Cosma Home > Communication > Media > Virtual World (VW)
Spotlight
SecondLife
AltSpaceVR
VRChat
High Fidelity
Resources
These are organized by a classification scheme developed exclusively for Cosma. More…
General
Dictionary
virtual world : computer-based simulated environment intended for its users to inhabit and interact via avatars (primarily software) — Webster See also OneLook, Free Dictionary, Wiktionary
Encyclopedia
Virtual world is an online community that takes the form of a computer-based simulated environment through which users can interact with one another and use and create objects. The term has become largely synonymous with interactive 3D virtual environments, where the users take the form of avatars visible to others. In general, virtual worlds allow for multiple users. The computer accesses a computer-simulated world and presents perceptual stimuli to the user, who in turn can manipulate elements of the modeled world and thus experience a degree of telepresence. Such modeled worlds and their rules may draw from the reality or fantasy worlds. Example rules are gravity, topography, locomotion, real-time actions, and communication. Communication between users can range from text, graphical icons, visual gesture, sound, and rarely, forms using touch, voice command, and balance senses. — Wikipedia
Preservation
History
History of Virtual Worlds (MediaShift, PBS)
Virtual Worlds Timeline (Avatar Planet)
Virtual Worlds History (Wikipedia)
Library
WorldCat, Library of Congress, UPenn Online Books, Open Library
Participation
Education
Course
CMSC 498W: Introduction to Virtual and Augmented Reality (Spring 2016, University of Maryland)
OER Commons: Open Educational Resources
News
Hypergrid Business
NPR Archives
Book
Government
Document
Expression
Toy
The Unlikely Story of Microsoft’s Surprise Minecraft Buyout (Daniel Goldberg and Linus Larsson, Wired)
Minecraft (Official Site), Minecraft (Wikipedia)
Lego
LEGO’s ‘Minecraft’ competitor is real and ready to download (Jon Fingas, Engadget)
LEGO Worlds Steam Early Access (Steam.com)
LEGO Worlds (Lego.com)
Game
World of WarCraft (Official Site), World of Warcraft (Wikipedia)
More…
Hypergrid Business Covering virtual reality, immersive worlds, and other emerging technologies
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All stats up this month on OpenSim grids
by Maria Korolov on July 15, 2019 at 8:30 pm
All the stats were up this month on OpenSim’s public grids, including land area, registered users, and active users. Land area was up by 49 standard region equivalents, to 83,516. OpenSim grids also registered... […]
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Discovery, Tranquility, and Littlefield partying...
by Maria Korolov on June 30, 2019 at 12:38 pm
Patriotic Americans — or anyone, really, who’s looking for a party — will find plenty to do on OpenSim grids this week. Begin your day out on Discovery Grid, where the party starts at... […]
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Why virtual world content creators should look...
by Joshua “Karsten Rutledge” May on June 29, 2019 at 11:33 am
I’ve been creating virtual world content since 2005, selling games like Greedy Greedy primarily in Second Life. I plan to stay in Second Life and continue supporting my games and developing new products there... […]
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How to use PayPal for in-world payments
by Maria Korolov on June 22, 2019 at 5:23 pm
One of the first questions every new grid owner must answer is whether to have in-world payment, so that users can buy stuff, or pay for services, or donate money while they’re on the... […]
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France’s NewImages festival features VR films...
by Timeka Cobb on June 20, 2019 at 11:53 am
If you are a resident of Paris or visiting this week, check out the NewImages Festival. For five days, the “City of Lights” will host an array of innovative VR program that includes virtual... […]