Case-Notes from the Artsy Asylum

So How Does this 3-D Web, Virtual Reality Thing Change Our Lives?

How do we communicate with each other in 2007 and beyond? How does that make a difference in how we think about the world, and our lives, and each other? How does the 3-D web play a part? Big brains are thinking about this so I don't have to do it all.

In fact when Henrik Bennetsen of Stanford talks about *Jamais Cascio, one the authors of the Metaverse Roadmap, he uses phrases like "intersection of emerging technologies and cultural transformation" and "long-term, systemic thinking."

Then I start to get dizzy.

OK so both these guys are brilliant. The benefit to us is that Cascio will be sharing some of his thoughts on this in a talk at which the rest of us get to ask questions.

His topic: The Metaverse -- what does it include, where is it going, and how will it change our lives?

Based on research for the Metaverse Roadmap Overview, he'll include technology along with the social, cultural and economic impacts it could have.

Oh, and did I mention that this little soiree is being held concurrently at Stanford and in Second Life?

Bingo. The talk about the Metaverse and what it includes is being beamed into the metaverse,  hosted by the Stanford Humanities Lab

Metaverse Meetup #2: Thursday, November 29, 2007

from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm pacific (9 Eastern)
at Wallenberg Hall at Stanford University and

at Spaceport Bravo in Second Life

Transport Link to Second Life Location: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Spaceport%20Bravo/66/74/184/

Think about it. A brave new world where you can socialize, theorize, benefit from others' thinking, network, all from your bedroom wearing jammies. Come join us for what Henrik promises will be "nice and geeky" - and that's only the conversation afterwards.

He'll be at Stanford with the CA geeks, I'll be in Second Life with the other geeks. We'll all be hoping we don't have glitches and I'll be glad I'm not responsible for anything but encouraging you to attend.

--

*Jamais Cascio is a research affiliate at the Institute for the Future, the Director of Impacts Analysis for The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology, and a founding fellow at the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. In March, 2006, he started OpenTheFuture.com .

Henrik Bennetsen is research Director at Stanford Humanities lab. His dissertation was on Creativity and Community, focused on Second Life.

Death Comes Unscheduled: Learning News in a New World

It's not just Second Life that makes me blink and sit back stunned at what just happened. It's that increasingly my real news comes from you

Sean Taylor of the Washington Redskins died overnight at age 24 after having his femoral artery injured in a shooting during a deliberate attack at his home Sunday

What makes this newsworthy for a blog about creativity and social media is that I learned the news via my blog feeds before any local or national news sources.

The news networks were in their overnight loop of constant rehashing of whatever yesterday's pre-selected pieces were, while you in the new media sphere were carrying the story.

You literally bring the news to me in the middle of the night, wherever I am.

Bloggers reminded me that Taylor made the Pro Bowl in 2006 and despite missing two games with a knee injury this season, he was tied for the lead in interceptions in the NFC with five. Video of all this was easy to find, to share,

Sometimes I don't like the news that you bring me via twitter - where I learn about a divorce, a setback, an illness. And sometimes I don't like it that a blogger relays news about the tragic and senseless death of a young man.

But I'd rather hear it from someone I know and trust.

Which makes me wonder about the future of old media, while I take a minute to remember Sean Taylor.

It's Not Just Me: Drew Carey on Second Life

Drew Carey says:

"This business about e-mail and computers keeping you from communicating is nonsense. It’s nice to talk to people in person, but sometimes you just can’t.

When my fiancée and I are in different cities, we go on dates in Second Life—a Web site that’s like a virtual world. We could just talk on the phone, but we meet online instead. It’s fun."

Sun Helps You Learn Java

Whoever said you can't get something for nothing hadn't met the people at Sun Microsystems.

They're running something called Java Technology Fundamentals (click image for enlargement) on Nov 29th at 9AM SL/Pacific (Noon Eastern) and promise to have information on other Sun resources not just about Java but about other platforms as well

It's just another way that rel life companies are using virtual worlds to create learning and networking opportunities for a wide variety of people.

Another plus - you can attend in your pajamas, or as we call them at my house, permajamas.

Events are held at the Sun developer playground and you must have downloaded the SL software and gone through orientation beforehand.

If you're brave, tell them my virtual self, Tynan Clary sent you.

Note - Don't try to accomplish orientation the same day as the event
Questions: email : [email protected]

Who Are You Here? Who Are You There?

Are you willing to verify your identity? Geoff Livingston blogs about it in Opening Identity

"Now more than ever companies, marketers and consumers are concerned about demonstrating identity.

Several recent events have driven that home:

• Second Life and IBM’s initiative to open Second Life avatars so they can be used in a wide variety of virtual worlds"

Geoff also did this great video I've added below to get you thinking.

Since he brings up those two little words "Second Life" - you new this was coming - I have a question.

