What is the future of the Internet?

What is the future of the Internet? Virtual world!

Let’s start with the idea of ??“Second Life + Google Earth = Second Earth”. Linden Lab’s Second Life is currently the most successful and landmark virtual space, and Google Earth is currently the most successful. Map software that displays the real space of the earth. So what will happen if the characters in the virtual space are put into the space of the real earth? I would like to call it "Virtual World".

In 2005, Google launched Google Earth, allowing netizens to enter their home address and overlook the earth as if they were roaming in space. In the future, will netizens be able to let their avatars land on the ground of Google Earth, see people on the street up close and even chat with them? Perhaps, the anticipation will be long, but it is by no means a pipe dream. Currently, Google, Linden Lab, the creator of Second Life, IBM, and many companies are already working on this. The goal is: one day, humans can roam freely in 3D networks as virtual images. New technologies will be applied, new standards will be established, and the source codes of "virtual worlds" such as Secondlife will be released. Netizens can build their own "worlds" just like building homepages and connect with other people's "worlds" , eventually forming a giant "virtual world". Can we call it a "network galaxy"? . String 7

In the future virtual world, you can go to the "virtual mall" with your friends as an avatar during your lunch break. The webcam in the real mall will display live scenes and products. If you like a certain piece of clothing, because your avatar can match your height and size, it can try it on for you, and you can observe and choose from all angles. After selecting, you can purchase it directly in the virtual world, or you can return to reality and purchase it in person later. And you can get all this shopping fun without leaving home.

Although the future of the virtual world is bright, the road will also have twists and turns. Such technological innovation and even leaps require solving a series of technical difficulties. For example, computer browsers must support 3D images and enhance the three-dimensionality of virtual characters to achieve visual realism, and the Internet must also upgrade from static WEB pages to dynamic images. Many technical experts believe that the establishment of a 3D virtual world requires many network companies to work together to establish unified network standards and technical protocols, which is especially difficult! A very vivid example at the moment is the "standardization" dispute between HDDVD and Blu-ray DVD. Since there are huge commercial interests behind "standards", every company hopes that its standards will become mainstream. As far as the current American Internet is concerned, Second Life, There.com, and some other virtual world companies are in a state of dividing borders and not communicating with each other, and virtual spaces cannot communicate with each other. If a netizen has his own avatar or his own virtual store in Secondlife, these images and properties are limited to the Secondlife space. Under this current situation, it is empty talk to allow virtual avatars to fly from one Secondlife space to roam in other virtual worlds. String 5

Therefore, the virtual world is a major trend, but it will take at least ten years to fully realize it. Fortunately, Google, Linden Labs, IBM and others have begun to develop new browsers, taking the first step towards realizing the dream of 3D web. Linden Lab has planned to release the original code to users so that more developers can create their own Second Life, just like we build our own websites now. As the number of personal virtual spaces increases, the virtual world is getting closer and closer to us. close. Foreign experts analyze that by 2011, 80% of Internet users and large companies will have their own avatar or virtual image, and live and work online accordingly.

Researchers have different visions for the future of 3D networks, but one thing is clear: the virtual world will not eliminate or completely replace the current web page. People's self-avatars or avatars may be able to shuttle freely between current Internet sites and future virtual worlds, just like jumping from a news website to a video website now. By then, people will search and read static news or works on traditional Internet sites, and live a virtual life in the 3D network.

You can buy a ticket for a football match on a traditional website and go to the virtual world to find the stadium and watch it with friends. If you don't go to watch it in person, you may be able to halve the ticket price. Virtual exploration and adventure will also be realized in 3D networks. Before booking a hotel, we can let the avatar go to the hotel for an on-site inspection and view the room 360 degrees through realistic videos. Similarly, we can go to various parts of the world for online travel; we can go to high mountains and dangerous shoals for hiking adventures. The same excitement, but absolutely safe. It is foreseeable that wide-angle video, online travel and other related products will have good market prospects.

At present, the virtual world has only taken a small step (just a small step), but former US President Clinton famously said, "Step by step, we can walk a long way." On the road to the 3D Internet or virtual world, mankind has already started. Google is working to bring together the 250 million users of Google Earth to form a communication space. Many Internet enthusiasts and IT critics around the world have also begun to advocate and discuss the future of the Internet. There is still little voice in China discussing virtual worlds and 3D Internet.