Second Life Used To Solve Real World Engineering Challenges

U.C. Irvine computer scientist Crista Lopes "is creating software to control a virtual rapid-transit system called SkyTran. Her software keeps SkyTran's virtual cars from getting into virtual collisions at virtual interchanges of virtual tracks."

"After the control software is ready in Second Life, her plan is to transfer it to a real-world version of SkyTran, proposed by the Irvine-based transportation company Unimodal Inc."

"In the programming process, Lopes said, she discovered that the simplified physics of Second Life are close enough to the physics of the real world that Second Life can be used as an inexpensive simulation tool by small- to medium-sized companies. It's a low-cost alternative to the sophisticated simulation programs in use by industrial designers at big-bucks enterprises such as NASA and the military, as well as Boeing and other aerospace contractors."

"In the virtual construction process, which used specs from Unimodal, the researchers found ways to improve the SkyTran design, Lopes said."

"One was the alignment of the express track directly over the platform, which would be safe, but feels unsafe. The second issue arose from the clear "glass" used in the Second Life pods. Unimodal officials said that, if that were used in a real-life SkyTran pod, it could expose passengers to a fast, repetitive pattern of SkyTran track components moving by, which could produce epileptic seizures in some people."