February 27, 2007
First voice for Second Life
Second Life, the online virtual world, is to offer another dimension to its members other than 3D graphics and a different personality.
3D sound with spatial awareness is coming to the experience, enabling users to escape the text-based conversations that have dominated role-playing games since the days of MUDs.
Linden Lab, Second Life’s creator, will roll out a voice beta next week ahead of a planned full launch in the second quarter.
Linden is integrating technology from Vivox and DiamondWare that allows virtual world residents to hear each other speaking to the right or left, far away or nearby.
They can choose private one-to-one chats or be part of a crowd of up to 100 people talking, with volume adjusted according to distance.
“Voice has always been part of the long-term plan for the Second Life Grid, as we feel it will help residents become more immersed in their virtual lives,” said Philip Rosedale, Linden chief executive.
Techblog predicts this could open a whole new economic avenue for Second Life members as well. Apart from the obvious educational and business applications, think karaoke contests and developers coming up with vocoder synthesisers that can change voices to something more befitting their online personas.
On the internet, nobody need know you talk in a dull monotone. Try a French accent or a Humphrey Bogart impression instead.
