Metaverse Roadmap: Pathways to the 3D Web
Speaker: Bridget Agabra Goldstein (Project Manager, Acceleration Studies Foundation)
Date/Time: Thursday (March 23, 2006) 12:00pm — 1:00pm
Track: Game Design
Format: 60-minute Roundtable
Experience Level: All

Session Description
This fall, a small, interdisciplinary group gathered by Acceleration Studies Foundation will begin crafting the Metaverse Roadmap (MVR). The MVR is a comprehensive 10-year technology forecast and visioning survey of 3D Web technologies, markets, and applications. Areas of exploration include the convergence of networked video games (ex: Xbox Live), virtual worlds (ex: Second Life), massively multi-player games (ex: World of Warcraft), 3D animation (ex: Massive Software), 3D creation tools (ex: Maya), 3D fabrication (ex: Fab Lab), artificial life (ex: Darwin@Home), digital maps (ex: Google Earth), and the underlying trends in hardware, software, connectivity, business innovation and user adoption that will drive their transformation and development in the coming decade. Roundtable groups will map the hottest Metaverse areas for growth, and debate the most likely issues of introduction and adoption. Outcome will be incorporated in the framing of this groundbreaking study, with continuing participation opportunities for attendees.

Idea Takeaway
The game industry stands on the edge of a new space in human interaction. Attendees will affiliate themselves with a groundbreaking public work, contribute to a management tool to be referenced and maintained for years to come, and come away with new foresight tools/vision.