“Riverworld” by Waldern and Cox
Conference:
Type(s):
Entry Number: 21
Title:
- Riverworld
Program Title:
- Digital Bayou
Presenter(s):
Project Affiliation:
- Virtuality Technology Inc.
Description:
Riverworld has been designed to demonstrate a way in which people from geographically separate locations will be able to meet and interact in virtual environments. Using ISDN, LAN, other network technologies, and high-resolution immersive peripherals, attendees enter a recreation of a 19th century Louisiana paddle- steamer. Wearing a head-mounted display, they adopt a “facial” avatar, which allows them to explore different rooms within the synthetic environment without the encumbrances of human form. In addition to real-time interaction with other avatars, objects, and characters in four different rooms, participants are entertained by live comedians, musicians, and entertainers from Virtuality’s offices in the U.S., Europe, and Japan.
This project demonstrates what Web entertainment applications could look like within the next 18-24 months. Many leading market research and industry analysts expect such applications to drive the next tier of Web growth.
