NOAA’s Virtual Island

Eric Hackathorn NOAA / OAR / ESRL

game origins - serious applicationsgame origins - serious applicationsThe web is the primary The web is the primary delivery mechanism for delivery mechanism for products and services to products and services to our customers.our customers.

In the future, the same In the future, the same will be said of virtual will be said of virtual worlds.worlds.

NOAA should develop NOAA should develop and maintain its role as a and maintain its role as a leader in virtual worlds.leader in virtual worlds.

about second life• Second Life platform is

well suited for NOAA’s needs

• Customer base is growing by 20% per month and currently serves over 7.9 million

• 100% user generated content

• Creator (NOAA) retains intellectual property rights

private islands

main land

our virtual island

“NOAA has, beyond a doubt, set the standard in the quality and potential for all virtual museums to follow with this enormous undertaking.”- The Metaverse Messenger 12/5/2006

our virtual world• A modest investment has

put NOAA in a leadership position in a major new technology

• The NOAA CIO office is behind the effort with funding, policy, and guidance

• The education office is providing logistical support

• PPBES involvement in theFY 2010 – 2014 cycle

the plan• Design line office specific

content while maintaining a “One NOAA” context

• Organize project under the leadership of NOAA Research and the Office of Education

• Contract some of the content development to professional suppliers

national weather service

Credit: Billion Dollar U.S. Weather DisastersCredit: Billion Dollar U.S. Weather Disasters

understanding the effects of droughts

satellite and information service

fisheries service

Credit: NOAA Fisheries Sustainability PosterCredit: NOAA Fisheries Sustainability Poster

noaa research

national ocean service

……virtual expansion already underway!virtual expansion already underway!

noaa facilities and infrastructure

Photo by Will von Dauster

noaa libraries

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”-As You Like It, (II, vii, 139-143)

More Information:Virtual Shakespearean WorldMore Information:Virtual Shakespearean World

the future• Participating in a virtual

world federal agency consortium

• Blending geospatial applications with collaborative social environments

• Collaborating within NOAA at new levels of awareness

• Reaching the public in a world-wide interactive conversation

Credit: MIT Technology ReviewCredit: MIT Technology Review