Here I sit. In the virtual space of Second Life I’m sitting inside a detailed facsimile of the United Nations. In meatspace I’m sitting in front of a partially-rendered 3D screen image of that virtual space.

Why am I blogging this? Because the lag is so bad I can type this entry and not actually miss anything on the screen.

Why is this irritating? Because Thomas Barnett is also “inside” the virtual UN making a presentation and discussing his new book.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s not the unfortunate circumstances surrounding this particular presentation that bugs me. It’s that considering the level of attention Linden Lab has given this presentation the last few days, one would expect better coordination (or at least waiting to upgrade the software client until afterward; the new release isn’t even 48 hours old!). One would expect something like “external scripts” to be turned off so that chatter in the open channel wouldn’t include stuff like “SuperFlightEnhancer Version: XX01.b.x025: Ready to rocket you to the moon”. One might also expect an introduction to include a request asking that those in attendence turn off their virtual gear (scanners, multi-gadgets, bubblegum(!), aso) as those things eat system resources and contribute to lag. And there are other things one might expect as well, assuming the presentation was well-planned and executed in such a way to ensure things went smoothly.

But here I sit. And so does the 800-lb lag monster that has planted itself on my lap. I just wish I could see Mr. Barnett’s in-world slideshow.

Just came across something on the “we make money not art” site that sounds interesting and relevant to what I typically blog, but their explanation and links left me confused. This concerns a mixed reality project called “Gulliver’s World”. It appears as if they did a selective cut and paste from the previous iteration’s (Gulliver’s Box, 2003) press page and missed including something from the updated stuff (Gulliver’s World, 2004) which is part of the World Summit Awards they reference. All this even though their “Gulliver’s Box” link goes to the “Gulliver’s World” site. (*phew*) That would also explain the “Gulliver’s Box” headline they posted. Does your head hurt yet? Well, just check out the links below since this is actually pretty cool:

From the ARS Electronica source to which they link:

“Gulliver’s World” is an upgraded version of “Gulliver’s Box,” an installation that has been one of the Ars Electronica Center’s most popular attractions. Create your own fantasy landscape, design aliens and monsters, and let your very own virtual world come alive.

From an AEC archive I surfed through:

The popular “Gulliver’s Box” installation has been enhanced and expanded to provide an even more amazing experience at the nexus of virtual and material reality.

From the World Summit Award site:

Gulliver’s World implements a unique and innovative exhibition model for interactive digital environments. It features a total of seven ‘experience stations’ whose intuitive, user-friendly interface makes it easy for visitors to get into the swing of hands-on experimentation. This simplifies the learning process of creating a complex and individualised mixed-reality environment.

Thanks to “we make money not art” for posting something… even if it confused the hell out of me.

BusinessWeek has an interesting article and slideshow on Philips. Lots of interesting stuff, but I have to admit the article seemed to have a lot of bad news contained within it… and they didn’t even mention Philips’ failed attempt to break into the U.S. small appliance market (through Target if memory serves me). Don’t get me wrong: I admire Philips and really like their products. But will someone clue them in that Marzano using the term “High Design” doesn’t win them any points (heaven forbid he actually coined the term). Elitist slogans – which is how it sounds regardless of whether it means something else – isn’t going to help them sell to an increasingly democratized world. And I’d like to see them sell more of their cool little products.

{Image Source: BusinessWeek}

C|Net is carrying a Reuters story about Iranians incensed over Kuma Reality Games latest real world events-inspired game simulation, “U.S. attacks Iran“. Keith Halper, CEO of Kuma, spoke inside the virtual world Second Life a few months back. Afterward there seemed to be a fair number of disappointed avatars in the audience; most – apparently including Clickable Culture’s Tony Walsh who covered it on his site – complained that the bulk of his presentation felt like an infomercial (you can listen to an mp3 of the presentation and form your own opinion). I didn’t mind his presentation so much, but thought this part of the Reuters story was pretty funny:

“The controversy does surprise me. I just didn’t expect that there were people from Iran who were going to become aware of it,” he told Reuters.

Does he actually think anyone believes him when he says that? C’mon, dude. It’s the internet. It’s g l o b a l.

Considering so many real world conflicts are rooted in money, it certainly appears as if there really isn’t much difference between meatspace and virtual space. It’s all about the money. And Kuma certainly doesn’t seem concerned if they all bleed together (pun intended). Besides, next thing you know, avatars will be setting up metaverse corporations and using the virtual profits to fund political protests in cyberspace over real world issues. Actually, I suspect it’s already happening.

Considering that my background includes degrees in both aerospace engineering and industrial design, this plug for the latest exhibition at the Pratt Manhatten Gallery in NYC, “Aerospace Design: The Art of Engineering from NASA’s Aeronautical Research“, shouldn’t come as a surprise. Pratt president Thomas F. Schutte has this to say about the show:

As an exploration of the connections between industrial design, architecture, engineering, and technology, this show emphasizes the significance of interdisciplinary thinking in creating innovative design solutions.

If you’re in the NYC area, the show goes through December 17, 2005, so you might want to check it out.

via arcspace

{Image Source: NASA}