Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Taiga: "Aphilo Scott MacLeod The Making of Virtual Harbin Introduction" * Just was able to "CAST" this to a large screen ... COOL! ... (but not yet interactively, although this is a video of 3D interactive virtual world, Second Life) * * combining Google Street View with Second Life: * * My new book ~ "To the Dance or the Pools? ~ Virtually!: How different it is to soak at Harbin Hot Springs, than to realize it in virtual Reality" - https://www.amazon.com/author/scottmacleodworlduniversity * * * Social History of the Internet - Scott MacLeod (8 videos) * * * Academic vision, teaching and research, and re actual-virtual Harbin Hot Springs esp. :) * * * A 'Desiderata' (poem) ROBOT? * One key aspect of robots that makes them different from humans I think is agency



Just was able to "CAST" this to a large screen ... COOL! ... (but not yet interactively, although this is a video of 3D interactive virtual world, Second Life) ..

Aphilo Scott MacLeod The Making of Virtual Harbin Introduction
https://youtu.be/3nhvcHw54GE
https://www.youtube.com/user/helianth


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combining Google Street View with Second Life:
Google Street View in Second Life
https://youtu.be/q3rqcoa8_n4
Google Maps in Second Life
https://youtu.be/yWWnIDAy8Ic
World Map - SL Video TuTORial QUICKTIP
https://youtu.be/gpOYwHT7Xag
Google ‘Streetview’ + ‘Cardboard’
http://engineerverse.com/new-technology/google-streetview-cardboard-go-pretty-much-anywhere-instantly/ ~



https://twitter.com/scottmacleod/status/1214686510034718720?s=20




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3D interactive virtual worlds 

In Skype today with Peter Bothe (and moi, Scott MacLeod):


Hello Scott!
Here is my first wooden house I build in SecondLife. Building stuff in SL works much better now.








Scott:
Beautiful, Peter - what is your avatar name? (Mine again is Aphilo Aarde) ... and found and blog posted some realistic "Google Street View in Second Life" Youtubes today - https://scott-macleod.blogspot.com/2020/01/taiga-aphilo-scott-macleod-making-of.html ... I haven't been into Second Life recently at all ... shall we meet there soon-ish? Happy New Year!

Taiga: "Aphilo Scott MacLeod The Making of Virtual Harbin Introduction" * Just was able to "CAST" this to a large screen ... COOL! ... (but not yet interactively yet, although this is a video of 3D...
https://scott-macleod.blogspot.com


Just searched on Peter Bothe' in 2 different search opportunities within Second Life ... but didn't find you ... (And how's your Android smartphone working out too?)

I'm in Second Life at the moment ... if you happen to be 'in-world' ... Aphilo Aarde again is my avatar's name ...


Peter, 11:49 AM:
I have currently several accounts in SL. This is just my test account and I might delete it. I have also made an account for KLUBTALK. You better follow that one. I try to start a conversation group in SL or OpenSim. OpenSim is less crowded with 'weird' avatars (nude, oversized, furry...), but the servers are often slow and not very responsive, sometimes not even reachable. I will probably give SL a chance first. If it doesn't work out, I might switch to OpenSim. The biggest task is still ahead. Explaining to KT members how SL works, how to operate the viewer, how to setup your avatar and get the audio (Voice) going.


Scott:

I just messaged you at KLUBTALK in SL ... And I've taught a course on Harvard's island in SL for many years ... "Society and Information Technology" ... shall I explore teaching it again as an entree for KLUBTALK members?


Peter:
BTW, earlier I watched you WUaS YouTube video. Your stream seems to work again. The quality was good.


Scott:
The course I've taught much on Harvard's virtual island here

 -  http://worlduniversityandschool.org/InfoTechNetworkSocGlobalUniv.html -

Yes, thanks so much for troubleshooting the WUaS Youtube recording ... it's working relatively glitch-free again !

Heading out of SL soon ... (since you don't seem to be in-world at present - with your Peter B KLUBTALK name)


Peter:
I have other plans for KLUBTALK. We will more likely do excursions in SL. Found some interesting places already. I'm also planning role-play setups for the future. The main goal of KLUBTALK is still improving German or English in a conversational context.


