The Internet world today is all about being part of the social web, an interactive environment that has changed from the old-fashioned text messaging, to the latest 3D graphics. Google wants to add its name to the list of 3D social networking providers as it announced the release of Lively Google, the newest addition to Google Labs.

Niniane Wang, Engineering Manager at Google, explained on the company's blog that the Lively team is working on helping people experience a new dimension of the web, by allowing them to express themselves with and without words in the web places they're familiar with.

Lively users are able to customize their avatars as they please, chat and interact through animated actions. As Wang said, Google discovered in their user research how much more poignant it is to receive an animated hug than seeing the text “[[hug]]”.

Users will be able to watch YouTube videos and other website content in these virtual rooms, as well as show photos in virtual picture frames inside the rooms, which can be integrated in Web sites and blogs, Google explained.

In addition to that, users will be able to choose an avatar and customize it, create rooms with their favorite furniture and decorative objects and choose a room shell.

The full integration of Lively into our Internet destinations will change the way we surf the net, Google believes. Internet will become more personal than ever before, with personalization options everywhere and endless possibilities of interaction.

This project reminds us of course of Second Life, which was launched in 2003 as an Internet-based virtual world that enabled people to interact through motion avatars. The project was developed by Linden Research Inc. and had its mainstream media peak in late 2006 and 2007.

Despite the 11.5 million accounts that have been registered over the years, There, Active Worlds and Red Light Center appear to be serious competitors.