您的网络浏览器(web browser)不仅仅是查看网站的一种方式。Web 技术(Web technology)已经发展到可以在浏览器中运行复杂软件的程度。这意味着您现在可以从任何具有兼容浏览器的设备上单击一些非常棒的基于 Web 的模拟器。
下面的五个在线模拟器使用最新的网络动画(web animation)、3D 图形和网络应用程序技术(app technology)，将三十年前你需要一台超级计算机的东西直接显示在你的屏幕上。那么，为什么不暂时放弃现实，花一些时间探索其中一个模拟呢？
自从我们看到任何像样的新飞行模拟器上市以来已经有一段时间了。微软正在使用(Microsoft)Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 制作(Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020)一些特别的东西，但如果您只是想乘坐虚拟飞机并在全球范围内飞行怎么办？
这就是GEO-FS 发挥作用(GEO-FS)的地方。这是一个令人惊叹的在线飞行模拟器(online flight simulator)，拥有 20 种不同的飞机、30 000 条跑道和可以飞越的全球地形。最令人印象深刻的是GEO-FS如何将来自现实世界的信息输入到模拟中。
您将在这款大型多人模拟器中看到真实的商业(multiplayer simulator)空中交通(air traffic)、实时天气状况和其他玩家飞来飞去。当然，在图形方面有更好的飞行模拟器，但GEO-FS对其他模拟器根本无法(GEO-FS)触及(touch –)的区域的细节有着惊人的关注——它在您的浏览器中运行。
谷歌地球(Google Earth)(Google Earth)
当然， Google 地球(Google Earth)也可以作为可下载的应用程序使用。但是，如果您使用Chrome 浏览器，您可以在几秒钟内在浏览器选项卡(browser tab)中启动Google 地球。(Google Earth)当然取决于你的网速。
多年来，谷歌(Google)在这个被低估的软件上做了很多工作。这是迄今为止无缝探索我们星球的最佳方式。您可以通过单击鼠标旋转地球，从空间查看它，然后缩小到地面。访问极其详细的表面 3D 渲染、知识卡、导游等。
老实说，这使教师的工作变得更加容易。令人难以置信的是，谷歌(Google)只是免费提供它。
太阳系范围(Solar System Scope)(Solar System Scope)
虽然谷歌地图(Google Maps)最近在其收藏中添加了地球以外的行星，但它或(Earth)谷歌地球(Google Earth)都没有提供我们太阳系的完整模型。实际上，我们的太阳系有很多不错的在线模拟。因此，在某些方面，当您在我们的太空后院(space backyard)旅行时，您会被宠坏了。
我们喜欢一个名为Solar System Scope的(Solar System Scope)在线模拟器应用程序(online simulator app)，它确实拥有在浏览器中运行的最好、最流畅的模型之一。这些人一直致力于空间事件的可视化。你会发现一整套用Flash完成的简洁动画库，现在显然已经过时了(which is obviously obsolete now)，但仍然相当不错。
主要的吸引力是新的真正的3D模型。默认情况下，它有些夸张，但如果您深入研究设置，您可以打开和关闭真实的相对大小、卫星和其他细节。您还可以设置任何日期和时间(date and time)来查看过去或未来所有天体的正确位置。
尽管有这个名字，但太阳系范围(Solar System Scope)实际上提供了一个远远超出我们当地空间的视野。您可以缩小视野，看看我们自己的银河系，银河系(Milky Way)，以及沿途名胜古迹的一些细节。
然而，Solar System Scope主要在与我们都知道和喜爱的八颗行星玩耍时闪耀。
PhET 物理模拟器(PhET Physics Simulators)(PhET Physics Simulators)
感觉真实的在线模拟器不仅仅是看起来逼真的图形。这些教育物理模拟器是卡通风格的，并不意味着看起来像真实的东西。事实上，这些交互式模拟应用程序(simulation apps)模拟的许多事物都是理论上的、微观的，甚至是亚原子的。
这些模拟真实的感觉是它背后的数学。你可以摆弄这些变量，看看它在现实生活中会产生什么影响。所有这些都无需设置实验或拥有真正的实验室设备。
集合中的大多数模拟器都可以在您的浏览器中运行。请注意，并非所有这些都是 HTML 5，因此您可能必须启用 Flash 才能使它们工作。有了这个小小的警告，这可能是获得科学教育模拟的最佳场所。
奖励：模拟城市 2000(SimCity 2000)(Bonus: SimCity 2000)
好的，最后一个可能有点作弊，因为这实际上只是在浏览器中运行的原始SimCity 2000 。不过，想想这意味着什么。最好的经典城市模拟器(city simulator)游戏之一现在可以在几秒钟内以原始DOS 形式(DOS form)在您的浏览器中播放。您所要做的就是点击上面的链接，一分钟之内您就可以建造您的城市。
它是在您的浏览器中运行的合适的DOS PC 模拟器。(DOS PC emulator)因此，您正在（某种）模拟旧计算机系统上玩(computer system)模拟器游戏(simulator game)。它真的感觉就像真实的东西。
这是模拟，但它的乐趣并不比以往任何时候都要少。如果你能忍受这些广告，Play Classic还有很多其他的老游戏，所以你可以假装又回到了 1990 年代，而你正在启动你的旧奔腾 PC。
这就是现实的生活吗？还是只是幻想？(Is This The Real Life? Or Is It Just Fantasy?)