Scott:
Did you receive my email to edX president and MIT Prof of EECS Anant Agarwal today? (I'm assuming you, and Lydia, did).

Excursions are a good idea.


Peter, 11:59 AM:
So far I found places like 'Berlin 1920' and 'Victorian London'


Scott:
it's the two channels for communication - group voice and group text chat - in Second Life that make it a fascinating platform - 'flow' experiences in sharing ideas - and with avatar bots (per my experience in a Harvard course in SL in ~ 2007 ) ...

Harvard's virtual island is called Berkman Island (like the Harvard Law center) ... if you want to explore, and it has a sandbox for building projects ... and I just searched on the Exploratorium museum island called Splo island, but couldn't gain access today.

Peter, 12:01 PM
Well, I don't want to do text chat in SL. It has to be voice chat or nothing!


Scott, 12:02 PM:
voice chat came in around 2007 ... and is somehow 'amplified' with avatar bots ... differently from 10 person group video! (in my experience)

Peter, 12:02 PM
So far I have only SPOKEN to a few people in SL. Most use text chat.

Scott, 12:03 PM:
In this 2009 video in SL of the Gardens of Bliss and re my Harbin project - https://youtu.be/3nhvcHw54GE

 - you can see the video making potential, as well as the voice speaking symbol above mine and Lizzy Ha's avatar heads, when we're speaking ...

I find Sl is very stimulating to people's imaginations ... and that KlubTalk people will like it, and that's it's become more predictable and reliable with time, but is still a bit involved to get into, and it requires a fairly new computer too ...

Peter, 12:06 PM
...I'm currently working on a better avatar. Found some free or open source mesh avatars, but getting free and fitting clothes is almost impossible. Most free stuff in SL is for classic avatars.

Scott, 12:09 PM:
On Anteater Island years' ago - the American Anthropological Associations' virtual island at the time (thanks to Tom Boellstorff) - I began to build a Harbin Hot Springs' gate house ... I don't think these builds are up any more ... And I also built the beginnings of a Harbin warm pool in OpenSim years ago ... nothing lasts long in SL ... so can be not worth investing time creating, for ex ...

This Harbin gate house URL in Google Street View -  http://tinyurl.com/p62rpcg  - however is fairly stable ... eternally? to be seen :)


Peter, 12:10 PM
I have to go now. I will invite you when we have sorted out the technical side of the operation. And I'm still looking for a not so busy place to hold our meetings since I'm not going to buy or rent any SL land. Would you know of any 'free' spaces in SL where you can meet and even sit down. I've already got a SL whiteboard and chairs.

Scott, 12:10 PM:
Accessible from http://www.scottmacleod.com/ActualVirtualHarbinBook.html ... see you later !

Scott MacLeod, author of "Naked Harbin" - 415 480 4577 - sgkmacleod@worlduniversityandschool.org
http://www.scottmacleod.com
Harvard's virtual island?

Peter, 12:11 PM
...but does it have 'rooms'?

Scott, 12:11 PM:
I think this is the SL URL - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Berkman/90/60/25 ...

Second Life Maps | Berkman
http://maps.secondlife.com
Not sure about sitting down ... it had a building or two, but they're clunky to get in and out of ...

Peter, 12:12 PM
I don't want to sit in an open space where everyone can disturb us.

12:13 PM
And Harvard's virtual island is fairly open ... just tell KlubTalk folks a Second Life time which is Pacific Time ... and this URL ... avatars may have to stand ... but sitting may be possible too ... check it out ...

do some reconnaissance ... may get 'griefed' like my class was ... but maybe not!


Peter, 12:14 PM
Ok, got to go now. See you!


