Got some meds for you today!  These will make it all better!  From Kissed by Lithium comes Lasix and Ralix. Lasix is a cheeky little flexi mini dress with laced up bodice and matching stockings. Comes in lots of gorgeous colours to choose from.  Ralix is a sexy leather outfit that can be worn in different ways; there’s shorts and a tank or a belted cropped top with matching capris. Again, lots of beautiful colours are available, I chose pink to feature below.

(Above) Kissed by Lithium Lasix, Hair by LeLutka (Peta), Skin by League (Misty Classic – Glam), Pose by Striking Poses (dark beauty)

(Above) Kissed by Lithium Lasix, Hair by LeLutka (Peta), Skin by League (Misty Classic), Pose by Striking Poses (City Chic)

(Above) Kissed by Lithium Ralix, Hair by Truth (Veronica), Skin by League (Misty Classic) Shoes by Stiletto Moody (Bare – Elizabeth) Pose 1 by {flowey} (I’m in the middle of your picture), Pose 2  by Striking Poses (Posh and Spicy)

Kissed by Lithium blog

TP to Kissed by Lithium

Parce qu’on ne parle que de ça en ce moment, il se devait que je poste au moins un article au sujet de la réalité augmentée. J’ai donc choisi une idée originale proposée par Cisco, une toute nouvelle façon de faire du shopping qui pourrait faire gagner pas mal de temps! Une idée qui devrait sans doute plaire d’abord aux hommes qui n’aiment pas s’attarder dans la magasins de vêtements. Vivement que ça soit dans la réalité!

Source: http://brunowalther.com

Culture shock can strike expats unexpectedly when they move overseas for an assignment, particularly when they are expecting their new home country to be very similar to the one they left behind because of distance or language similarities. Culture shock can lead to homesickness, a lack of self-confidence, insomnia, anger, or even depression and there is no quick fix to adjust to life abroad but preparation can help.

1st Virtual Relocation Service Launches

Virtual reality tools can help pre-arrival to encourage you to consider and learn how different life will be in your host country. By touring a virtual world, the visual immersion allows you to experience firsthand, in a safe environment, how a city looks; the architecture, shop fronts, a new language on billboards, the public transport network and the type of amenities available.

Training packages using virtual reality software are widespread, encompassing a range of scenarios such as military simulations, therapy for disorders and phobias and workplace situations. Cultural training material is also available in the form of computer simulation and virtual games. Simulation tools help expats to understand the differences they will face in communication, lifestyle, daily routines and mindset, to help ease the transition to a new country.

Virtual reality tools also provide an environment for interactive and engaging language training, with virtual worlds promoting listening comprehension in a foreign language and providing the opportunity to practice what you have learnt in real scenarios such as pharmacies, train stations and shops, as well as meet others learning the same language. This technique of language training is particularly effective because it is wholly immersive, accessible for the whole family and can begin before you move overseas. When you touch down in a new country, you already possess the basic language skills to understand signs and get by in basic social situations, making you feel more comfortable in your new environment from day one.

A visit to a virtual city opens up a social network to you in your host country too. It allows expat organisations, social clubs and networks to promote their activities to you so that you can be aware of groups and events before you arrive. You can also interact with other expats prior to relocating; ask advice and information about life in the destination city and make friends that you can meet up with when you arrive abroad. Social interaction in the anonymity of virtual worlds helps break down barriers that can exist in a real life situation and a network waiting for you in your new home supports the adjustment to life overseas.

The Chamber of Commerce and companies relevant to your expat needs are also able to have a presence in a virtual world, putting you in touch with contacts and services that may be useful to you during your relocation, or after.

Widening your network and contacts before you arrive overseas contributes to you feeling more comfortable on arrival, and helps you to know where to turn when you need a helping hand.

Source: http://www.ExpatFinder.com

Das Internet- der genuine Ort für experimentelle Selbstentwürfe oder das Ausleben multipler Identitäten?

Genau dieser Fragestellung geht Sabina Misoch in ihrem Werk “Identitäten im Internet- Selbstdarstellung auf privaten Homepages” nach. Das Internet eröffnet neue und vielfältige Möglichkeiten der Selbstdarstellung und fungiert exemplarisch als postmoderne Bühne für Selbstpräsentationen. (vgl. Misoch 2004, S.111)   Misoch klärt die Begriffe “Identität” und “Selbstdarstellung” und deren unabdingbaren Zusammenhang. Sie arbeitet die Merkmale und Unterschiede von Selbstdarstellung im “Real Life”  und “Virtual Reality” heraus. Sie überprüft aktuelle Identitätstheorien und befragt Website- Betreiber zu deren Motiven.

