Zotero Improvements & More Virtual Worlds

On July 8th Zotero announced the beta test version of Zotero 1.5 which includes a long-awaited functionality: the ability to sync your library with multiple computers. If this implementation is successful it will go a long way towards Zotero’s success. Essentially, Zotero’s users are saving their content to Zotero’s servers and tapping into them from the web application interface. The drawback to this, however, is that users must still download the software for all of the computers they are using. Thus, if an institution wanted their users to utilize Zotero, the software would need to be installed on all public machines. The 1.5 version is only available now for Firefox 3.

Google doesn’t rest, does it?  It wouldn’t appear so as they’ve just recently unveiled their new virtual world, Lively.  This isn’t surprising.  Virtual worlds are popping up everywhere.  DC Comics are getting into the game with their VW, DC Universe Online.  Both of these virtual worlds cater to the younger set. DC Universe, however, is a virtual world in the World of Warcraft mode, replete with missions, points etc, whereas Lively seems to be more like Second Life and Habbo Hotel.

One of the recommendations the Social Networking Group had was to stay on top of virtual world development because we realized that Second Life was only the first of many.  Future users of our services are going to be used to conducting affairs in virtual worlds and it is therefore our job to integrate into these worlds.  Here are some videos on Lively and DC Universe:

Zip it up and zip it out.