Second Life Archives - Friend Michael - One Big Experiment

Dr. Dobbs Life 2.0 Summit

michael — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 23:14:23 +0000

Today I decided to drop in on the Dr. Dobbs Life 2.0 Summit. It was packed… packed with people from all over the globe, across many time zones. The session I attended was the Introduction to LSL course.

If you don't “get” Second Life and what it means to remote presence, then I encourage you to find and attend just one event in-world. I can't explain it in words, you actually have to experience it.

Here is a link to the Dr. Dobbs Life 2.0 Summit followed by a screen shot:

Second Life, a new beginning for entrepreneurs?

michael — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 05:26:51 +0000

How many of you have heard about entrepreneur groups in Second Life? Until recently these groups were filled with gambling and club owners. No more, gambling is now illegal in Second Life. Sucks for them, great for us.

Many many see this as a problem for Second Life. I think it is a fantastic opportunity for new businesses to spring up and entertain residents. Keep your eyes peeled for announcements in this area.

So little imagination

michael — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 02:50:21 +0000

One of the rock star texturers in Second Life posted a very grounded look at the state of Second Life. The tides are turning and the next year will be filled with negative press and doubt.

Here's a snippet:

“Its somehow fundamentally frightening that with all the press SL has gotten, both good and bad, that so very few possess within themselves the spark of creativity and imagination that unlocks Second Life's potential. If all you can think to do is fly around and watch people have simulated sex and stare at the freaks, then that's all you're going to find. If you wait to be entertained, demanding that your virtual life be catered to, then you will feel disappointment.

But – if like I did, the first night I signed up for SL, you fly around and explore and discover a sex shop with a myriad of poses and positions better suited for Olympic gymnasts, and think not that &#34this place is a cesspool" but instead think &#34wow, this really IS a place where you can make anything", then there's your first step. If in your rush to be a passive absorber of entertainment, you never even see the flip side of those kinky toys – the side that says &#34this is a place where anything I imagine, with enough time and effort and practice, I can create from thin air, and its not even allowed but encouraged" – then you miss what Second Life is fundamentally about.”

The last sentence of her entry is telling: “We probably wouldn't tell you to let the door hit you on the way out, but we'll be happy to show you what we're up to when you finally come around.”

Have a look for yourself… it is a great read: So little imagination

DaVinci Institute Second Life Bootcamp

michael — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 23:56:47 +0000

Richard Hackathorn from the fames of the Serious Second Life Meetup is going to be an instructor at the event.

If you have been sitting on the sidelines, you might want to check it out.

From the site:

You've developed some Second Life content creation skills and are ready to test your metal in the metaverse marketplace. How do you begin?

This class will teach you the basics of starting and running a business in Second Life. What's already out there? How do you find your niche? How do you attract potential customers? How, exactly, do you sell stuff in Second Life anyway?

Learn all this and more as Feniks Stone shows you how to get started on the path to Second Life Business success.

Kzero: The definitive guide to brands in Second Life

michael — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 02:39:11 +0000

Nic over at Kzero has put together a pretty neat slide show of the major brands in Second Life. Remember though, I think everything happening right now in this world needs to be treated as experimental. If you're looking for profit, you're 5 to 7 years early.

This space has no analogue, especially to the current 2D web, so stats that work there do not apply. Building the 3D web will be fun, and these brands are helping it along. They get to have input.

Check it out: The definitive guide to brands in Second Life

Second Earth – Second Life and Google Earth?

michael — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 02:30:38 +0000

In my opinion, this is one of the better stories on the future of the internet, not just Second Life. It covers today's virtual spaces, but also take an interesting look at what could be. Coincidentally, Google is buying the refreshments at the Serious Second Life Meetup on Thursday.

I think this transition will be in the consumer space in around 5 to 7 years. Right now I see it in the innovator's adoption cycle… crossing over to early adopters. If you want in on what will be, start poking around at this stuff now.

This story is an in-depth, 11 page read from Technology Review. Very well worth it. “Second Earth, The World Wide Web will soon be absorbed into the World Wide Sim: an environment combining elements of Second Life and Google Earth.”

“You are here? In this imaginary composite, the virtual world of Second Life–as embodied in the author's avatar–meets the real world of Google Earth. Credit: Technology Review”

Second Life: The Nimble Atmosphere

michael — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 19:12:57 +0000

When Linden Labs introduced the Windlight atmospheric rendering system in the latest First Look client, I was surprised at how much it really enhanced the experience. Clouds now render on the fly, and have movement and reflection, just like a real sky. The sun reflects off of the clouds and the resulting colors reflect to the ground. It is hard to explain, but it makes everything feel more realistic.

One of the things lost with this upgrade was the ability to fly in to the clouds… entire builds were done in the old clouds for effect. To answer that, Linden Labs is planning to introduce Nimble. Nimble is a remarkable cloud enhancement that actually allows you to fly through the artificially rendered atmosphere.

Those of you that don't get Second Life right now will look right past these developments as uninteresting. But remember this post in 5 to 7 years when you fire up your 3D internet browser for the firs time (likely a derivative of today's Second Life) and see the atmosphere for the first time.

Now if only they could make as drastic a change to the world rendering system in one release. For more images, check out the Flickr feed and the Nimble demo video at YouTube