[extropy-chat] Looking for software

[BillK]

On Mon Apr 5 20:20:43 MDT 2004 Kevin Freels wrote:
> I am looking for some software that may not even be available yet.
>
> What I would like is a "virtual planet". Something where I can browse
> over the surface of the Earth and zoom in on any point. I am most
> interested in geological structure and plant life. I want to be able
> to look at the African savannah and be able to tell that there is
> space between the trees.

When you find the software you are looking for, don't forget to tell the
US Army, because that is what they are building. The first version of
the virtual planet should be finished by September 2004.

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3507531.stm>
"The US Army is building a second version of Earth on computer to help
it prepare for conflicts around the world.
The detailed simulation will be drawn from a real-world terrain database
and will be drawn to the same scale as the original".

<http://www.homelanfed.com/index.php?id=20830>
"People play themselves, on the ground, interacting with their team,
other units, civilians, the enemy, etc. It's not all combat by any
means, there will be a lot of intelligence, patrolling, planning,
collaboration, negotiation with civilians, etc".


There is also every chance that versions will be made available to the
public, like America's Army was.

BillK