On 20 Jun 2008, at 14:52, Eric Wolf wrote: > Stephen write wrote: > > So I believe a 3d environment in real time is the minimum starting > > point. So I could go to something like Second Life, but that lacks > the > > scope and ambition of mirroring reality itself. > > Beware the follies of the 1:1 scale map! > > Maps convey meaning about reality that is something beyond > information. Adding more information (mirroring reality) does not > necessarily convey the meaning.
I fully agree with your warning Eric. Second Life is perhaps a bad example to pick on here, because it does have an in-game map. This exists for precisely the reasons you describe - it's great to be able to fly around a 3d world, but to find things you need a map. Google Earth might be a better case in point. You have the whole planet at your fingertips, but no map (as far as I remember). It can be lots of fun (and educational) trying to find a place just be scrolling, zooming and flying -- but you really wouldn't want to use Google Earth (on its own) to plan a hike or a road trip because it doesn't make any attempt at interpreting the landscape beneath you. So I hope that Stephen's plans to mirror reality aren't intended to be so accurate that the only way of finding your way around in the 1:1 scale model of the world is to buy a virtual map and a virtual plane ticket. I share his frustration at the lack of an immersive, free virtual model of the planet. But I do agree that playing with mash- ups is a great way of learning more about different ways to present information about the world. Cheers, Andrew _______________________________________________ Geowanking mailing list [email protected] http://lists.burri.to/mailman/listinfo/geowanking
