Inara Pey: Living in a Modem World Second Life, virtual worlds and virtual reality

Time 2021-01-14 19:04:28

Web Name: Inara Pey: Living in a Modem World Second Life, virtual worlds and virtual reality

WebSite: http://modemworld.me

ID:167219

Keywords:

in,Modem,World,

Description:

David Rumsey MapsA January 12th, 2021 Destination Guide blog post by Linden Lab reminded me that it has been seven-and-a-half years since my first and up until now, only visit to the remarkable David Rumsey Maps in Second Life (see: If maps are your thing, Rumsey s the king!). A length of time that marks a return visit as long overdue, so I decided to jump over and renew my own acquaintance with the four-region facility.As both the Linden blog post and my own post from 2013 note, David Rumsey Maps in Second Life is a direct annexe to the David Rumsey Map Collection. This an on-line collection of more than 150,000 maps with a focus on rare 16th through 21st century maps of North and South America, but which includes maps of Asia, Africa, Europe  and Oceania. The collection stretches back over 30 years, with a programme to digitise them all commencing in 1996.The collection s website is powered by LUNA, one of the world s leading digital asset management tools, one that is used world-wide around educational, research and science institutions. In particular, the software allows visitors to the website to view multiple maps from different time periods side-by-side and also to create and curate their own collections of maps from the library, according to their interest / requirements.David Rumsey amid items of his map, atlas and globe collection, circa 1996. Credit: David Rumsey CollectionThis ability to interact with the collection was expanded in 2008, when the Rumsey collection realised Second Life could be a unique environment by which people could visit and interacts with elements of their collection in a unique manner, and their presence in Second Life has been periodically updated since then.The core of the facility comprises a visitor centre and a 4-region terrain elevation map of Yosemite Park dating from the 1880s, and which visitors are free to fly over / down town and walk across (to see it all, you should set your draw distance to at least 512m). Around the outer edges of the four regions which are arranged in a square is a series of panels up to 50 on a side displaying individual maps that can be studied by taking a walk around the boundaries, together with a 3D view across the Grand Canyon amidst the panels on one side.David Rumsey MapsWithin the visitor centre are more maps forty of which are available to collect at no charge and several of what should be interactive elements map viewers, a media recording of a presentation by David Rumsey himself, etc. Unfortunately, on my return visit, none of these would respond to being touched, nor would the large world map directly outside of the visitor centre, which is designed to allow you to rez a pin on your physical world location and place it on the map with a message of up to 140 characters.Two skywalks extend from this map platform, each one displaying a ribbon map that can be walked. The first and longer of these is featured in the Second Life blog post. It is a reproduction of a map of the Tōkaidō road ( eastern sea route ), the most important of the five great trade routes linking Edo (as Tokyo was then known) to other major Japanese centres of commerce in this case, Kyoto on the east coast of Honshū. The second ribbon map,on the shorter skywalk  (which connects to the outer map walk) is a reproduction of a map from the late 1800s showing steamboat routes on the Mississippi.We built the 4 {regions} in 2008 and have continued to update them since then. One of the things that fascinated me early on was the potential to “walk” on the historic maps and fly around them in SL. The Yosemite map which forms the floor of the site was built with a full elevation model so that it is accurate and in scale. The map is the first truly accurate map of the Yosemite Valley made by U.S. Army topographers in 1883. David Rumsey, via Linden LabDavid Rumsey MapsWhile flying is not required to see all the maps, it is needed to see the two large globes floating over the Yosemite map. Eash is a reproduction of globes created by Giovanni Maria Cassini (not to be confused with the astronomer, Giovanni Domenico Cassini) one of the earth and the other of the heavens surrounding it. Both can be flown in, where information boards can be found describing each of them, set over two orreys modelled on the time of Cassini each fails to record Neptune and Uranus, as those planets had yet to be discovered.Despite some of the interactive elements not appearing to work, David Rumsey Maps remains an engaging and educational visit.Related LinksDavid Rumsey Map Collection websiteDavid Rumsey Maps SLurl (Rated: General)Sinful Retreat Janus I gallery: Eclectic DreamsEclectic Dreams is the title of an exhibition of art that recently opened (January 9th, 2021) within the Janus I Gallery at Chuck Clip s Sinful Retreat. Featuring Lash VV s work from the physical world, it is one of the most raw and vital selections of art I ve come across in recent times.Hailing from Serbian, Lash VV is an artist whose work tends to focus on a range of themes, including the spiritual, religious