Sunday, February 14, 2010
Is the *Avatar* concept really possible?
By Elizabeth Landau, CNN
(CNN) -- Now the highest-grossing film ever, "Avatar," has captivated millions of viewers with its picturesque scenery, extraterrestrial battles, and nature-loving, blue-skinned aliens.
The premise of the film is that humans can enter the world of these 10-foot aliens, called the Na'vi, by way of half-human, half-Na'vi hybrids. A high-tech interfacing mechanism allows a human to remain inert while controlling one of these avatar hybrids just by thinking.
Not only does the human manipulate the avatar's movements and speech, but he or she also experiences life -- every sensation, feeling and emotion -- through the eyes of the hybrid, as if consciousness were transferred.
Scientists say we are many decades, even centuries, away from making this kind of sophisticated interaction possible, if it can be done at all. But the fundamentals of components required to create this complicated system of mind-controlled avatars are already in the works, and have useful applications in medicine.
"We're starting to understand the basic building blocks, but the biggest challenges will be emotion and thought -- how to make another organism think what you think, to feel what you feel -- because those networks are much more difficult to sort out," said Dr. Brian Litt, associate professor of neurology and bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE ON CNN where they cover:
Moving remote objects by thinking
Uploading information
Understanding brain networks
Transferal of sensations and emotions
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Aleks Krotoski - The Virtual Revolution
Programme 1, The Great Levelling?, broadcasts Saturday, BBC2, 8:30pm
In episode 1 of The Virtual Revolution, Dr. Aleks Krotoski meets some of the biggest names of the web, including Jimmy Wales, Arianna Huffington, YouTube CEO Chad Hurley, and the inventor of the web himself, Tim Berners Lee. Watch original uncut interviews with them and others.
More about the series
You can watch live here and though region specific with a little tweaking of your PC can be watched from anywhere :-)
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Aleks Krotoski is an academic and journalist who writes about and studies technology and interactivity. Her PhD thesis in Social Psychology (University of Surrey, 2009) examined how information spreads around the social networks of the World Wide Web. Read up on her academic and research interests here. She is currently working on the 4-part, prime time BBC 2 series Virtual Revolution, about the social history of the World Wide Web, broadcasting at 8:30pm from Saturday 30 January 2010 (repeated Monday nights at 11pm). She blogs for the project here.
Aleks writes for The Guardian newspaper, and hosts Tech Weekly, their technology podcast. Her writing also appears in The Observer, on BBC Technology, New Statesman, MIT Technology Review and The Telegraph. Check out her words here.
Finally, she’s the New Media Sector Champion for UKTI, the government department that promotes British businesses around the world. Find out more here.
You can find Aleks all over the Web
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[Academic] Dissertation - "Social Influence in Second Life: Social Network and Social Psychological Processes in the Diffusion of Belief and Behaviour on the Web"
Krotoski, Aleksandra K. (2009). Social influence in Second Life: Social Network and Social Psychological Processes in the Diffusion of Belief and Behaviour on the Web. PhD Dissertation. University of Surrey, Department of Psychology, School of Human Sciences. [pdf]
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[BBC] The rise of the digital elite
The web is an extraordinary innovation, with the greatest potential to usher in social change since the invention of the printing press or the steam engine. Built upon a technology that is apolitical, unregulated and decentralised, it empowers everyone – men, women, children – to be creators of information, rather than passive consumers. It is also an enormous library of global consciousness, a digital collection of human knowledge from the past and the present and presented in an easy-to-access format. As a result, we now have the unprecedented power to create our own truth, and share it with everyone in the world. It has ushered in an equality of access that we have never seen before.
But has its potential as a great leveller for the whole world already passed? [FULL ARTICLE HERE]
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Panel at Berklee College of Music & in Second Life - Monday, January 11th - 12:25 SLT
Panel at Berklee College of Music & in Second Life
Monday, January 11th at 12:25 SLT
Robert Thomas, also known as Dizzy Banjo in SL will be taking part in a panel discussion about music and virtual worlds, held at Berklee college of music and in Second Life. The panel also features John Lester of Linden Lab ( creators of Second Life ) who does a lot of development work in the field of Education and Healthcare, Grace Buford who has established a successful online presence as the virtual performer Cylindrian Rutabaga, and Andrew Woolf and Perry Geyer ( of Boston based group Fierce Tibetan Gods ). It is moderated by Lori Landay of Berklee.