Meine persönliche Bewertung:

Ich habe das Buch letztes Wochenende gelesen und kann es echt empfehlen! Es ist in einfacher Sprache geschrieben, also relativ schnell durchgelesen und fasst interessante Aspekte, die thematisch an die Diskussion, Identitäten in der Virtuelle Welt vs. Identitäten in der Realen Welt von letzter Seminarsitzung (24.11.09) anknüpfen, zusammen.

Also Interesse?

Ihr könnt euch das Buch in der Bibliothek (Abteilung Gesellschaftswissenschaften) ausleihen oder wer es sich sogar kaufen will…

Hier gehts zum Buch zu Amazon

Feminine and romantic is this beautiful bridal range from Eternity Brides & Seldom Blue called Giselle.  The gown is fantastic and the veil is to die for!  Also available for purchase is the matching lingerie set, comeplete with opaque baby doll prim with hip bows and a lovely bow on the back of the bra for added drama.  The demi-cup bra is VERY revealing for that memorable honeymoon night *wink*

(Above) Eternity Brides and Seldom Blue Giselle bridal gown, Hair by Dernier Cri (Gabriella II), Skin by League (Misty Classic – Glam), Pose by Striking Poses (International Supermodel 13)

(Above) Eternity Brides and Seldom Blue Giselle bridal gown, Hair by Dernier Cri (Gabriella II), Skin by League (Misty Classic – Glam), Pose by Striking Poses (sassy)

(Above) Eternity Brides and Seldom Blue Giselle bridal lingerie, Hair by Dernier Cri (Gabriella II), Skin by League (Misty Classic – Glam)

(Above) Eternity Brides and Seldom Blue Giselle bridal lingerie, Hair by Dernier Cri (Gabriella II), Skin by League (Misty Classic – Glam)

Eternity Brides & Seldom Blue blog

TP to Seldom Blue

Restaurant City, Pet Society, Cafe World, Farmville… The list goes ON. If you don’t already know, these are games on social networking site, Facebook. These flash games are all kinda the same though, visit your friends for money or items to make your house or restaurant look a little more fancy. The strangest thing is that they are really addictive.

So addictive that a buncha NUH nurses were caught playing Farmville at work just last October and were “disciplined”. This actually happened cause some Stomper posted up pictorial evidence of them milking pixel cows or something on STOMP. You know that website where “you generate the content, you write the reports” blahblahblah? Yeah.

“This is so unprofessional. Instead of attending to the patients, they were playing computer games.”
-Stomper Keny (You’re one to talk, Keny.)

You can read the full story here

In the nurses’ defense, Facebook is really smart, oh yes it is. Manipulating our highly trained professionals that we call our nurses like puppets on strings. I mean, they KNOW that work can get boring especially at a desk which is why they make these Flash based games. Perfect for you if your workplace bans websites and Facebook is one of the only pages that you go to when your supervisor isn’t looking.

I mean these games aren’t exactly genius or the best fun in the WURLD. They don’t have Ratchet and Clank graphics or the coolness factor of Rock Band. It’s kinda silly actually, but put mundane and LESS mundane together, what do you get? Before you know it, you’ll be addicted to farming virtual crops too.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go back to cooking my pixel pancakes now.

New from Pout is a lovely cocktail length and full length dress called Classy.  It is just as the name implies, simple and sophisticated with a lovely black and white abstract floral pattern with beautiful bow accentuating the the empire waistline.  You not only get the short cocktail length skirt, but also an opaque full length and a solid full length option.  According to Pout designer Babi Cham, the inspiration for this dress came from the popular TV show “Ghost Whisperer” (Melinda always wears fabulous dresses!).  This dress is a pure bargain at only 250L .

(Above) Pout Classy, Hair by Naughty (Drama), Skin by *Beauty Avatar* (Melody Natural 5), Poses by Olive Juice

Pout blog

TP to Pout

Our guest blogger of the day is Professor David Howard. David holds a Personal Chair in the Department of Electronics at the University of York in the United Kingdom where he teaches and researches in music technology. His main research areas are the analysis, synthesis and perception of singing, speech and music and other audio signals. David’s work involves the research and development of virtual reality and in this blog post he discusses the technology within the context of shopping for travel.

Without further ado, over to Professor Howard…

Professor Howard

The section of the Amateur-Expert Traveller report that looks at future technological innovations within the travel industry is very compelling. The concept of virtual reality has been discussed for a while now and I am not surprised – it is a compelling proposition.

Think about it: if you walk into a travel agent to book a trip to China, you may be handed a number of brochures, have hotels highlighted to you and visits you can make while you are there, but, after a while, they can all look similar! Just think what it would be like to be able to spend 5 minutes experiencing the sounds, sites and smells of your destination in a virtual world created for you. It certainly would reduce the number of disappointed customers, and it is clear from the report that the travel industry is looking forward to when this technology becomes a reality – if you forgive the pun.

