[vos-d] Flux Worlds Server Announcement

[Ken Taylor]

"Remember, the Metaverse needs open protocols. Without them... everything
else is Just a World."

I agree with this, and I'm glad that more and more people are realizing it.
However, though it's necessary, it's not sufficient to create the
"metaverse." Some other requirements I would use to evaluate any "metaverse"
system:

- Not only can anyone run a server, but they can easily interlink and users
can freely traverse the spaces between different servers, with the potential
for seamlessly connecting virtual spaces (eg, with portals).
- The protocol is "future-proof" and can keep up with developments in
technology and new ideas for interaction while maintaining backwards
compatibility and a reasonable experience for those with hardware or
bandwidth that can't support the latest-and-greatest
- The protocol should support use creation and ownership of content,
including a flexible scripting system, and the ability to transfer
user-created content between servers. It should support collaborative
editing and interaction with content.
- The protocol is highly extensible through 3rd-party plugins and not
"locked-in" to whatever the committee decided at standardization time was,
for example, the best parameterized-avatar system/voice-chat
system/streaming-video protocol/physics system/what-have-you. However, at
the same time, there should be a robust "baseline" spec that allows all
users to have a decent experience even with no plugins added.

I definitely see VOS as having the potential to meet all these requirements
and beyond. I can't really tell from the press release how far they are
planning to go with flux worlds. My guess is it's going to be
yet-another-shared-space-server, this time based on X3D and easily
integrated with web pages.

So it'll probably be really neat, but not the metaverse yet ;)

-Ken

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tony Parisi" <tparisi at mediamachines.com>
To: "'x3d-public list'" <x3d-public at web3d.org>; "'www-vrml'"
<www-vrml at web3d.org>
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 2:08 PM
Subject: [www-vrml] Flux Worlds Server Announcement


> Folks,
>
> We've been up to something over here - thought I would tell you about it
> before you heard it on the street.
>
> Media Machines has been developing a multi-user server based on a new
> protocol that we intend to put out into the open. We have dubbed it Simple
> Wide Area Multi-User Protocol, or SWMP (pronounced "swamp"). The intent is
> to work with Web3D and potentially other organizations to standardize
SWMP.
> We will also supply a basic open source implementation. Our overriding
> goal-- one that we are pursuing with total passion and vigor-- is to
create
> an open infrastructure for the Metaverse.
>
> We have wrapped SWMP into a server product called Flux Worlds. Flux Worlds
> is currently in alpha test. While the product is still several weeks away
> from beta test, we announced it yesterday with the goal of attracting
early
> signups for the beta. We are also integrating a prototype of the new X3D
> networking nodes being developing by the Networking Working Group, right
> into Flux Player. The results look promising.
>
> Anyway, here is the announcement. We would love to have you be part of the
> beta when it's ready!
>
> http://www.mediamachines.com/press/pressrelease-03292007.php
>
> Remember, the Metaverse needs open protocols. Without them... everything
> else is Just a World.
>
> Yours virtually,
> Tony
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Tony Parisi                                                  415-902-8002
> President/CEO                                   tparisi at mediamachines.com
> Media Machines, Inc.                                www.mediamachines.com
>
> Add 3D content to your web page with the Flux Player.
> Go to www.mediamachines.com to upload and share your 3D content.
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------