Ever since MDA launched it’s Co-Space initiative. I’ve always wondered what on earth did it mean?

What is a Co-Space? If someone told you this word out of no-where, would you be able to figure it out?

I finally found out when I read this in the Virtual Worlds Weekly (Vol 2, Issue 13):

Updated: Singapore to Generously Fund Mixed Reality

Last week, Singapore’s Interactive Digital Media R&D Programme Office issued a call for proposals to create “‘Co (existent) Spaces,’ where interoperability between physical and virtual world technologies produce an amalgamation of bespoke experiences that synthesize the benefits of both physical and virtual worlds.” Current ideas range from 3D models of Singapore for military training to augmented reality museums to housing estates for urban planning. From the National Research Foundation’s $500 million fund, the government is willing to fund over 50% of the development cost. More info.

Orrr!! So Co-Space meant Co(existent) Space. In other words: Mixed Reality.

That’s my gripe with what’s going on in Singapore: Why can’t industry standard terms like “Mixed Reality” be used?

To me, that’s one big reason why there’s a persistent dis-connect between the Singapore industry and the rest of the world: we live in our own world, with our own words. Nobody really understands.

For a small country, instead of trying to define the lexicon, i feel it’s better to go with the lexicon that the world speaks. Unless we have a hegemony it’s very tough to influence the global audience to adopt your language.