Are you willing to verify your identity with a trusted third party to assure that those you do virtual business with that you are who you say you are?

Laura Thomas of Dell, Jeff Barr of Amazon, Mitch Wagner of Information Week, writer Aliza Sherman, and dozens of others who take part in the vibrant business community of Second Life have adopted transparent identities that say: "I'm here and I'm who I say I am".

Others aren't so nuts about the idea

Asking a question related to being transparent about who we really are, and even where you can contact us, was met with a notable lack of enthusiasm when I brought it up in - of all places - a discussion about “Persona and Identity Transparency” in Second Life last Friday.

The reaction to my question showed a rather overwhelming opinion favoring “in world” reputation as far outranking any need for transparency of identity in what we might call the real world. Granted, parts of the Second life community are insular and many longtime residents resent suggestions that things might be done differently by a fresh wave of users.

It’s probably safe to predict much ado and an uphill battle to make sure we’re all reading from the same ethics book no matter what world we're dealing with.

And that's not even opening the can of worms about allowing pseudonyms on facebook.

So what's your stance? You know where you can find me. I'm Tynan Clary on Second Life - but that's only because they wouldn't let me be Susan Reynolds.

.

Days of Digital Connections

How do I do business primarily with a laptop while perched on a bed or sofa, or sometimes using the more beefy equipment in  the office/studio that's about 20 feet from my bed? 

Honestly sometimes I don't know - but it's an amazing new world.

Just to share with those who think it can't be done, here’s what my "scheduled" time looks like for Tuesday Nov 20.

Click on the image to increase size.

When I'm not scheduled to do something, I'd do my email, write blog entries, make a couple of facebook scrabble moves, networking and keeping connections stronger, and communicate some quick bits via twitter.

I might even get to eat lunch.

At some point my son is arriving for 3 weeks leave from his air base and it would not be the time I’d schedule a full afternoon and partial evening in meetings or events.

But using the kind of technology that's available to us I'm not leaving the house

The first three events will help me do what I do better and understand the world in which am I operating more and more often - and appropriately, all three are being held using Second Life.

Related to the shared office I've opened in Second Life. the appointment is to talk about the concept and space, and is being held "in world"as we say in Second Life, as well.

More interestingly, and totally not necessary to attend, is the Salon. Come on! A salon no less! When I looked for a page to which to refer my readers the favorite definition was from Answer.com because it made ma just laugh

"A periodic gathering of people of social or intellectual distinction."

I'll admit that I see this salon as educational and networking related - but OK, it does not relate directly to business. but more like one of those things in which I'm interested and which I hope I can attend. Kind of meaning to get to the CIA-FBI ice hockey game that's held near my real world home; sometimes we can fit things in and sometimes we cant, but we try.

At the same hour . . .

Like everybody, I could stand to clone myself because the schedule shows Blogging expert Liz Strauss' weekly open house - which is not in Second life but held ON the blog comments section at successful-blogger.com. We’ll get her into Second life eventually - she's currently stuck on picking a name.

Attending both a salon and an open house concurrently is a trick only attempted ny the brave, or those who use Virtual Worlds and web 2.0 without a net.

In essence these are things I’d not be able to attend in person, and all interacting with people I’d never get a chance to interact with on any regular basis. In short, if it were not for the Virtual World my own world would be a much smaller place.

I'm not saying that twitter, blogs and Second Life are for everyone.

Some people have the luxury of flying to events at which they rub shoulders with people that will help them in their business.

Some easily pick up the phone and reach Steve Nelson, EVP and CSO of the digital marketing agency, Clear Ink. producer of the SL segments for network TV show The Office, who is presenting at the SLBC (Second Life Business Communicators) meeting thanks to Linda Zimmer.

Others run into Rex Hammock and Loic LeMuir at conferences and geek parties.

But that's not me. I live in Washington and though I've picked out a melon next to Redskin Joe Theisman and sat at the pool with Mark Felt (Watergate's Deep Throat), but it's a totally different world than the one I find myself today.

So now the digital and virtual worlds are my entrance ramps and I'm taking full advantage. Joining me takes a couple clicks of the mouse, not an airline ticket. And I like having company at stuff that I do.

Personal Branding and Avatars - Who Are You?

Avatars as Personal Brands is the kick off panel scheduled for tomorrow at Orange Island.

Times of the discussions are on the graphic at right (click to enlarge - and remember these times given are on Second Life Time/ US Pacific Time) and on my 30 boxes calendar (there listed in "my time" or EST).

see box in left column of the blog that will give you highlights and take you to the larger calendar

First thing that popped into my head was - why is Second Life such an insiders kind of place? Why didn't they ask Connie Reece - or her Reece Llewellyn Second Life incarnation to be on one of these panels?

