Google Lively - 3D Chat/Virtual World

As if Google wasn’t already trying to be the know-it-all and the have-it-all of the Web, now they also try to compete with 3D chat rooms and virtual worlds in this new release in beta phase:

Lively - “Chat and interact with your friends in rooms you design.”

“Customize your avatar and stream personal photos and video.”

“Invite your friends to chat and help decorate.”

The look an feel resembles virtual worlds such as CyWorld, for instance. Many others are compared on this chart by TechCrunch. The Blue Book published by the Association of Virtual Worlds contains and enormous list of Virtual Worlds…

It might be worth giving it a try. I am just not sure whether we need yet another virtual world combined with a chat room capability… mmmm… All in all, It might be just another move for Google to place their ads all over the Web , this time on the 3D Web…

By the way, no Mac version as of now…

Also, take a look at Karl Kapp’s list of Alternative to Second Life.

Handipoints - Virtual World that Helps Kids Do Chores in Real World

Speaking of persuasion power, Handipoints is a clever idea of getting kids’ interest in video games and virtual worlds to get them to do something productive in real life through an “incentive program”.

I will not go on an on about how interesting this idea is since Michael Arrington from Techcrunch already wrote a nice post about it here.

Immersive Education - Education Grid Initiative

An interview with Aaron Walsh, professor of virtual environments and games for learning at Boston University: