The momentum for using games in a workplace environment seems to be building. The topic is showing up in conference programs, blogs, forums, and now in a TEDTalk. People are realizing what the game industry figured out long ago – it’s possible to create something that consistently encourages and trains people to perform specific tasks…
Category: Public Works in the Metaverse
Augmented Reality for Public Works
Augmented reality (AR) has been gaining ground over the last couple years—most likely as a result of an increasing number of applications incorporating AR and an increase in the capabilities of supporting technology. But while the advances have been useful and impressive, I have not seen much related to the public works industry. This surprises…
A Brave New Grid – The Decision
Last month I decided to close down the Public Works Group island in Second Life. Over the last 2 1/2 years, the island allowed many people the opportunity to see and explore how virtual worlds could enhance the public works industry. The site also provided a place for people to meet and experience virtual worlds…
Measuring Success of Virtual Spaces
In order to reach a valid conclusion about the success of a virtual space, we need to understand the reason that space was created. If someone knew nothing about baseball and visited the large barren, snow-covered baseball complex near me that no one has entered for the last 7 months because it has barricades across…
CityCamp – Talkin’ Government & Gettin’ Scrappy
Last weekend I was fortunate to be able to spend the entire weekend at the UIC campus in Chicago hanging out with about 100 other people who are interested in local government. The event was CityCamp – a conference held in unconference style where the attendees determine and host the sessions. While there were several…
Smart Tagging Engineering Plans
The city of Manor, Texas, has been successfully using QR codes for some time to convey information to citizens. And a while ago, I blogged about Microsoft tags – another method of conveying information through the use of a code and mobile reader. The Microsoft Tags have intrigued me because if you have time, you…
Microsoft Tags Go Live
Back in May I was hoping someone would make a business card that could cause a computer device to go directly to a Website. While this technology might have been possible back then, it did not seem readily available to a regular person like me. But no more! Microsoft has come to the rescue creating…
Virtual Cemetery Update
While exploring the virtual grid for government-related sites, I stumbled across a virtual graveyard on the Prince Edward County (Ontario) island in Second Life. And while Second Life has several interesting cemeteries this one caught my attention because the builders had loaded some of the stones with historic narratives from the Prince Edward County area….
Social Networking Lessons for Building Local Communities
Can local governments succeed in building community by following lessons provided by successful social networks?
Virtual Cemeteries
An exploration of using augmented reality, QR codes, and virtual worlds to enhance delivery of cemetery services.