Walk through a library, pick up a book and read it on-screen. Or, cheer on athletes with thousands of fans at the Youth Olympics without even being at the stadium.
Soon, Internet users will be able to walk through and interact with an online version of Singapore specially created for the computer screen.
The promise comes from an ambitious project to re-create not just the streets and buildings here but the experience of being in Singapore -- in an online 3D world. The Media Development Authority (MDA) is currently reviewing several proposals from the industry to build this virtual city, called Co-Space. Some of these proposals will be presented at an industry event this evening.
The realm could let users explore famous places, like Fort Canning, talk to Singaporeans who are also logged on, and be an online spectator during the Youth Olympics in 2011. It will allow people to chat in online forums and explore a 3D world like that in Second Life, the popular virtual domain that lets people 'walk' through streets with their avatars, or characters, and interact.
But unlike Second Life, the Singapore version will be based on reality, not fantasy. MDA deputy chief executive Michael Yap called it 'Google Maps meets Second Life.' Though the concept has been around since the early days of the Web, higher broadband speeds and faster computers churning out realistic 3D graphics have made such an online world possible now.
Fifty firms, from budding online-world developers to telecom operators have come forward since the MDA first sought proposals for the realm last month.
For example, they may be able to visit a virtual stadium, which will show video feeds of live events. The same concept is being pursued by several government agencies also involved in the Co-Space project.
The National Library Board, for example, is looking at a fully interactive library where people can not just walk through the shelves virtually. Insteads of just reading and typing on the Net now, you can also 'see' and maybe even 'touch' people online because everyone will have a character or avatar.
Soon, Internet users will be able to walk through and interact with an online version of Singapore specially created for the computer screen.
The promise comes from an ambitious project to re-create not just the streets and buildings here but the experience of being in Singapore -- in an online 3D world. The Media Development Authority (MDA) is currently reviewing several proposals from the industry to build this virtual city, called Co-Space. Some of these proposals will be presented at an industry event this evening.
The realm could let users explore famous places, like Fort Canning, talk to Singaporeans who are also logged on, and be an online spectator during the Youth Olympics in 2011. It will allow people to chat in online forums and explore a 3D world like that in Second Life, the popular virtual domain that lets people 'walk' through streets with their avatars, or characters, and interact.
But unlike Second Life, the Singapore version will be based on reality, not fantasy. MDA deputy chief executive Michael Yap called it 'Google Maps meets Second Life.' Though the concept has been around since the early days of the Web, higher broadband speeds and faster computers churning out realistic 3D graphics have made such an online world possible now.
Fifty firms, from budding online-world developers to telecom operators have come forward since the MDA first sought proposals for the realm last month.
For example, they may be able to visit a virtual stadium, which will show video feeds of live events. The same concept is being pursued by several government agencies also involved in the Co-Space project.
The National Library Board, for example, is looking at a fully interactive library where people can not just walk through the shelves virtually. Insteads of just reading and typing on the Net now, you can also 'see' and maybe even 'touch' people online because everyone will have a character or avatar.
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