and erotic, that can often include motifs that can be primal and / or universal in suggestion, connecting his art to life and the vitality of living. In reflection of this, rather than confining himself to one ore two styles of presentation, Lash VV, encompasses a broad range of techniques and styles,  including impressionism, abstraction, hints of fauvism and impasto. At the same time, he freely utilises watercolours, pen and ink paint, acrylic, oil, tempura, and compositing techniques (including digital compositing) to both emphasise and layer his work. Sinful Retreat Janus I gallery: Eclectic DreamsAll of these styles an approaches can be gathered under the core umbrella of expressionism in its broadest sense, in that Lash s art is often a refection of his own memories and outlook on the themes his work enfolds.In this, the choice of style used within each piece is, I would suggest, an essential part of its interpretation, adding, indeed, evoking, that raw vitality I mentioned at the top of this article. There is not a piece in this selection that doesn t evoke a sense of life and / or offers an emotive sensation, From very human pieces such as the still life studies Blue Thoughts (which I admit to being the piece I found the most captivating in this portfolio of richly engaging pieces) and Woman in Blue, through to the abstract forms of Initial Frenzy through Passion, the selected technique does as much to bring each piece to life as does the (more usual) technique in using a dominant colour as a means of expression.Sinful Retreat Janus I gallery: Eclectic DreamsThere is more here as well; in some of the images, the selected technique can give some of the pieces an unfinished edge to them that further adds a degree of life and, with some, brings to mind the work of past masters.Tor example, take Cognition. Within it, the seemingly rough lines that hint at being hurriedly drawn, point towards Da Vinci pondering the beauty of the human head and what might go on within it and using a sketch to capture thoughts that occur whilst engaged on other work. At the same time, the subtle use of colour demonstrates the fact that far from being incomplete, the picture is exactly as it is intended to be, a skilled study of art and form, and one reflective not just of a classical genius, but of Lash s own unique skill and his own contemplations.Sinful Retreat Janus I gallery: Eclectic DreamsWith around 29 pieces on display, many of them carefully placed within small groups defined by style so as to present exhibits within an exhibition, Eclectic Dreams is a truly fascinating dare I say masterful collection of art from an artist who is, I understand, new to the SL art scene, but whom I have no doubt will be seen more widely as time goes by and deservedly so.SLurl DetailsEclectic Dreams (Sinful Retreat, rated Adult)Share this:TwitterRedditTumblrPinterestFacebookMoreEmailPrintLike this:Like Loading... Tagged Art in SL, Galleries, Sinful RetreatLeave a comment mR J s HoUsE, November 2020 blog postThe following notes were taken from the Tuesday, January 12th, 2021 Simulator User Group (SUG) meeting.Server DeploymentsAt the time of writing,the release notes for the week had yet to be produced. However, Rider Linden described the RC release planned for the week thus:So, We re doing the first roll of the year this week to the RC channels. This includes among other things a fix to experience notifications (they weren t always being sent) and I was able to throw in some missing constants from llSetAgentEnvironment. We also have something in there that we hope will positively impact some of the timing changes that we ve been seeing on uplifted simulators. Rider LindenSL ViewerThere have been no changes to the current crop of official viewers, leaving them as:Current release viewer version 6.4.11.551711, formerly Cachaça Maintenance RC viewer promoted on November 12 – No Change.Release channel cohorts (please see my notes on manually installing RC viewer versions if you wish to install any release candidate(s) yourself):Project Jelly viewer (Jellydoll updates), version 6.4.12.553798, January 7, 2021.Custom Key Mappings project viewer, version 6.4.12.553437, January 7, 2021.Dawa Maintenance RC Viewer, version 6.4.12.553723, December 15.Extended error return for llHTTPRequestThis is a feature suggestion by Rider Linden see BUG-230026 and he is requesting constructive feedback via the Jira on  the idea.Experience ImprovementsRider Linden is working on three experience-related feature requests,  although there is no time frame for delivery (he can only type so fast, and is working on a number of other projects!). These are:BUG-9890 [Feature Request] Improvements to llUnsit() and inclusion with experience permissions use. BUG-228540 Allow llTeleportAgent() to be executed on anyone on owner land.BUG-228541 Allow experience scripts to use llUnsit() on any experience participant.BUG-228540 will need some limitations imposed. for example, to prevent it teleporting people who are passing over an area using the capability in an aircraft are not summarily teleported.Chat RangesChanges were made simulator-side to allow chat to be heard over greater distances. However, further work is required viewer-side before they can be considered deployed .Share this:TwitterRedditTumblrPinterestFacebookMoreEmailPrintLike