Virtual Laboratories and Virtual Worlds

TL;DR

The paper discusses the evolution of virtual laboratories in astrophysics, highlighting how recent 3D online virtual worlds enable scientists to actively participate as avatars, enhancing collaboration and exploration.

Contribution

It introduces the use of 3D virtual worlds like Qwaq Forums for active scientific engagement in astrophysics virtual laboratories.

Findings

Enhanced collaboration through avatar presence

New ways to explore simulation results

Improved remote scientific interactions

Abstract

Since we cannot put stars in a laboratory, astrophysicists had to wait till the invention of computers before becoming laboratory scientists. For half a century now, we have been conducting experiments in our virtual laboratories. However, we ourselves have remained behind the keyboard, with the screen of the monitor separating us from the world we are simulating. Recently, 3D on-line technology, developed first for games but now deployed in virtual worlds like Second Life, is beginning to make it possible for astrophysicists to enter their virtual labs themselves, in virtual form as avatars. This has several advantages, from new possibilities to explore the results of the simulations to a shared presence in a virtual lab with remote collaborators on different continents. I will report my experiences with the use of Qwaq Forums, a virtual world developed by a new company (see http://www.qwaq.com)