For Connie / Reece or as all of twitterville knows her: @conniereece, the whole pink hair in real life to go along with the pink hair in Second Life to go along with the pink boa in her photo is inspired.

See Connie talk about her pink highlights in real life here

I'm only glad I could play a part of pointing out a place to get Pink hair. Even though I didn't know at the time that's what she'd come home wearing.

But back to avatars. It seems to me like what we see, the image in front of us on the screen, has a lot to do with how we come to think of the person on the other end, whether we ever meet them in person or not. And Connie and her hot pinkness kind of personifies that.

It's almost too much to think about. And I've got too much to say to do both that and remind you about this avatar event.

I'm going to do my best to be at the 9am and 11am discussions at a minimum, as well as checking in when I can.

I hope to learn a lot and see some great examples. Our digital selves and the 3-d web are in their infancy. There's a lot to digest and consider.

A Look at the Sun - or Chris Melissinos brings us up to Date

Looking Forward to on

The SUN shines in Dr Dobb's amphitheatre at 10am SLT (1PM Eastern)Thurs Nov 15   Note: If you were going to have missed this the first time around, Chris' misfortune is your good fortune.

An illness in Chris' family made it necessary to reschedule the event for:

Monday, the 19th, at 10 AM PST/SLT, still at Dr Dobb's amphitheatre

Chris Melissinos, Sun's Chief Gaming Officer, talking about the past, present and future of gaming and exploring some technologies being developed today that will be used to create the games and virtual worlds of tomorrow."

Chris will discuss the paths from the past into the future. The events done with Dr Dobbs are just excellent because of the guests, the topics, the participants and those in charge of the day.

Next: a Tour of Sun  (the island complex not the big ball of gas) after the presentation. A chance to see what's new over there and further pick his brain. Then join Sun staff and DJ Lysander for networking music and dancing at Sun's Club Java.

AND

Windlight Second Life Browser related issues are on the floor at Open Office Hours
Who knows what Lindens will show up but it is a great topic and will be held at 

Brampton Linden Stage: 106/166/25  Thursday Nov 15 from 1 to 2 SLT (4-5 Eastern)   
* Thursdays 1:00pm- 2:00pm PDT (ongoing) as well as * Tuesdays 8:00am - 9:00am PDT (ongoing)

Might we see you at both of these?

Your Helper May Be OUT - But IBM Knew You'd Like This

I went to IBM in Second Life tonight - which has a huge number of islands by the way as evidenced by the map below - and could not resist sitting down at the fancy upholstered chairs at the help desk.

OK, the sign was enough to do it for me. Go ahead - click the image so you get the closeup.

Need help or not ( but then again in Second Life don't we all kinda need help? )  you've  just got to sit down and take some photos when you go.

If you don't it would be like passing by one of those stockade things at Williamsburg and not making the kids and dad put their heads and arms through so you can capture the moment on film.

I'm easily amused. But the IBM guys get me. heh Fun stuff.

And lots of places to poke around because they are doing interesting things there. And what they build - even in small ways like the Lucy-like help booth is designed to reach out to us, to make us grin, to engage us.

On all those

individual

small

square

islands . . .

wow.

They look like they are waiting for us.

Grab a few people and go check them out,  Pose for photos together at the help stand and ask Charlie Brown Like questions, it's gotta at least start the conversation and enjoyment.

Oh man, this virtual reality Social Relationship media gig is a great place to be. Spreading the power of relationships? What could be better!

And now we're goin to IBM, Sschwweet,.

Nov 14, 2007: Vietnam Veteran's Wall Creators and Cisco Luminaries

You just can't say there's nothing interesting to do in Second Life, or no interesting people to meet, ideas to discuss and more

For example, here are just two that I'm looking forward to today.

You couldn't go wrong attending, listening, asking questions, having a conversation or two at either one. It would ne next to impossible to come out with something you didn't go in with.

Nov 14: at Noon PST/SLT

Second Life's Vietnam Wall

The Creators will visit with us in the Amphitheater area of Dr Dobbs Island and talk about how they came up with the idea, and managed the process of bringing DC's famed Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall to Second Life with dignity and honor

Location: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dr%20Dobbs%20Island/215/117/27  Amphitheater

To visit The Wall in SL before or after this event, teleport to this location

Download the wall welcome note.txt which will be helpful to you

Nov 14: also at Noon PST/SLT

Cisco Luminaries will be Talking Tech:

Alan Cohen, VP Enterprise and Midmarket Solutions, and Joe Burton, CTO, Unified Communications will discuss layered architectures, security, on-premises versus hosted collaboration services, and operational tools.

Location: cisco systems http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cisco%20Systems%204/66/28/22

References:

Cisco Virtual Environments Blog or Cisco Live at Networkers! Technical Sessions Online:

 

20071114 20071114 Vietnam Wall Creators

20071115 20071115 Virtual Worlds/ Social Gaming