this:Like Loading... Tagged Server Updates, Simulator User GroupLeave a comment Mount Campion National Forest: Roscommon RidgeIn July 2020, we made our first visit to Mount Campion National Forest, the marvellous setting created by Marz (Mar Scarmon) around the highest peak on Second Life s mainland continent of Heterocera (see: The climbs and caves of Mount Campion in Second Life).Rising towards the peak of the mountain and encompassing the razor back ridge that runs down from it, the forest is a stunning place of beauty, both above ground and underneath it for within the granite cliffs and high steps of rock runs a network of tunnels and caverns that is so natural in look and feel, it is possible to imagine them having been formed in ages past by the passage of water through the rocks.Mount Campion National Forest: Roscommon RidgeFast forward six months, and a lot has changed for the forest.  It has expanded mightily, actually tripling in size to just shy of (at the time of writing) 100,000 square metres that almost 25 acres, for those who prefer to work in old money . It runs through three region of Heterocera to offer Second Life users both the opportunity for extensive out-door exploration and the opportunity to actually rent a property within it and fully appreciate its splendour.I know this because Marz recently invited Caitlyn and I back to the forest for a further visit and truth be told, I m writing this article between our bouts of wandering the paths and trails above ground and exploring the further caves and tunnels that lie beneath them.Mount Campion National Forest: Roscommon RidgeWe started our return visit  on Marz s recommendation at  the high plateau of Roscommon Ridge to the north-west of Mount Campion. Here can be found numerous paths and trails the main ones of which lead the way past some of the rental properties to be enjoyed here, so if visiting, do avoid trespassing and invading people s privacy.The plateau is also home to small lakes among the trees, together with fast-flowing streams perhaps fed by the thaw (a small corner of the plateau still exhibits snow) as much as by the lakes. A short walk from the landing point is an entrance to the cave system under the plateau, one that includes a neatly tucked away rentals vendor providing details on the houses available for rent within the forest.Mount Campion National Forest: Roscommon RidgeThrough the considered use of many of the same landscaping elements found within the original Mount Campion setting: flora, tracks, landscaping elements,  etc., Marz has layered the entire forest, from Camion through the south-western corner of Highflyer and then through Spinach, with a sense of continuity of featuring and setting that is both natural and which encourages explorers to continue their wanderings.Those who do keep a an eye out for the unusual when exploring may come across one or two little surprises along the way, such as a Sasquatch enjoying a stroll along the banks of a stream or the outhouse that have been placed for the convenience of visitors, and more, both above and underground (I m not going to give all that we found away!).Mount Campion National Forest: Roscommon RidgeAs well as the Roscommon Ridge additions, I believe I m correct in saying the cave complex in Campion has been extended, with a series of tunnels and caverns that are partially flooded (if these were around in July 2020, then silly me for missing them on our fist visit!). Find the right way into these, and it is possible to take an air mattress from a rezzer and paddle through the waterways just mind the waterfall that marks one of the routes out!The goal of the National Forest is to have a public place of scenic beauty that encourages exploration. A secondary goal is to renew interest in mainland SL. The National Forest has the highest mountain in SL (Mount Campion), miles of scenic trails, forests, canyons, and of course the largest connected cave system in SL. I hope you will visit us again, I am giving you the location for one of our newer areas, but again the areas are all adjacent and connected by trails and caves so I hope you will roam around. Thanks and I look forward to seeing you there. Marz (Mar Scarmon)Mount Campion National Forest: Roscommon RidgeA captivating beauty spot since Marz took it on, Mount Campion Natural Forest was always a worthwhile visit, and this expansion has increased its attractiveness, offering multiple reasons for a visit. As noted above, at the time this piece was written, Caitlyn and I hadn t completed our own explorations so maybe we ll see you there!SLurl DetailsRoscommon Ridge (Spinach, rated Moderate)Mount Campion National Forest (Campion, rated Moderate)Mount Campion main caves entrance (Campion, rated Moderate)Share this:TwitterRedditTumblrPinterestFacebookMoreEmailPrintLike this:Like Loading... Tagged Exploring SecondLife 20211 Comment Nitroglobus Gallery: American ShotOpening today at Nitroglobus Roof Gallery, curated by Dido Haas, is the first element in a two-part exhibition entitled American Shot, by Milena Carbone.Both Nitroglobus and Milena have reputations for presenting and creating thought-provoking exhibitions that challenge perceptions and thoughts; and in this exhibition, we have one of the most expansive and provocative installations I ve seen within Second