Birmingham launches virtual world

14:19 21st July 2008

Birmingham is attempting to connect with its young people by creating a virtual environment of the city - which could be developed to work with areas of business.

Digital Birmingham - a council led public, private and voluntary scheme - uses Google Maps and Second Life in an effort to help residents access services, improve promotion of local businesses and enhance events.

The council believes that applications from supplier Daden, based on the technology, could be used in planning or to attract investment.

Chris Price, director of Digital Birmingham, said that getting young people engaged in council issues was a challenge that could be met using viral technologies.

He said: "We’re conscious of the fact that we’re not making as much use of Web 2.0, virtual worlds and social networking as we could be.

"So the council’s planning department has a consultative group of young people, in which they didn’t respond as well to paper maps as they did to 3D ones."

Second Life is an internet based 3D virtual society, where users can create, learn new skills, start a business or meet new people.

Home study courses from Computeach help you enter the IT industry.