Every Wherigo...gps has a brand new hat

With all the talk of virtual worlds, and Second Life in particular, its easy to forget that there is a real world out there that also beckons attention beyond our monitors. Actually, it would be nice to marry both the virtual and real worlds together, because then you can really get some interesting things happening. This has not been lost (forgive the geo-pun) on the founders of Geocaching.com who have recently released a software platform called WheriGo (pronounced Where-i-Go) that enables one to overlay virtual world data onto the real world using gps technology as the bridge between the two. Currently, the software works on handheld PocketPCs running Windows CE (it will need a GPS receiver installed or attached) and on Garmin's new Colorado line of GPS receivers. The software is built with Microsoft ASP.net framework, but the developers will be porting it over to a web based platform (I assume Java) in the very near future. Check out WheriGo and see for yourself what its all about. Its a new game in town and it just might stir things up a bit. For educators who want to mix things up with some field trip experience might do well to check out WheriGo and see how this new platform works with their teaching and research.

From WheriGo's glossary comes the actual definition of the platform: a toolset for creating location-based games and other real-world experiences using a combination of GPS-enabled handheld devices and the Internet. The Wherigo family includes two main applications, the Wherigo Builder and the Wherigo Player. I think this will be very cool. The About page has some nice suggestions related to educational uses (at the bottom).

Keene