Life. For her canvas, Milena essentially takes the entirety of human history, using it to outline the rise of civilisation notably western civilisation and the corruptions that have inevitably followed, with a focus on the American Empire.To  say American Shot is richly layered would be an understatement; truth be told it is a complex piece that, for some at least, might make for uncomfortable viewing, given it is exceptionally timely in its presentation, indirectly touching, as it does, on events that have recently unfolded in the United States.Nitroglobus Gallery: American ShotThis layering starts with the title of the installation itself. The American shot (or plan américain), was a term from French film criticism. It refers to a medium-long ( knee ) film shot used in the early years of cinematography to record a group of characters engaged in complex dialogue,  with all of them visible to the camera, thus negating the need for a more complex (and time-consuming at the time) multiple shots that might otherwise be required were close-ups of individuals to be used. It particularly became a staple of early American western movies of the 1930s and 40s, thus earning it the name.Within the exhibition, the term refers not so much to the framing of the images, but to the idea that, in the history of world shaping civilisations, it is currently the American Empire that holds sway  is calling the shots -, although it now appears to stand at a junction in its own history, the paths before it leading either to further greatness for the benefit of humankind, the other leading to collapse and decay.Further layering comes in the form of presentation: for the first part of the exhibition, fourteen out of 28 images are presented; these will be swapped at around the mid-point of the exhibition s run for the remaining fourteen. Each of these images offers something of a reflection on humanity and / or the American experience, the commentary within them both clear and subtle.Nitroglobus Gallery: American ShotThe clear commentary among the first fourteen images is perhaps best exemplified in Million Dollar Priest, an underscoring of the way in which the Christian religion has been subverted over the decades in America through the rise of the tele-evangelists with their messages of godliness being invariably tied to the idea of their own personal aggrandizement through the acquisition of wealth through the concept of prosperity theology.The inclusion of this image also brings into focus one of the themes that can be found throughout Milena s art: questioning the nature of God and religion. Nor is it the only one of her themes. Also to be found here are thoughts on the collapse of humanity, the roles of science and spirituality, our perception of fiction, reality and consciousness. Some of the pieces also are relevant to the current US situation in their commentaries on the nature of authoritarianism and the role of violence in  shaping civilisation again, notably, but not exclusively, Army of Bataclan.I ve selected the latter image both to highlight the the point made above, and because it encompasses another element of the pieces here: a neo-classical linking of modern civilisation with the great empires of the past. These are again both somewhat clear in places, and elsewhere subtle, with some also layered in broader references. The mirage of democracy, for example, reminds us that the democratic ideal has been the goal of western civilisation but is something that can easily be subverted (as seen with the Rome Empire and, again, the events in the United States of the first week of January 2021).Nitroglobus Gallery: American ShotMuch more awaits discovery within this installation, including a a book that helps chart the way through the images and Milena s ideas in American Shot. Rather than forming a simple expositional piece, however, the book actually forms an integral part of the installation, offering categories for the images that help with their context as well as a story that brings together Milena s ideas and focus for the installation. It can be found for sale both at the landing point for the gallery and at the café, and I recommend visitors consider purchasing it.There really is a lot to unpack within this exhibition, as such a visit is highly recommended as is a return when the second group of images in unveiled (all 28 are contained with the accompanying book), something I ll be doing later in the month. As such, I ll finish her by pointing out the official opening takes place on Monday, January 11th at 12:00 noon SLT.SLurl DetailsNitroglobus Roof Gallery (Sunshine Homestead, rated: Moderate)Share this:TwitterRedditTumblrPinterestFacebookMoreEmailPrintLike this:Like Loading... Tagged Art in SL, Galleries, Nitroglobus2 Comments Seanchai LibraryIt’s time to highlight another week of storytelling in Voice by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library’s home in Nowhereville, unless otherwise indicated. Note that the schedule below may be subject to change during the week, please refer to the Seanchai Library website for the latest information through the week.Monday, January 11th, 19:00: The Dark Bright WaterGyro Muggins reads Patricia Wrightson’s second novel charting the life of Wirrun of the Inlanders.First encountered in The Ice Is Coming, when Wirrun