MUDs grow up: social virtual reality in the real world

MUDs, or "multi-user dungeons", are multi-user, text-based, networked computing environments that are currently used mostly for gaming. Despite the obvious shortcomings of a text-only system, they are quite popular. The Social Virtual Reality project at Xerox PARC is extending MUD technology for use in non-recreational settings. Our goal is to keep the strength of MUDs/spl minus/shared computing with a powerful real-world metaphor/spl minus/while correcting their shortcomings by adding audio, video, and interactive windows. We are building two specific prototypes: Astro-VR, for use by the professional astronomy community, and Jupiter, for use by researchers within Xerox.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">></ETX>