12:14 PM
See you!
12:19 PM
(smile)






* * *
My new book and its covers ~
"To the Dance or the Pools? ~ Virtually!: How different it is to soak at Harbin Hot Springs, than to realize it in virtual Reality"



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This is the cover of 
"To the Dance or the Pools? ~ Virtually! ... "



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And this is the cover of the first spiral bound version:  
"To the Dance or the Pools? ~ Virtually! ... "


* *



https://www.amazon.com/Dance-Pools-Virtually-different-Springs/dp/0578625490

https://www.amazon.com/author/scottmacleodworlduniversity





* * *

Society and Information Technology talks 
http://worlduniversityandschool.org/InfoTechNetworkSocGlobalUniv.html -



Social History of the Internet - Scott MacLeod


https://youtu.be/jghU_CM4R9Y


*
Social History of the Internet for the course "Information Technology, Network Society and the Global University" http://worlduniversityandschool.org

8 videos here, further -
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLof6LHEpLfwrYnYlQfwU119jDpOwfnZuN





* * * * 
Family conversation about connecting, as well as the internet and robotics!

Karen Leighty
4:02 PM (2 hours ago)
to me

Dear Scotty, you flatter me to think I am of the on-line, digital generation.  In truth, I hardly do any on-line communications.  My philosophizing with my buddies is usually on the hiking trail or sitting with them in the evenings with a glass of wine in hand.  I suspect I will not be your best audience as an email correspondent.  Online interactions seem to have a distancing effect on me.  Sharing my innermost thoughts with a computer screen in between makes me feel sort of robotic ...I guess I have to accept my own personal limitations.  And as we talked about, virtual reality is a fascinating concept but pretty far afield for my daily existence. —Your multiplicity of ideas is indeed impressive and it pleases me that  you have such a wide audience for them.  Keep up the good works.  Once the political air has cleared, maybe people will have the mental energy to have clear/headed thoughts again.  You and your generation are our hope.  
      With regards...and a huge hug~~
Cuzzin Karen




*

Dear, dear Karen, 

Thanks so much for your email, and sharing your thoughts electronically! Am hoping I can seek & find a life partner for hikes and evening imbibing and conversation, about things intimate even - and even beginning a family! Am circulating in these regards - on hikes + .

Humans communicate ... and newly via the internet ... but perhaps you and I won't communicate all that much electronically, - but possibly on hikes in the future in DC (or the Bay Area even?) ... (and long into the future re longevity questions too?) I write / communicate / use language sometimes when I worry or am happy ... and with friends ... so via the internet for simplicity's sake, or face-to-face in person, it's all good ... :)

Interesting that Lee Rainie and Pew Research don't call any generation the internet generation, or rather "on-line, digital generation," but rather the millennials for 23-39 year olds (re research) - https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/09/09/us-generations-technology-use/ - and generation Z for 18-23 year olds (and probably re political research questions esp.).

Re the internet further
Am seeking to explore virtual Reality anew ... and re my actual-virtual Harbin Hot Springs' ethnographic project, and my new book too - https://www.amazon.com/author/scottmacleodworlduniversity - "To the Dance or the Pools? ~ Virtually!: How different it is to soak at Harbin Hot Springs, than to realize it in virtual Reality" (which you have) ... where the poem on p 118 is about philosophical ideas about consciousness too, even! 

And while I teach about some of this - http://worlduniversityandschool.org/InfoTechNetworkSocGlobalUniv.html - I do also find the internet fascinating, and what people do on it, and how people feel/think about it - and fascinating too to read that you find the web to have a distancing effect. 

Thanks for your thinking and feedback, Karen!

With regards...and hugs
~~ Scotty
Will blog tomorrow - https://scott-macleod.blogspot.com/2019/12/wild-pomegranate-burchellia-bubalina.html?m=0 (Happy New Year!) - about my academic vision, teaching and research, and re actual-virtual Harbin Hot Springs esp. :)



* *

"You're a robot" 

  
Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Good morning, Ma,

Nice to hear from Karen yesterday in the 'Online Psychoanalysis' email thread, - and in which she mentioned the word 'robot' too (perhaps re distancing idea with technologies - see email below, and her sentence "Sharing my innermost thoughts with a computer screen in between makes me feel sort of robotic" ...), ... and which you, Ma, too had said I was a number of times about me over Christmas and New Years.

A 'Desiderata' (poem) robot? (https://mwkworks.com/desiderata.html) ...

I think I also enjoy Angela & Victor's Yoga courses because they're freeing, and help one come in touch with one's 'inner body' in far-reaching and deep ways ... kind of the antithesis of being a robot ... in modernity (internetity) .... the information age (per Castells). ... (where becoming 'human' or a person may be a hippy thing here with regard to modernity's (limiting) roles, - & protesting them even?). 

