Google just "quietly" released its own virtual world: Lively. Overall, I found it a rather clumsy experience although part of that could be blamed on my own ramp up with the Lively UI. For those accustomed to other virtual worlds, Lively will seem a bit limiting in functionality and short on graphic presentation. Also, it is PC only at the moment. )-: That said, it is an important moment in the virtual world industry if for nothing else in terms of the name equity attached to any app being put out as a Google product.

What does it mean for learning? It offers a real change in how 3D portals might be integrated into a learning experience. The real weakness of Second Life and other virtual worlds is document management and dynamic management of text, both creation of and readability of, within an experience. The integration of Lively with the browser is perhaps its greatest strength and where we begin to see the realization of a more ubiquitous virtual world experience. One can now see how a current learning experience could be enhanced with chunks of 3D learning content/activities that could support a greater challenge and do so in a way that would not break the user from the greater learning interface or LMS.

I believe other virtual world platforms will need to step up to this or other similar kind of browser integration to continue to compete in the long term.

Want to know more? Check out this World2World discussion on the topic:
http://www.world2worlds.com/media/bliplively.html