… but I think it is easy to accomplish. As for look and feel integration, look at Rustica and Svarga in SL or the Uru SL Visitors Help Document for how Myst like some builds are now.
If you have ideas for better ways ametist can accomplish her goal, jump in the thread at GoMa too.
There are so many things so many different people want to do in MOOS. There are also those that do not want anything to change. However that shakes down, there are some things that will likely get added.
I am hoping that one of those things can be HTTP links. Those of you in SL have seen these in action. You click a computer screen or something and web page (there is an ok dialog) opens in your web browser. What many do not realize is land marks in SL are a link also. They just cause the SL viewer to open a new region, which we call teleporting. All very similar in appearance to what MOUL does when we link to an age or a browser when opening a new age or a video.
While the HTTP links would be handy for getting people to various fan web sites for more back story and information and forums or rapidly changing information, there is more that is possible. For instance, ametist is using and looking to expand the use of MOUL/MOOS in teaching. See the thread at GoMa - Educational Uru Ages.
While opening web pages would be useful, consider allowing someone without heavy Blender and modeling experience to build in RealXtend or Open Sim and link to that virtual world from within MOOS. Plus it would provide them an environment in which they could work as teams and make quick simple changes, greatly reducing development time for an educational effort.
The simplest form of the link is an HTTP call targeted at an SL site that converts the URL (SLURL in SL’s case to an API –run/start- call). The viewer can be targeted at any compatible SIM (i.e., Open Life, Open Sim, RealXtend, etc.) My virtual world is called by: "C:\Program Files\SecondLife\SecondLife.exe" -loginuri http://127.0.0.1:9000/ -loginpage http://127.0.0.1:9000/?method=login –multiple I have to start the SIM ahead of that so port 9000 is actually there but that is not a user issue.
This would open the SL Viewer pointed to a private virtual world. By using an Internet facing IP anyone could come to my world (and die of boredom). But it would allow more people to build in easier environments and create much more dynamic classrooms. Plus it is looking more and more possible to move MOUL ages into SL like worlds (they are my test cases – fan ages are the goal as in SL -> MOOS). Once I can go one way it won’t be that hard to go the other.
I think the new virtual worlds allow teachers to do things that cannot be done in MOUL/MOOS. Having been in the classrooms of SL I know they have advantages (and disadvantages) over online tutorials and videos. The interactive nature of them is great. While online tutorials have a measure of permanence and great availability, the virtual class and its interactive nature with the ability to ask a question is a big advantage.
Whether the HTTP/API linking a good or desirable thing is debatable and probably better suited for other forums where people can shout. I am posting here as I am curious how much of a technical problem it might be to change MOOS to use links to reach outside.
I think if we used the MOOS logon servers to generate the ID/password logon for linking to another virtual world it would make for tighter integration. I’m not sure that is possible. I’m playing with both RealXtend and Open Sim to see how things work.
Opening a new window is not that great an integration… but I think it is easy to accomplish. As for look and feel integration, look at Rustica and Svarga in SL or the Uru SL Visitors Help Document for how Myst like some builds are now.
If you have ideas for better ways ametist can accomplish her goal, jump in the thread at GoMa too.