set out on a quest to overcome the rise of the ancient enemy of Australia, the ice-bearded Ninya, the young janitor now has a reputation as a Hero among the Inlanders (Wrightson’s fantasy view of the Australian Aboriginals). It’s not a title he appreciates; he would much rather just get back to his janitorial work.But the spirits of the land are restless: Yunggamurra, a river spirit is lost, so uses her siren-like powers of song to draw to herself those who might might take her home. Her singing come to Wirrun’s ears, and those of an elderly aboriginal emissary, and he realises he must journey to the very heartlands of Australia to better understand what he is feeling.This he does, with the old emissary and his friend Ularra. Once there, he discovers that a storm is indeed rising within the domain of the spirits, and he is uniquely placed to both find Yunggamurra and prevent the coming storm. And so his new adventure begins.Tuesday, January 12th12:00 Noon: Russell Eponym, Live in the GlenMusic, poetry, and stories in a popular weekly session.19:00: Written in History: Letters that Changed the WorldWRITTEN IN HISTORY celebrates the great letters of world history, creative culture and personal life. Acclaimed historian Simon Sebag Montefiore selects over one hundred letters from ancient times to the twenty-first century: some are noble and inspiring, some despicable and unsettling; some are exquisite works of literature, others brutal, coarse and frankly outrageous; many are erotic, others heartbreaking. The writers vary from Elizabeth I, Rameses the Great and Leonard Cohen to Emmeline Pankhurst, Mandela, Stalin, Michelangelo, Suleiman the Magnificent and unknown people in extraordinary circumstances from love letters to calls for liberation, declarations of war to reflections on death. In the colourful, accessible style of a master storyteller, Montefiore shows why these letters are essential reading: how they enlighten our past, enrich the way we live now and illuminate tomorrow.Join Caledonia Skytower as she reads selections from this remarkable book.Wednesday, January 13th 19:00: In Walt We TrustMore from Craig Johnson s Sheriff Longmire Series with Kayden Oconnell.Thursday, January 14th19:00: Monsters and MythsThe Pig s Ploughman Part 2, Shandon Loring presents another mythic adventure from the works of Bernard Evslin. Also in Kitely!  Find teleport from the main Seanchai World grid.kitely.com:8002:SEANCHAI.21:00: Seanchai Late NightFinn Zeddmore presents contemporary sci-fi-fantasy from such on-line sources as Escape Pod, Light Speed, and Clarkesworld  magazines.Share this:TwitterRedditTumblrPinterestFacebookMoreEmailPrintLike this:Like Loading... Tagged Seanchai LibraryLeave a comment Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Email Address: SL Tutorials Creating Second Life Place PagesRaising Abuse Reports in Second LifeEstate Access ManagementGroup BansProjectors as MirrorsTutorials Index Second Life Grid StatusRolling Restarts for Second Life RC Channels January 13, 2021Jan 13, 12:01 PSTUpdate - The scheduled maintenance has been completed.Jan 13, 12:00 PSTCompleted - The scheduled maintenance has been completed.Jan 13, 10:00 PSTIn progress - Scheduled maintenance is currently in progress. We will provide updates as necessary.Jan 8, 10:10 PSTScheduled - We will be performing rolling restarts for regions on the Second Life R [ ]Billing Phone Support Maintenance January 12, 2021 Jan 12, 10:30 PSTCompleted - The scheduled maintenance has been completed.Jan 12, 08:15 PSTIn progress - Scheduled maintenance is currently in progress. We will provide updates as necessary.Jan 12, 08:14 PSTScheduled - Billing phone support will be unavailable from 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM PST. Flickr Photos©, Disclaimers AcknowledgementsAll written material with articles in this blog, unless otherwise stated via citation and / or reference, is © Inara Pey. All other trademarks found within this blog are properties of their respective owners, and are duly acknowledged; no attempt to infringe on any such copyright or trademark is intended. Unless expressly stated otherwise, no affiliation with, or sponsorship by, any platform or entity mentioned in these pages should be assumed. Comments submitted to these pages represent the views and opinions of those authoring them, and do not constitute any endorsement on the part of the author of this blog. Links to other web / internet locations are offered as a convenience only. No warranty, express or implied, nor any legal liability is assumed for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product, or service offered at or through such linked sites, or for any consequences arising from the use of such links. This blog is Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - Share Alike. original material within it may be shared / reposted / quoted in part or in whole in electronic and/or printed format, providing: Full and correct attribution to this blog and author are given. Any sharing/reproduction/other use is not for commercial purposes. If you alter, transform, or build upon any content in this blog, the resultant work will only be distributed under the same or similar licence.

TAGS:in Modem World 

<<< Thank you for your visit >>>

Second Life, virtual worlds and virtual reality

Hot Websites