模拟可以是有趣的、有教育意义的和有用的。因此，您无需访问大学计算机大楼(university computer building)即可玩转现实世界的这些简洁的虚拟表示，这是一件好事。
这些在线模拟器证明了消费技术(consumer technology)已经走了多远，设备在您的手掌中或放在您的腿上，利用互联网看似无限的力量。
4 Online simulators That Feel Like the Real Thing
Your web browser is more than just a waу to lоok at webѕitеs. Web technology has grown to the point where complex software can run right there in your browser. Which means there are some pretty amazing web-based simulators yoυ can click on right now from any devіce with a compatible browser.
The five online simulators below use the latest in web animation, 3D graphics and web app technology to deliver something you’d have needed a supercomputer for thirty years ago, right onto your screen. So why not ditch reality for a while and spend some time exploring one of these simulations?
It’s been a while since we’ve seen any decent new flight simulators come to market. Microsoft is cooking up something special with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, but what if you just feel like getting in a virtual aircraft and flying around the globe a bit?
That’s where GEO-FS comes into the picture. It’s an amazing online flight simulator with 20 different aircraft, 30 000 runways and a global terrain to fly over. More impressive than anything is how GEO-FS feeds information from the real world into the simulation.
You’ll see real commercial air traffic, real-time weather conditions and other players flying around in this massive multiplayer simulator. Sure, there are nicer flight simulators when it comes to graphics, but GEO-FS has amazing attention to detail in areas where other simulators simply won’t touch – and it runs in your browser.
Google Earth is, of course, also available as a downloadable app. However, if you use the Chrome Browser you can launch Google Earth in a browser tab within seconds. Depending on your internet speed of course.
Google has done a massive amount to this underappreciated software over the years. It’s by far the best way to seamlessly explore our planet. You can spin the globe with a click of your mouse, view it from space and then zoom down to ground level. Get access to incredibly detailed 3D renderings of the surface, knowledge cards, guided tours and more.
Honestly, this makes the job of teachers so much easier. It boggles the mind that Google just gives it away for free.
While Google Maps has recently added planets other than Earth to its collection, neither it or Google Earth provide a complete model of our solar system. There are actually quite a few decent online simulations of our solar system. So in some ways you are spoilt for choice when it comes to taking a trip through our space backyard.
We like an online simulator app called Solar System Scope, which really has one of the nicest, smoothest models to run in a browser. These guys have been working on visualizations of space events for some time. You’ll find a whole library of neat animations done in Flash, which is obviously obsolete now, but still pretty good.
The main attraction is the new true 3D model. By default it has some exaggerations, but if you delve into the settings you can toggle realistic relative sizes, moons and other details on and off. You can also set any date and time to see the correct positions of all the celestial bodies, past or future.
Despite the name, Solar System Scope actually offers a view that goes substantially beyond our local space. You can zoom out to have a gander at our own galaxy, the Milky Way, with some details about places of interest on the way there.
However, Solar System Scope mainly shines when playing around with the eight planets we all know and love.
Online simulators that feel real aren’t just about graphics that look realistic. These educational physics simulators are cartoon-y and aren’t meant to look like the real thing. In fact, many of the things that are simulated by these interactive simulation apps are theoretical, microscopic and even sub-atomic.
What feels real about these simulations is the math behind it. You can fiddle with the variables and see what the real-life effect of that would be. All without needing to set up an experiment or having real lab equipment.
Most of the simulators in the collection can be run in your browser. Just be aware that not all of them are HTML 5, so you might have to enable flash to get them to work. With that small caveat out of the way, this is probably the best place to get educational simulations for the sciences.
OK, this last one might be a bit of a cheat, since this is literally just the original SimCity 2000 running in a browser. Still, think about what this means. One of the best classic city simulator games can now be played in its original DOS form, in your browser in seconds. All you have to do is click on the link above and within a minute you’ll be building your city.
It’s a proper DOS PC emulator running in your browser. So you’re playing a simulator game on a (sort of) simulation of an old computer system. It really feels just like the real thing.
It’s sim-ception, but it’s no less fun than it’s always been. If you can put up with the ads, Play Classic has a lot of other old titles as well, so you can pretend it’s the 1990s again and you’re booting up your old Pentium PC.
Is This The Real Life? Or Is It Just Fantasy?
Simulation can be fun, educational and useful. So it’s a good thing you don’t need access to a university computer building to play around with these neat virtual representations of the real world.
These online simulators are a testament to how far consumer technology has come, with devices in the palm of your hand or nestled on your lap, tapping into the seemingly infinite power of the internet.
