Virtual Universe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Virtual Universe is a collection of virtual worlds integrated by a back end virtual bus and accessible via a single client.
The point of convergence between the Virtual and Physical Universe is referred to as the VERSE. The name "VERSE" or Virtual Earth Realtime Simulation Environment was first coined by Peter Finn at IBM in 2006 during the establishment of the Virtual Universe Community. The VERSE is the point of convergence of sociology, ideology, technology, commerce and finally physiology through virtual and physical representation. This term is used as a collective description that describes the integration and virtual or physical representation of everything that is contained within the physical or virtual universe. The VERSE also includes the multiple configurations that are currently available or will be available within the Virtual Universe.
The VERSE consists of a range of virtual worlds that are integrated into our physical worlds. This is achieved through the creation of a common architecture and interconnection of existing virtual worlds and made accessible using a single client. The VERSE incorporates both hardware and software technology but is not limited to open source, grid, peer to peer, private, subscription and public virtual worlds.
There are currently various efforts underway to build the virtual universe and these include developing open source software such as Croquet Project, Solipsis, and Uni-Verse [1] as well as projects for a common front end from the makers of Netscape called Multiverse Network who are trying to establish a single client and the Web3D Consortium through X3D the next generation of VRML by establishing a set of standards. The recent open source of the viewer for Second Life in conjunction of the creation of an OpenSim Open source project may also be strong contributer in the creation of the VERSE.
The VERSE uses a similar naming structure as "The Net" and includes intraverse, extraverse and interverse virtual world environments.
Interverse The Intervese is a world wide integrated virtual universe environment that is accessible via a single common client and integrated by a common back plane.
Intraverse Privately owner Virtual World that resides on an internal network that is not accessible by anyone outside of the that network environment.
Extraverse Is a privately owned virtual world that resides on a private network. These virtual world are accessible by one or more organizations but not by the general public.