Mr. Thomas expects he'll be talking about the various pieces of interactive music work he has done in the virtual worlds space for organizations like Princeton University, Mexico Tourist Board, Costa Rica Tourist Board as well as other interactive installations like Parsec, Dare and Gestural Music.
He also hopes to talk about the possibilities of music delivered as software ( on various platforms ). Hw would also like to discuss how virtual worlds could be utilized by the music industry to deliver interactive content and how we could see a focus on the ’social 3d music app’ as a virtual good soon.
Join us for the discussion in SL here !
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Hi there ! My name is Robert Thomas, and I'm a composer interested in unusual ways music can become a soundtrack to your life. I run a small music company called Dizzy Banjo. I also go under the name Dizzy Banjo in numerous social networks and environments.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
How to Create the Wobble Bass or Dubstep Bass in Pro Tools
Check out more Winksound instructional and informational music production software videos:
Pro Tools
Ableton Live
Logic Studio
Reason
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
The SLOODLE Game Show - Run/Host your Own Game Show in Second Life
The SLOODLE Game Show is an opensource game that gets connected to your MOODLE website using the SLOODLE platform. Once connected, you can be a game show host, and your students - contestants. Includes a Rezzer, Auto-Color-coding Game Chairs, Audience Landmarks, Game Buzzer, Game Timer, and a Scoreboard. Students sit on game chairs, which automatically connect with MOODLE, detect the group the student is in, and then move the student to the audience where the rest of their team members are sitting. You click on the chairs to "bring the students up to the front" and the students chair will zoom alien-vehicle style to their group's booth. You can then ask a question - and students click the buzzer to indicate that they'd like to answer. You can then get the students to answer and award the ones who answer correctly. The team's scores will then be updated on the Scoreboard, and on your Moodle Website.
From
Hi great educators!
I have recently released an opensource gameshow for Second Life, where YOU, yes YOU can be a virtual game show host for your students, in your Distance education classes. The Game Show is GPL 3.0 - which means it's totally free! What's more, is it connects to your MOODLE Learning Management Website, and feeds directly into the Gradebook.
Here is a video detailing how it works -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRVVrAp_64U
Let me know what you think!
Also, I am proposing a new tool for educators in Second Life, but I need some grant funding to create it - check out - SMART Chairs here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yODca6J6iNI
If you are interested in the smart chairs, I'd love your input - please see the discussion on the SLOODLE forums here:
http://www.sloodle.org/moodle/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=2835
Additionally, if you need help setting up Second Life to work with your MOODLE website, please contact fire@b3dMultitech.com
Monday, November 9, 2009
Signal Patterns - The Personality of Brad Reason a.k.a. Doubledown Tandino
Also, within the same site is a "Music Patterns" test too (I haven't taken that test, but will very soon)
There are time-tested personality tests such as Myers-Briggs, and the Enneagram (personally one my favorites) which insights I also value, but this one, Signal Patterns, is one-of-a-kind because of the format of the display. This diagram to the list is showing my statistics. When you take your own test, the results are interactive and extra-informative.
Here's some more info about me that I discovered from taking this test:
Brad Reason a.k.a. Doubledown Tandino's personality traits:
Cautious
You very rarely make a move without first considering the pros and cons and, therefore, rarely do anything foolish or extravagant.You are not rash; you almost never act before you think and, therefore, rarely end up doing things you later regret.
Organized
You like to think a task through before you embark on it. If it's the slightest bit complicated, you make a list (even if it's only in your mind) and methodically work your way through it. When you have a goal in mind, you're not satisfied until you reach it.You are not one of those people who ignore the details, and you don't understand how anyone can get anything accomplished without thoughtful planning ahead of time.
Pessimistic
You tend to be a "glass half-empty" kind of person, which for you is simply a realistic outlook. Your feeling is that this world can be a depressing place, and only a fool would think otherwise.You do not waste your time searching for the silver lining in every cloud, nor do you believe it's your job to cheer up the people around you with happy talk.
Innovative
You come up with a lot of ideas; if one doesn't work out, there's always another waiting in the wings. You often have interesting solutions to difficult problems. You're practically a one-person brainstorming session.You are less interested changing the world than in dealing with things as they are. Unlike those who spend all their time trying to solve problems, you prefer to zero in on things that work and stick with them.
