From the virtual worlds rumors department, Google Operating System, an unofficial Google news blog, reported that Google’s testing something new at ASU:
Arizona State University’s students have the opportunity to test a new product “that will be publicly launched later this year”. The invitation page mentions that the product is developed by “a major Internet company” and there are hints that the application is related to social networking, 3D modeling and video games.
Read the post itself for speculations from the site operator. Personally, I don’t think Google’s trying to creating another Second Life type virtual world. If anything, my guess is it will be a 3D MySpace or Facebook. Google’s business is information. What’s better than to get everyone on Earth to contribute information about themselves, and present them as they are in Google Earth? Then again, no one’s obligated to “show themselves” on Google Earth. Philosophically, this can turn into an additional dimension to the world as we know it.
