With “chat in a 3D virtual world” style client-server applications getting noticed, Google has recently made it’s first footstep into what most of us might think will change the way we interact over the internet.
Google has launched a service named Google Lively, which it has labeled as a Chat Experience. Lively is a simulated virtual world where any user can create a room or more precisely, a space for friends to chill out and chat within. The space can be customized, with furniture and objects, video and photo streams and much more. Each user signing in gets to create an avatar and control how it looks. Although, there are not abundant customizations that are available yet. But Google sure seems to plan on going the Second Life way, allowing users to shop for customizations and apparel inside Lively.
The service is in it’s first beta. But yes, it is slow. If you have a slow internet connection, I would advise you to stay away from Lively as of now. Even after you sign into a room, loading the room environment takes up some time over an average broadband connection. Also, the service requires DirectX 9 hardware acceleration enabled on your machine, so make sure you have a nice video card installed before you end up being disappointed.
Getting Lively running is as simple as downloading their installer, installing the software and signing in. You have a good choice of Lively or user created spaces or rooms to get into. Once you’re in, you can move around, interact with objects (like, sit on chairs, move them), and ofcourse, chat with people. Although I did find the moving around part a bit unfriendly.
Google seems to to have made more of a “Mee too!” kind of an attempt with Lively, especially if you end up comparing it with Second Life. For people who have been used to Second Life, I must say Second Life has way more depth as of now. But you can sure give Google Lively a try.
Go ahead, explore Google Lively and invite your friends over. You can visit the help section in case you need to know more. Drop me a “Hi” incase you come across me having a coffee in one of the rooms. 
Until next time.
Akash.