Aesthetic
You appreciate art, beauty, and design; you know that they are not superficial but absolutely crucial to living the good life. You have good taste, and you're proud of it. Those with a high score on the "aesthetic" trait are often employed in literary or artistic professions, enjoy domestic activities — doing things around the house — and are enthusiastic about the arts, reading, and travel.You don't think it's pretentious to be moved by art and beauty. You're not one of those who believe it doesn't matter what something looks like as long as it does its job.
Creative
You are good at solving problems, coming up with original ideas, and seeing connections between things, connections that most other people miss. People with a high score on the "creative" trait often are employed in such fields as finance and scientific research, and enjoy avant garde and classical music as well as literary fiction and scholarly non-fiction.You do not shun abstractions and concepts in favor of the concrete and tangible.
Competent
You strive to master everything you undertake. You tend to learn quickly and do not shy away from challenges.You are not a "que sera sera" type of person, nor do you go easy on yourself when attempting to master a new skill or get a job done.
Unsettled
You may be comfortable on your home turf, but you have a tendency to be self-conscious in an unfamiliar environment. While you're usually at ease with your friends, you can be a little skittish around strangers.You usually don't feel at home in unfamiliar settings or with new people. When you get rattled, you don't necessarily recover instantly.
Impassioned
You have strong opinions and high standards. When others let you down, you're not opposed to giving them a piece of your mind, even if it sometimes mean hurting their feelings.You are not necessarily a "live and let live" kind of person. You don't always make allowances for others' incompetence or allow annoyances to wash over you. You don't feel it's your job to make everyone feel relaxed and comfortable regardless of whether they've earned it.
Emotional
You let it all hang out, and those around you always know what you're going through.You are not isolated from your emotions; no one would call you "cold-blooded," or even "cool as a cucumber."
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I encourage you to take your personality test, if this is something that interests you. Also, there are 8 wonderful online personality tests that can be found HERE
The interesting thought that came to mind: I wonder if some people have varying results when they take the test, first as their human self, and then as their avatar self. I personally, am the same. My human self (Brad Reason) and my Second Life avatar (Doubledown Tandino) are one and the same. But I am curious to know if real life and avatar life varies depending on the person. I would like to hear comments and points of interest about people. Is your real self and your avatar self the same person or two different people? If you're willing to share your results. Please post your personality key aspects here in comments. If you take the test once as a human, then again as your avatar, are your personalities one and the same, or do they differ?
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Prince's Rainforest Project Second Life Concert For Schools
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, 2009
CONCERT SCHEDULE
DUBLIN RAINFOREST EVENT PROJECT STAGE http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dublin%202/84/20/2
| SLT (PST) Time | Artist Name | UK (GMT) Time | Musician URL | |
| 4am SLT | Luc Floreani | 12noon UK | www.lucfloreani.com | |
| 5am SLT | Joaquin Gustav | 1pm UK | www.purevolume.com/joaquingustav | |
| 6am SLT | Tony Moore | 2pm UK | www.tony-moore.com | |
| 7am SLT | Carrie Haber | 3pm UK | www.myspace.com/carrieonsinging | |
| 8am SLT | Ringo Robonaught | 4pm UK | gamerzfix.com/events/E0-001-024713347-6.htm | |
| 9:00am SLT | Luc Floreani | 5pm UK | www.lucfloreani.com | |
| 10am SLT | Slim Warrior | 6pm UK | www.myspace.com/Slimmie | |
| 11am SLT | Al Hoffman and Brad Monnett | 7pm UK | www.flickr.com/photos/mrtopf/3556300244/ | |
| 12noon SLT | Cylindrian Rutabaga | 8pm UK | www.gracebuford.com | |
| 1pm SLT | Frogg Marlowe and Jaycatt Nico | 9pm UK | www.froggmarlowe.com | |
| 2pm SLT | CraigLyons Writer | 10pm UK | www.craiglyons.net | |
| 3pm SLT | Dexter Inhen | 11pm UK | www.dexonyx.com | |
| 4pm SLT | Celtic Muse | 12midnight UK |
Additional rainforest music ideas and resources for schools are available in Lesson Ideas (http://schools.rainforestsos.org/free-resources/lesson-ideas) and Rainforest Multimedia (http://schools.rainforestsos.org/free-resources/rainforest-multimedia).
This event is sponsored by the Prince's Rainforest Project For Schools to raise awareness about the importance of rainforests (http://schools.rainforestsos.org/).
