The FAS Virtual Worlds Project

The Federation of American Scientists has embarked upon a project that promises to be both challenging, and possibly perpetual. It is our hope that it will also be beneficial to all those with an interest in the Internet and its incredible potential as a tool for learning.

We have begun to to compile a comprehensive online review of virtual worlds; the engines that are used to create virtual worlds, and related information (including news, reviews, and links to other Websites of interest). It is our hope that visitors to our site will not only learn more about virtual worlds, both existing and planned, but that they will also contribute to our research, and even correct it when called for. Our primary area of focus, in creating this compendium, is to promote the use of virtual worlds as ideal tools to enhance learning and professional training, but having noted this fact, we hope that this project will encompass all known virtual worlds, across a wide range of venues and purposes, and that anyone with an interest in this area will eventually come to our Wiki site to seek answers to their questions -- as well as helping us to fill in some of the blanks in our overall knowledge base.

After reviewing many similar such sites, FAS has created a template that will be applied to every product that we investigate. Modified versions will be used for virtual world tools and software. For example, we will have a template just for tools and engines, and another for the virtual worlds themselves.

This is a huge endeavor, and we cannot do this ourselves. The Federation of American Scientists needs the assistance of virtual world developers, researchers, educators, and users with detailed knowledge of these products. As we indicate elsewhere, we strongly encourage participation in this project by anybody who has an interest in the subject, in the form of contributions to our product descriptions; comments on their Web pages, and reasoned dialogue on our future blog site.

Additional Background Information: Here is a white paper, written by FAS President Henry Kelly, that provides more detailed information regarding the FAS (along with its partners) virtual worlds initiative: WhitePaper

Below is the current version of our virtual worlds product list. We will be updating it on a continuing basis, not only with new virtual worlds and engines, but also with new criteria. Finally, we call your attention to the advisory at the bottom of your screen, regarding our relocation of this site to a new Wiki page.

WHAT IS A VIRTUAL WORLD?

A "virtual world" is an online environment that includes these characteristics:

1. Shared Space: And in this space, many users can be in the same online venue simultaneously.

2. Graphical User Interface: The world depicts space visually, ranging in style from 2-D "cartoon" imagery to more immersive 3-D environments.

3. Immediacy: Interaction with other users and the world takes place in real time.

4. Interactivity: The world allows users to alter, develop, build, or submit customized content.

5. Persistence: The world's existence continues regardless of whether individual users are logged in.

In addition, a virtual world is an online arena that looks and behaves very much like the real world, in which 3-dimensional people and structures exist, and in which the former are avatars controlled by real people, and in which a gamut of typical human social interactions occur.

For a much more detailed and thorough definition of virtual worlds, we recommend you visit this link (courtesy of the online news source, Virtual Worlds Review): http://64.226.230.56/info/whatis.shtml

VIRTUAL WORLDS

VirtualWorlds

VIRTUAL WORLD ENGINES

VirtualEngines

VIRTUAL WORLD TOOLS AND SOFTWARE

VirtualTools

VIRTUAL WORLD NEWS

Recent News about Virtual Worlds: RecentNews

Archived News Stories: OldNews

News and Discussion Sites: ReviewSites

FAS IS MOVING TO A NEW WIKI SITE

(January, 11, 2007) FAS will be moving our virtual worlds compendium to a new Wiki site over the next several weeks. Visitors to these pages will be redirected to the new site. The new Wiki will offer visitors a lot more information, and will also offer you a greater ability to contribute your own knowledge and expertise to our efforts.