France readies virtual visions

FRANCE is building a vivid, online three-dimensional virtual pavilion to give web visitors a real-time 360-degree experience.

Visitors will be able to "walk" through the virtual pavilion by simple mouse clicks to roam inside and outside, as if they were at the physical pavilion.

And they'll get free entrance to the "Gallery" to view masterpieces from famous French artists and play games using the latest 3D technology.

France unveiled its virtual pavilion demo yesterday -- the first interactive 3D virtual pavilion among participants of World Expo Online 2010.

The virtual pavilion uses a leading 3D technology, Dassault Systemes' 3DVIA Virtools software, to complement the French Pavilion's main theme, "Sensual City."

"We are excited about being the first Expo participant to launch the interactive 3D virtual pavilion for the world's first Expo Online," said Jose Freches, the pavilion's Commissioner General.

Visitors may "tour" the virtual pavilion online on May 1.