** Teachers (all ages students) interested in participating please email John Mahon (Ham Rambler) at john@picksl.net to be added to Restricted Event Group and for questions. **
| PRINCE'S RAINFOREST PROJECT (PRP) REFERENCE LINKS: DUBLIN RAINFOREST EVENT PROJECT STAGE http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dublin%202/84/20/2 CONCERT SCHEDULE: http://www.fengshuichat.com/prp_sl_concert/prp_sl_concert.htm john@picksl.net - Access To Event (Teachers, Media) http://www.rainforestsos.org/ PRP Home Page http://schools.rainforestsos.org/ - PRP Schools Home Page http://schools.rainforestsos.org/about/news-highlights/second-life-concert PRP Schools SL Concert Home Page |
FOR FURTHER INFO PLEASE GO HERE
As well as HERE
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Virtual World Documentary "Another Perfect World" Premiers
Another Perfect World
Jorien van Nes and Femke Wolting's fascinating insight into online virtual worlds where the user can create their own paradise, far removed from real life.
UPDATE: Video on Youtube now posted:
True Stories presents: Jorien van Nes and Femke Wolting's fascinating insight into online virtual worlds. Second Life, World of Warcraft, Metaplace, U World - all virtual worlds where the user can create their own paradise, far removed from real life. People can create societies that range from the democratic to the dictatorial, have avatars that resemble their ideal and can engage in actions that their real life personality would never dream of doing, from cyber-sex to virtual crime. But who creates these worlds and are they the right people to be crafting idealized societies that pretend to address and solve the inadequacies of the real world?
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Intelligence Community Embraces Virtual Collaboration
by Robert K. Ackerman of AFCEA
The nature of intelligence community activities has been changed as increasing numbers of people adopt virtual collaboration tools and methodologies. A host of systems unleashed a handful of years ago has burgeoned into a new way of engaging in intelligence operations that is moving through the community.
Users set free to explore these new cyberspace systems have uncovered new capabilities and have driven the introduction of still more collaborative systems. The result is that finished intelligence reports now are richer than before virtual collaboration was adopted. An issue is viewed through more than one perspective; and the overall effect is timelier, more agile and more accurate intelligence reporting to decision makers, says an intelligence official.
read more | digg story
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
"Second-Life and the future of the Music Industry" Exhibition - April 10-12, 2009
Second-Life and the future of the Music Industry April 10-12, 2009
Temple University, Japan Campus, 2009
With a fantastic group of students, I am conducting field work and experimental research in the virtual world of SecondLife, to identify future business opportunities for the music industry - something it's well in need of. Watch this space for more, very soon.
Joint work with: Scott Lockman (Temple University, Japan Campus)
"The music industry is in crisis — you’ve heard the news. But in the virtual world of Second Life, an alternative music economy is emerging. Already, real musicians are making a living by playing exclusively in Second Life, and music labels and clubs of a new kind are created every week. We have spent months researching the new musical trends in Second Life, and we’re bringing them to you in the form of snapshots, sounds, videos, interviews, and more. Come discover what music could become in the next 10 years."
Place: Harajuku Design Festa Gallery 2F, Tokyo (Japan)
Date: April 10-12, 2009
Hours: 11am-7pm
Info: aucouturier@gmail.com
(Thanks Morris Vig for the lead)
Friday, April 3, 2009
Music Awareness 2009 in Second Life - April 10-12, 2009

WELCOME TO MUSIC AWARENESS 2009 - Bringing Music To The Masses
April 10-12, 2009
This coming Easter Weekend (April 10-12), 2009, MUSIC NOT POLITICS with the assistance of Money Island and Trax Music Resource Center are pleased to present MUSIC AWARENESS 2009. This event is expected to run longer than 48 hours as the response already has been tremendous (already over 48 hours). THIS EVENT IS BEING EXTENDED FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN KEEP IT NON STOP. THE INITIAL 48 HOURS ARE FULL!!!!!!!! The event will be promoted in and out of SL. Money Island will have a special area set up where musicians and venues will be welcome to have a box of free promotional materials.
FANS: If you want to volunteer to help at the event please contact Moksha Nightfire or Roxiiie Kamachi via NOTECARD.
This event will be staffed by MUSIC NOT POLITICS staff and volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering your time to help with the event please contact Moksha Nightfire - if she is not online please send her a NOTECARD as her IM's get capped.
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Current Performer Lineup (updated April 3rd, 2009)
Make sure to go HERE for the most current updated lineup and info.