So I've been wondering or thinking about what you might mean in calling me a robot, Ma ... a nerd?, a geek?, a logical operator? A bot as person in the information technology revolution? A thinker in a body? An automaton? What mean you? 

And is this praise? Or is this a new observation on your part - in your 'yclepting' me ( John Money's word for "to name, call or style" - http://scottmacleod.com/JohnMoneyConceptsOfDeterminism.html ) which as an exigency of being human (per Money too) is something all people do, something probably parents do, and something you and I do too :) - and what is it suggesting (or what do you mean, I wonder?)


Some DEFINITIONS I found for ROBOT: 

"a machine resembling a human being and able to replicate certain human movements and functions automatically"

(Automatic means:
"working by itself with little or no direct human control")


DEFINITION: 
"A ROBOT is a machine designed to execute one or more tasks automatically with speed and precision. There are as many different types of robots as there are tasks for them to perform. ... An autonomous robot acts as a stand-alone system, complete with its own computer (called the controller)."


DEFINITION:
"a machine capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically, especially one programmable by a computer."


BOT, by contrast, in computing:
"an autonomous program on a network (especially the Internet) that can interact with computer systems or users, especially one designed to respond or behave like a player in an adventure game."


(And, parenthetically, is your CAR a ROBOT? -
"Is your car a robot? NO! But a modern car is full of sensors, motors and computer power - all the kind of things we expect to see in a robot. ... So we have the idea that a robot must be able to act autonomously, controlled by an internal program, rather than being controlled (or remote-controlled) by a human.")



AVATAR BOT?

Avatar bot definition ...
"In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. An icon or figure representing a particular person in a video game, Internet forum, etc. ... The term "avatar" can also refer to the personality connected with the screen name, or handle, of an Internet user."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_(computing)

And see the video above as an example ~ "Aphilo Scott MacLeod The Making of Virtual Harbin" ...  https://youtu.be/3nhvcHw54GE ...



In suggesting that I'm a robot, Ma, and with regard to my interest in these regards in the Desiderata poem, it's the last lines that could add something new to grow the idea that people (e.g. MIT students?) can be robots (and the words, spirit, God, soul throughout poem) ...


" . . . And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy"


Just thinking about these questions (and social scientifically, and philosophically too :)

Your thoughts, Ma? Why do you say " You're a robot" to me, or call me a robot, Ma? :) Am seeking to make conscious our thinking about robots here too :) (and in a Lacanian 'speech act' way too:). 
Food for thought in creating & BUILDING Lego robots anew too! :)

While meditating this morning - it's a very beautiful morning here in Canyon, both looking east and west - this also came to mind re your suggesting I'm a robot: One key aspect of robots that makes them different from humans I think is agency (which could be loosely defined as free will, intentional causation, 'action or intervention, especially such as to produce a particular effect' which would include judgement and decision-making). So I wonder if, in calling me a robot, whether you're saying I don't have agency (or loosely free will)? So, are you saying, Ma, "You're not free (to act intentionally)" when you say to me "You're a robot"? :)

Looking forward to your Desiderata robot reply, MaBot :)

Love, Scott



Cousin Karen's email to me:
Dear Scotty, you flatter me to think I am of the on-line, digital generation.  In truth, I hardly do any on-line communications.  My philosophizing with my buddies is usually on the hiking trail or sitting with them in the evenings with a glass of wine in hand.  I suspect I will not be your best audience as an email correspondent.  Online interactions seem to have a distancing effect on me.  Sharing my innermost thoughts with a computer screen in between makes me feel sort of robotic ...I guess I have to accept my own personal limitations.  And as we talked about, virtual reality is a fascinating concept but pretty far afield for my daily existence. —Your multiplicity of ideas is indeed impressive and it pleases me that  you have such a wide audience for them.  Keep up the good works.  Once the political air has cleared, maybe people will have the mental energy to have clear/headed thoughts again.  You and your generation are our hope.  
      With regards...and a huge hug~~
Cuzzin Karen
And my reply:
see blog post today to come :)








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