Google Launches Lively, an Avatar Based 3D World

no.good.at.coding writes "Google has launched a Windows-only, in-browser (you need to install a client first, though) 3D avatar world — Lively — that you can embed in websites and use to interact with other people. It's not as expansive as Second Life yet, but expect things to get better."

The Shark...

Has officially been jumped at Google.

What's next, a program to install animated smileys to your Outlook e-mails?

Re:The Shark...

I for one can't wait for google to replace their homepage search bar with a friendly, brightly colored, animated search assistant avatar. It'll be the next revolution in user interfaces!

Re:The Shark...

I recommend a paper clip.

Re:The Shark...

no, a purple chimp would be better.

Re:The Shark...

"It seems to me that you are searching for porn"...

My I suggest you the "Kleenex Ultra Smooth" link?

Re:The Shark...

The term "jump the shark" is so yesterday. The current correct term is "nuking the fridge".

Re:The Shark...

Seems right to me. I get that we, as computer geeks, are supposed to love the idea of having 3D virtual worlds, alternate/virtual reality, etc. But can someone please explain to me what benefits these things actually have? Whenever any of these are announced, it always seems like either (a) there's nothing to do; or (b) they allow you to do anything, but it's pretty complex to do anything interesting, and the world ends up filled with penises.

I can never figure out what you're supposed to do with these things if you're not a pervert.

Re:The Shark...

I agree with the social site disappointment.

I use a 3D site (expo3d.com) to hold conferences with customers on product updates and use the 3D feature to really demonstrate what I'm saying, holding up objects, pointing at on the object with my avatar and can use my voice to offer more commentary than texting could accomplish. Texting is sooo 1990's. Use your voice. It really helps.

In my business, some customer updates are mandatory. We used to fly people in and out for the update meetings but now we can, for the smaller updates, use this software and in 15 minutes be done. We still all meet face to face a couple of times a year but it's not a monthly obligation.

We've had 100-200 customers routinely join us for our updates. We place our own teams in the audience to answer questions one-on-one via text or voice. We circulate documents. We post advertisements. And the customers love it.

So I've found a way to save money using this type of application with no perverts or gambling.

Re:The Shark...

We have met the 1 tenth of 1% and he is us.

Re:The Shark...

As far as I'm concerned they just did. When you install this, it installs a Windows *service* called Google Updater... set for automatic, running all the time, even when the "game" isn't running. I *DESPISE* that.

This is #1 on my "hate" list for apps. Followed closely be "calling home without asking", "not asking what directory to install to", and "installing widgets in the system tray".

I had to tag this 'wtf', it's so unlike them

It even makes use of Facebook accounts [lively.com].

And Vista/XP only, while still being browser based.

Also, it's not really a Second Life competitor since you can't create stuff, part of what makes SL unique. It's more like just chat rooms.

"Review" on Ars Technica

Ars Technica has posted a hands on: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080708-hands-on-googles-lively-social-3d-world-is-20-percent-done.html [arstechnica.com]

expect things to get better?

expect things to get better.

Like running on multiple platforms? Having a userbase that isn't all newbs checking it out for a couple minutes? Having suggestions on what to _do_ with it that can benefit meatspace unlike other 3d worlds?

The irony

is that, when I was a kid, this is exactly the kind of world I dreamt of building-- I'd say it was the #1 reason I sat in front of my computer as a kid, plowing through my ANSI C book and spending my paper route money on long distance bills so I could play on MUDs, instead of doing all of the other things that normal children did. Now that I've:

1. had lots of contact with real humans, and found that to be very satisfying, and
2. am actually capable of designing such an application,

I don't give a shit anymore. I'm glad that somebody was interested enough to do this, and that other people find it interesting, but I will be staying away. My workplace, which fancies itself as hip and smart, will probably make this mandatory, like they have with Facebook, which will simply be another pointless drain on my otherwise interesting day. Bah humbug!

Re:Does it scale?

According to their track record, Google scaled reasonably well.

Re:No use

I'll save you the trouble of asking and go ahead and get off your lawn.

Re:Nuts

Are there that many people into dolls and make-believe or are there too many people who are too depressed just being themselves?

Yes, many people are into what you call "make-believe" and what other people call fantasy or fiction. It's inherent to human nature. Novels, movies, games and comics are all 'make-believe': creating a fantasy world. The next logical step is to make such a fantasy world shared between more people. This is what a 'game' like SL or Lively does.

Re:Nuts

I think something is wrong with my lively account.

The first time I logged in, some funny looking feller who looked like Colonel Sanders greeted me, "Your life is the sum of a remainder of an unbalanced equation inherent to the programming of the google. You are the eventuality of an anomaly, which despite my sincerest efforts I have been unable to eliminate from what is otherwise a harmony of mathematical precision. While it remains a burden to sedulously avoid it, it is not unexpected, and thus not beyond a measure of control. Which has led you, inexorably, here."

So, I punched him in the hoohaw with my Papa Smurf avatar and quickly logged off. Is thing still beta?

Re:Nuts

Do not try to comprehend the idea of a Google 20% application leaving Beta. That's impossible. Instead... only try to realize the truth: there is no Beta.

If we rephrase it

we can easily say "apparently there are enough people who are sensitive enough to be able to empathize even through a virtual avatar in an online world".

the way i see it, many of the people who label the online world as 'virtual' are rather emotionally challenged people. there is nothing 'virtual' in the online world. there is a person behind that avatar, just like you. s/he can make you laugh, make you angry, sad, engage in heated up philosophical conversation, or do stuff together. stuff done with other people in an online environment is no less valuable than stuff done in an offline environment. you can go get drunk in a local pub while talking or you can get drunk in front of the computer talking with same people the same stuff. there is no difference other than physical proximity.

if you NEED physical proximity to be able to feel connected with people, then i'd say that thats a sign of 'emotionally challengedness' in the form of weak empathy capability.

Re:Nuts

"I mean, it is kind-of like chatroom v. 2.0 or something along those lines. But when it gets to be where you spend more time living in an imaginary dreamworld, then it's time to seek help."

Yeah, I hear there's a chatroom just for that.

Re:Nice

I think that's mostly because there's nothing to do but gambling and sex - and they banned gambling. If more companies built stores in SL and sold real goods through it, if newspapers made virtual newsrooms where users could watch and read videos and articles, if other content owners made SL versions of their websites, there would be much much more to do. A chain reaction might start where a crowd attracts a crowd and so on. Maybe Lively will help drive that. I can hope, at least.

Re:Nice

If more companies built stores in SL and sold real goods through it,

holy crap why? I can buy what I want from a good old 2D website faster than some half assed second life store that is impossible to navigate or get any real info about what I am buying.

Last thing I want is to go to a "virtual" dell store and wander around, I want to find the server, click on the options and click on buy.

Re:Nice

the interesting parts of second life are the virtual economy, the ability to build and script complex objects, the ability to buy 'land'.

The only interesting one of these is the scripting.

The rest is just side effects of using centralized servers. I am not interested in any virtual 3d world that isn't decentralized, meaning that anyone can set up their own server with their own rules, with the ability to easily and seemlessly travel between servers. Something like a 3d version of the www.

Re:1992 called: They want their Internet fad back

It has a company with billions in cash and an army of nerds with 10% of their free time to do whatever they want.

1, it's 80/20, as in 20% of their time is supposed to be used for free exploration.

2, I've talked to some Googlers who say it's more like 100/20, as in you have a huge workload so if you want to stay after hours and do your 20% you can go right ahead, but only about 1% of engineers can be bothered to do so. Especially since Google owns your bright idea once you come up with it.