We assume a social networking style web site based on an open source content management systems is used to manage and support the community or communities of interest and give them a range of faculties they need for their communication, work and events.

We assume a 3D space in which the users can interact and collaborate that supplements  the Web 2.0 functionality.

Base software we assume is:

• Server end: Apache, PHP and MySQL server
• Client end:  Web browser (should work in IE, Firefox and Safari at least), Javascript.  (no flash except for special addins)
• Open source CMS: e.g. Drupal or Joomla
• Linkup to all the rest of the facilities, and ways to integrate them well, seamless in style, common user authentication, etc.

Proposed Functionality

• Real persona to virtual persona link up - and some way to control what you wish to show each way - profile, real name, organisation, additional VW information (avatar name, password, avatar image).
• Groups and communities, friends lists, group membership and information.. linking web and 3D groups where desired.
• Event management and media/information/log/after event material sharing

Experimentation to Date

We have experimented with links between the 2D web sites such as Joomla and Drupal) and 3D spaces (such as Second Life and Opensim) and have already used the following features:

• Links on 2D web to allow easy entry to 3D Space (SLurls/OSurls/teleport to secondlife:/Teleport to opensim:/Olish Newman NewWorldGrid Metaverse Launcher)
• Orientation for new users using a combination of web pages for help, FAQ, video media and other facilities on 2D web side and in 3D Space (Ho Max Orientation):
  • http://imohax.com/heyavatar/
  • http://media.aiai.ed.ac.uk/Project/OpenVCE/Video/Orientation/
  • See Clever Zebra's analysis and examples of Second Life and Virtual Worlds orientation areas: http://www.calebbooker.com/blog/2009/02/10/roi-in-virtual-worlds-the-new-user-experience/
• Object in 3D which allows blog entries to be made to 2D Web Drupal, Joomla or Wordpress accounts (Blog Poster LSL Scripts by S. Massiaux - Wene Chke - smm2017 Binder - http://code.google.com/p/ssm2017binder/wiki/ssmBlogPosterEng )
• Twitter status/posting/search displays in 3D Space - AIAI Custom Code - based on http://sl-devcorner.blogspot.com/2007/03/second-life-twitter.html
• Twitter HUD for status/posting/search displays in 3D Space - SLTweets Plus HUD v0.78 - Bleys Chevalier http://www.sltweets.com/
• Virtual World (Second Life) contact page as add-on to Joomla and/or Drupal user profiles.  Can add Friends/avatar lists, Second Life IM to listed avatars.
• Two way chat link up between Second Life open chat in a nominated area (via an in world object) and a chat tool embedded in a web page. AIAI Custom Code - Jeff Dalton
  • http://openvce.net/index.php/event-support-backup
  • http://openvce.net/drupal/backup-access

Joomla:

• Joomla SLContact_xt Module and related Second Life LSL scripts: http://joomlacode.org/gf/project/slcontact
• XStreet Vendor: http://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=1259333
• Author's Web Site (Produits Section): http://ssm2017.free.fr/

Drupal:

• http://groups.drupal.org/secondlife
• http://drupal.org/project/sluser (replaces slcontact_xt?)
• http://drupal.org/project/slcontact_xt
• http://drupal.org/project/slauth