Google Earth has added an ancient layer with the launch of virtual Rome. According to one report:
“The latest addition in Google’s product release frenzy graphically recreates Rome as it looked 1688 years ago under Emperor Constantine. Users can take a virtual stroll around 6700 buildings, crafted in 3D in cooperation with the Rome Reborn project – a virtual reality project that saw UCLA, the University of Virginia, the Politecnico di Milano and others create a 3D model of the city in 320AD.”
But the operative word, I think, is “stroll”. Because you can’t. You can cam. Strolling implies avatar, which implies that it really is a world rather than just a space. Which leaves the question: when will Google Earth get avatars?
Visit the Virtual Rome project Web site here.
Avatars visit a Second Life Sistine Chapel:
[...] no small thing, but maybe they can port the cartoons over from Lively and we can all meet in virtual Ancient Rome. Empires come and go, and others just relocate. Tagged: 3d web, lively, mycosym, Second Life, [...]