APRIL 10
6pm Kevin M Thomas
7pm Dallas Horsefly
8pm Onehempcat Oldrich
9pm Jaggpro McCann
10pm Peregrine Singh
11pm Rosedrop Rust
APRIL 11
12am Gregg Huet
1am Tpenta Vanalten
2am EddieGuitar Dagger
3am Dewran Wopat
4am Shoe Spitteler
5am Mike00 Carnell
6am Naphtali Hawks
7am Bones Writer
8am The Professor
9am Mikelec Criss
10am Doubledown Tandino
11am Russell Eponym
12pm Anu Papp
1pm Kim Seifert
2pm Anek Fuchs
2:30pm MMFKMT
3pm Rosedrop Rust
4pm Mykal Skall
5pm Ictus Belford
6pm SRV4U Conacher
7pm Dominick Manatiso
8pm Keiko
9pm Jaggpro McCann
10pm Buck Sideshow
11pm Blue4U Nowicka
APRIL 12
12am CHIP TAKACS
1am Ichie Kamachi
2am Mel Cheeky
3am Newbawn Easterman
4am Mash Rhode
5am Cedric Lowell
6am
7am Russell Eponym
8am AldoManutio Abruzzo
9am Zachariah Loon
10am Joaquin Gustav
11am Sioux Nikolaidis
12pm Friendly Fire
1pm Jonas Lunasea
2pm Allister Westland
3pm Edward Kyomoon
4pm Anek Fuchs
5pm Clairede Dirval
6pm Edward Lowell
7pm Nick99 Razor
8pm Janor Slichter
9pm Hayduke Schnook
10pm Dougie Moonites
11pm Ichie Kamachi
12am Phiona Ember
4/13
1am Krell Karu
2am Mel Cheeky
3am
4am Leighlee Trafalgar
5am
6am
7am Picker Apogee
8am Phemie Alcott
9am Tauri Tigerpaw
10am Jaypee Platthy
11am Sphere Quan
12pm JaNa KYoMooN
1pm Djai Skjellrup
2pm Yip Jannings
3pm MadMax huet
4pm Garth Gothly
5pm Jerico Jaxxon
6pm Bill and Pam Havercamp
7pm Iggy Kings
8pm Moshang Zhao
9pm Ande Foggarty
10pm Vladamir Lamont
11pm Strum Deisel4/14
12am
1am
2am
3am OhMy Kidd
4am Leighlee Trafalgar
5am
6am
7am Shelindrea Ireland
8am Lou Mannock
9am Erin68 Frog & Satin Galli
10am Rich Desoto
11am Steely DeCosta
12pm Onlyhalfcrazy Gumbo
1pm Angee Seetan
2pm Artel Brando
3pm CTM Underwood
4pm Melodee McDonnell
5pm Matthew Perreault
6pm Arman Finesmith
7pm This Device
8pm Squidfisher McMillan
9pm PickerJohn Haystack
10pm Strummer Vultee
11pm Jubal Enyo
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Adobe in Second Life: Moderne Interactive Builds Immersive Learning Center for Adobe
Adobe in Second Life: Moderne Interactive Builds Immersive Learning Center for Adobe
Published in SL Entrepreneur Magazine, SLentrepreneur Magazine Feature Articles
by Richard Hackathorn and Emmett Burnett
One of the commercial applications for Second Life is immersive learning. And this is not only for universities and colleges. High-tech firms like Adobe Systems and Microsoft are using SL as a unique learning environment.
read more | digg story(In case you're wondering, Adobe is the company that makes Photoshop among other programs. Photoshop is the #1 used tool for creating textures for SL. Premier is an excellent program for live online video.)
Friday, February 6, 2009
In a Strange Land: Second Life Academics Grill Pathfinder Linden
In a Strange Land: Second Life Academics Grill Pathfinder LindenPosted by Iggy O from www.iggyo.blogspot.com
photo courtesy of Olivia Hotshot
Location: Montclair State University Virtual Campus
It was a collegial and jovial grilling, of course, at yesterday's Second Life Education Roundtable.
Pathfinder discussed a number of topics and debunked a few myths. We got to hear about why the teen and main grids are not going to merge anytime soon, as well as why it's a mere SL rumor that premium members will be able to join up to 100 groups.
Of more use to us, he talked at length about how Linden Lab is making eduction a priority in their business plan.
The full transcript is long (and transcribed from voice--expertly by Mirt Tenk and mOOn Jaecies). I've added in-text links to various topics our presenter and moderator (AJ Brooks) discussed.

