Packet Sort is a collaborative game. Commissioned by Cisco (The complete Cisco Live Pavilion project is overseen by Banana Stein at Meta Magic Studio) for its upcoming annual IT and communications conference Cisco Live, the game concept embeds the three major themes of Cisco Live: "The Power of Collaboration, The Evolution and Transformation of the Data Center, and Cisco and Intel Mobility Solutions" (continued from 2008).
It's a short and intense fun game (3 minutes a round). Three players are required to play the game: Seeker, Feeder, and Sorter. The goal is to transmit packets of video, voice, data, and threat (viruses) to their appropriate boxes (see comments for detailed game rules). My team advanced up to the 5th place on the high score record (1553). This game can also be a good sport in real life. Not to mention it helps explain the fundamental concept of how information technology works. 
(SLURL) as part of their Cisco Live Virtual program (for learning and networking with technical professionals) (see Cisco virtual world blog for current updates).
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Packet Sort by Dedric Mauriac
Science Friday thinks...
Back in 8-32-2007, Ian Flattow, host of Talk Of The Nation: Science Friday® at NPR (National Public Radio), discussed with three guests about Second Life and virtual worlds in general:
Dmitri Williams, Annenberg School, Annenberg Program in Online Communities, University of Southern California
Cory Ondrejka, co-founder and chief technology officer, Linden Lab, San Francisco, Ca.
Sherry Turkle, director, MIT Initiative on Technology and Self Program in Science, Technology, and Society, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Listen to the Podcast "Go Get a (Virtual) Life" (link)
• Teleport to see the video at IMAX theater at virtual Tech Museum (SLURL)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
SLCW by
If you want to yell out BULLSHITS BULLSHITS BULLSHITS and release your aggression, you definitely want to attend Second Life Champaign Wrestling's live wrestling match (SLURL) and even apply to become a Pro Wrestler.
Argh.........
Notable moments at today's matches, Allie dragged Misaki out of the ramp, pulling on her hair, and ended her with a powerful lockdown. Ari's heavy metal theme video rocked the house when he entered to challenge Waroop. There were too many slapping and ankle injuries at this man-to-man match. I have no idea why wolfpr totally beat Carmen at the end. She kicked him right in his spot. SLCW's first anniversary show is coming soon.
Just like applying for any job, one needs to prepare, learn about the organization, like what they do, and know what you want to do there. It's a community (host: Eric, ref: Candice).
Wagner James Au thinks...
Back in 4-22-08, Wagner James Au talked about Second Life with Metaverse TV's The Late Show host Angelico Babii.
The Future of Virtual World
Lately there have been various opinions regarding the future of Second Life (exodus of users or increase of users?). It has being one of the most active and hyped virtual community and environment online. Rather than defining a focal purpose, Second Life, starting with tech savvy users and content developers, promoted itself to activists, gamers, business users, women, educational institutions, and international communities. All these are based on its two main features - user created and owned 3D content & communication and interaction through avatar representation. However since there is no rules and goals, unlike in the conventional MMO games, users are left to figure out what they want out of this virtual world.
It's been a very experimental journey for me as well since I joined in 2006. I will be doing a series of posts about what Second Life was, is, and will be. Maybe then there will be a new direction generated.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Linden Lab's New Acquisition (Lifestyle Application)
Linden Lab is making strategic changes to Second Life virtual world and just acquired OnRez and xStreetSL, making the websites Second Life's official central marketplace. It seems to me that Linden Lab is getting ready to attend to new and more general users.
While the current tool sets provided by Second Life viewer sits between the position to serve content creators (want more capacities and flexibilities than the current version) and shoppers (need a simplified navigation and more interesting activities), I wonder how they will approach to the improvement of UI design that can carter to virtual business and/or promote virtual lifestyle and digital entertainment. (The front page of Second Life does say something about what Linden would like to focus on and offer to their citizens).
Other virtual worlds (Lively by Google is out):
There has been a Kristen viewer for PC to render dynamic lighting and shadow. A Mac version has been released for 2009. (built upon the original open source code from Linden Lad is under GPL)
2. Roblox
Virtual world plus block building game sounds like a very smart idea. 
Considering children's cognitive development in its UI design, instead of teleport in this virtual world avatars jump to the destination (showing the jump physically). Simplified navigation (move forward/backward/left/right) with arrow keys and mouse click (control mechanics used in many casual games) and other audiovisual assistance make the control interaction easy and fun.
Monday, January 19, 2009
WebFlock 1.0 (Business Application)
Electric Sheep Company launched WebFlock last year. It provides both product and service to host your own 3D social space that can be customized to create branded experiences and foster community-based online interactions (private virtuality). 
Where are we going with the creation of virtual experience in cyberspace?
I think the phase 3D Net makes a straightforward point. In addition to the real-time attribute, spatial dimension + simulated physics allow us to perceive the virtual experience more like our physical reality. Space is able to contain all kinds of objects in life, and probably so does the virtual space to contain all kinds of media and facilitate social interactions. Fantasy also becomes more "real" since there is a total control over one's visual representation.
Based on our basic instincts, design and technology builds many new things:
• People talk to make sure they exist and others exist (Chatting is the highlight feature of WebFlock).
• People play games to survive and understand how to work with other people.
• People read stories to see the world in another perspective and reflect upon it.
Competitor? Qwaq
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Weblin (3D Avatar)
I got my avatar's portrait photographs done at Weblin Shop in New Berlin. I did not notice that the photographer is a bot. Weblin's idea is really fun though it's not literally a 3D net. I can take my 3D avatar to surf web pages and chat/IM with other avatars. It reminds me a lot the earlier Windows desktop sheep. New Berlin (founded by January Lightfoot) is worth of checking out as well.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Filmmaking plus Social Networking
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Second Life virtual world
is designed to/as a...
- simulation - simulated virtual environment
- network - instant communication
- make changes on the fly
- immediate feedbacks and operation
- scripting - scripted behaviors (motion and interactivity)
- multimedia integration - streaming video and audio, live voice chat, creating 3D objects, displaying 2D images, animation, interactivity, texts, etc.
- rapid prototyping - fast building and prototyping platform
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