Calling all Futurists

I'm a filmmaker gleaning all I can about the virtual universe (which is an erroneous term to begin with). What do YOU think about these spaces? Will they become as ubiquitous as email? Will they take over people's lives? Will they become a significant alternative, mainstream existence? Will it be as egalitarian as many believe, or will human's propensity to mischief undermine the trust many currently have in the space? If mischief prevails (if not necessarily reigns), will people simply ignore it, accepting it as part of the rules of the universe?

Who will rule this universe, or will no one rule it? Who currently has control: the users building out the spaces, or the owners of the servers? What is the ultimate cultural and economic potential of the spaces, and what are the potential downfalls?

Tags: culture, documentary, downfall, economics, futurists, potential

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Permalink Reply by Jack Ryker on September 29, 2007 at 3:01pm: Yes! virtual car parks may be necessary, so that you can tell if a website is full. I want to drive AND whoosh!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ken Rigby (MellaniuM, Tele3DWorld) on September 29, 2007 at 3:34pm: I believe the great thing to come out of Virtual Worlds will be the ability to create real-time films.

Films that do not contain cuts from inside to outside, etc. Everything will be joined up in real time; no need to imagine the transitions, it will be just like real life and streamed to the public live. This will truly be a new experience and challenge for film makers.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jack Ryker on September 29, 2007 at 3:48pm: Yes! I realy like watching online 3d movies and they are getting easier to create. ack! cool martian vids!

Permalink Reply by Ken Rigby (MellaniuM, Tele3DWorld) on September 29, 2007 at 4:04pm: Machinima is a very simple but slightly time consuming process.

But the results are stunning;

I didn't have the time to do many using machinima; so some are a bit jerky at times.

The limits are human imagination.

Permalink Reply by RJ Lavallee on October 1, 2007 at 11:14am: Thanks for the thread(s). I'm very intrigued by the cultural need to limit one's self to automotive transportation. Personally I've been dreaming of a day when we could be free of the automobile / combustion engine paradigm, and agree with Jack that once I know how to get some place, I want to whoosh there.

I think Ken's comment "the limits are human imagination" sum up the grand-view best.

Oddly enough, I also think Sophrosyne has ligitimate fears. Once big brother / big business / the religious right understands what kind of influence the Virtual Universe is going to have, they're all going to want to control it. The control of information, after all, is the control of power, and this increase of connectivity, which will, as one subject of my film said, "grow at the speed of thought," is potentially dangerously uncontrollable.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ken Rigby (MellaniuM, Tele3DWorld) on October 1, 2007 at 12:40pm: After years of being behind the wheel, I thought when I got to work from home I would be happy.

However, after the novelty wears of you begin to realize that it is your culture. When you go to see someone you mentally prepare yourself; ensure you have information and go through a ritual.

I need to substitute the past custom to mentally prepare so I use the vehicle (different ones to choose from). I sometimes use the big rig.

Using the 3D to 3D paradigm will increase information retention as experiences can be easily recalled.

Seeing is believing (no need for 2D text, images, etc) it will be like dreaming for real.

Getting people to create their experiences for history is a worthwhile task for humans. This will enable future generations to experience what their ancestors were like. Rather than making it up as we do now.

Start building now; nearly everybody can do it.

I think information will grow much faster and be communicated even faster.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joe Rigby on October 1, 2007 at 1:55pm: This may seem presumptuous but if you would like to experience the future of 3D environments contact me on SKYPE at joe133952. I will be happy to videostream live a presentation of realistic virtual worlds from MellaniuM. Please refer to blog article below:

http://metaversed.com/28-sep-2007/millanium-puts-second-life-skype; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Elchoness on October 6, 2007 at 2:20pm: Virtual worlds will become as ubiquitous as email but in a different way. Use of virtual worlds is about the internet as place to facilitate collaboration, cohesiveness, to share presence with someone else. Email will be used to send a message. Virtual worlds will be used to improve interaction. Virtual worlds won't take over people's lives without consent, let's put it that way. There will be some, however, who will prefer virtual world existence over a more mundane and expensive real life. Already we have people who spend hours a day in virtual reality as an escape. They may be able to afford beautiful waterfront mansions and all sorts of luxury in virtual reality. As graphics and speeds of telecommunications improve, realities will merge. Perhaps a small studio apartment in real life because one has a mansion in virtual life (which is the primary address then??) I think, yes, long term it will be a significant alternative existence and longer term it will be mainstream. It will not be egalitarian due to human nature and the profit motive.

The ultimate potential is to eradicate "distance" as we know it. The entire world will exist for each of us with a touch of a button (or whatever buttons are replaced with.)

I am happy to discuss further. Dave@vrworkplace.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ken Rigby (MellaniuM, Tele3DWorld) on October 6, 2007 at 4:43pm: It is not only property that will become luxury in a virtual reality. You will be able to choose a car and drive anywhere in the world with realistic environment.
Travel will only be for essential journeys to minimize global warming and pollution.
I have written over eighty articles http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?term=ken+rigby&l=1...

on the subject of Virtual Real Worlds and researched the envelope of the possible technology.

I see no barriers for rapid advancement of Virtual Real Worlds; however it should be a global involvement to create and recreate 3D environments.
I shall be glad to discuss ken at tele3dworld dot com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jack Ryker on October 6, 2007 at 6:31pm: I totally agree. However, there are advantages to 3d world vs Real Life. We should take advantage of that.
I can envision cars as a transportation device. However, I think if a user has the specific destination(url, for example) he should be able to zap there.
However of course, some people NOT in ahurry, may actually enjoy the drive to the URL from your personal 3d webspace. That would be me . 8) (again, what if I'm late for an interview in VRW.. well, dangit, I wanna zap there! and no, I don't want to create a hack to zap there... it should be freely available)

The obvious advantage of cars is much better surfing. You can drive around aimlessly... its much easeir and fun way to "surf" the web. And have passengers. Or even a tourbus.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ken Rigby (MellaniuM, Tele3DWorld) on October 7, 2007 at 6:35am: A charabanc for a magical mystery tour; the driver gives you clues to the destination. A great social event.

Options to drive or zap will be 3D graphically interfaced; no keyboard.

My two future thoughts are for a Virtual Parliament and the introduction of 3D to 3D paradigm for learning.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Francisco on November 1, 2007 at 8:06pm: I trully agree with you Dave. Long term one can think Virtual Worlds about significant alternative existance and it will be mainstream. Near term, "distance" and "time" will be near zero.; ▶ Reply to This