Virtual Worlds

When I hear this topic it reminds me of video games. Something, a world if you will or a space that lets a user virtually manipulate it in a variety of ways. From just simple exploration or actually solving a problem or reaching a goal. I also think of 3D cartography. Yesterday I was working in the cartography lab and another couple of student were creating a virtual world. They were actually creating a virtual downtown reno. The process they explained was long and laborious and the technology is fairly new so the entire thing is a learning experience. The fact is that it can be done and the results are fairly impressive. I mean what they were coming up with looked just like a miniature reno, nevada. I was impresses especially since pat g had just demonstrated a little bit of this process in a recent class. I guess the bottom line is that this is a new cutting edge type of cartography that in a lot of ways can be much more interesting way of looking at places cartographically opposed to that of paper or standard type maps. Although I don't think that regular maps will ever go completely out of style I do believe in new ways of doing or looking at things. Another example I thought I would ad is that of virtual tours like those that are now often offered online for things such as homes for sale. They give potential buyers a walk through a home without them ever leaving their computer. This means less wasted time going to visit places they have already decide are not right for their needs.