Title: A review of interoperability and possibilities for data analysis from virtual world environments

Authors: Carlos-Miguel Lorenzo

Addresses: Computer Science Department, Pza. San Diego, University of Alcalá, s/n–28801, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

Abstract: Massively multi-user online virtual environments are gaining widespread attention and use. There are both proprietary and open-source implementations of these environments and they also use different communication protocols and data formats. After studying some of those protocols and formats, this paper provides a review of the current state of the art in the interoperability of these systems and elaborates on the possibilities of data analysis provided by them. A set of features regarding interoperability and data analysis is proposed, including the use of open communication protocols and content formats, then some of the most popular virtual world platforms (Second Life, OpenSim, Taiga, Active Worlds, Open Wonderland, Croquet Project, Tundra and Sirikata) are compared in terms of those features.

Keywords: interoperability; data analysis; MMOL; massively multiuser online learning; MMORG; massively multiplayer online role-playing games; virtual worlds; Second Life; OpenSim: Taiga; Active Worlds; Open Wonderland; Croquet; Tundra; Sirikata; open communication protocols; content formats.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMSO.2011.048039

International Journal of Metadata, Semantics and Ontologies, 2011 Vol.6 No.3/4, pp.234 - 240

Published online: 12 Feb 2015 *

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