This technology is just around the corner. Our work at Warwick and York Universities means that we are devising outlines for a helmet that recreates the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of far-flung destinations. This type of technology could become an invaluable tool in setting travellers’ expectations and giving them a clearer sense of what they’re buying. As consumers start to become more interested in more far-flung destinations, this will become increasingly important.

So, in the future, you and your children could experience the plains of the Serengeti as part of your geography lesson, and you will also know that each of your holidays will be exactly the once in a lifetime experience you were looking for!

- Professor David Howard, University of York

Today’s round-up of news about migraine, visual snow, persistent aura and related illnesses:

B.C. researchers develop virtual reality for pain sufferers. By Kelly Sinoski, For Canwest News Service. VANCOUVER — A virtual walk in the park may be just what the doctor ordered for chronic pain sufferers … The technique is one of several programs used around the world to aid sufferers of chronic back pain and migraines.

Health tip: determining migraines in children. (HealthDay News) — Migraines are common in kids, affecting up to 5 percent of grade-school children, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. Announces Positive Data on NGX426 in the Potential Treatment of Neuropathic Pain. Posted November 24, 2009. Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. Announces Positive Data on NGX426 in the Potential Treatment of Neuropathic Pain … Christopher M. Starr, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Raptor, commented, “We are encouraged by these results suggesting that NGX426 could be effective in the treatment of acute pain such as migraine and chronic pain, such as neuropathy.”

Migraine—Are more effective treatments in sight? Migraine is a largely inherited neurological disorder leading to a combination of symptoms including headache, visual and aural effects. As any long-time migraine sufferer will tell you, migraine pain is debilitating, and the current treatments are not always very effective. How well do we really understand the mechanism of migraine, and what treatments are available?  Are there better treatments coming in the near future? How can we maximise the therapeutic effect of existing treatment?

Reports summarize headache and migraine study results from J.C. Cole and co-researchers. November 23rd, 2009. According to recent research from the United States, “To propose minimal important differences (MID) for the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire version 2.1 (MSQ v2.1). To our knowledge (to date), no published MID values exist for the MSQ v2.1 in any population.”

New Study Finds Brow Lifts Can Reduce Signs of Aging – And Severe Headaches Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Robert Zubowski Welcomes Finding. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:03:37 GMT. PRWeb.

This story about a new Bible software called “GLO” was sent to me by one of my ex-co-workers from 13 years ago!

Check out these videos:

Cool. One thing I would add to this software is resources for allowing people to explain the Bible to their neighbors. Probably the most useful thing would be to evaluate major passages to see when they were written, how closely the passage is based on eyewitness testimony, whether it appears in other New Testament sources, whether it passes criteria like embarrassment and dissimilarity, and whether it is confirmed by archaeology or even non-Biblical sources.

Additionally, commenter Matthew has some concerns:

Translations? Only NIV, which is OK but far from exemplary. For $90 this needs every translation known to man, in most languages. And full text of all historic bibles as well.
Scholarship? An article found through google critiques Glo for not having a panel of scholars advise on the extra-biblical resources offered.

I don’t think this thing is meant as a scholarly resource – they are aiming for a different market.

Debates about the Bible

If you think that talking about the Bible with non-Christians is fun, you might want to take a look at these debates:

• Richard Bauckham defends the reliability of the gospels against James Crossley
• Richard Bauckham defends the divinity of Jesus against James Crossley
• Crossley debated against William Lane Craig before on the resurrection
• Crossley against Michael Bird on the origins of Christianity, (part 1, part 2)

If you like seeing fringe historical skeptics of Christianity go down in flames, check out this post for some historical debates with evangelicals and radical skeptics.

Twee vwo-studenten stelden me vijf vragen naar aanleiding van mijn artikel over DigiMe in MMNieuws. Ze maken voor school een profielwerkstuk en stellen zich de vraag: ‘In hoeverre is de virtual reality voor jongeren een echte wereld geworden?’. Vijf antwoorden.

- Hoe afhankelijk zijn jongeren geworden van internet?

Bij afhankelijkheid kan je twee kanten op: afhankelijk in de zin van behoefte (willen) of afhankelijk in de zin van noodzakelijk (kunnen of moeten). Van beide kanten kennen we de voorbeelden zoals mensen die een voortdurende behoefte hebben aan activiteiten op internet met games, social networks, mail etc. Die behoefte kan zo extreem worden dat ze niet meer zonder kunnen en aan die activiteiten verslaafd raken. Je zou kunnen zeggen dat die mensen zo afhankelijk zijn geworden van internet dat ze niet meer zonder kunnen. Maar er is ook een veel breder sociale afhankelijkheid ontstaan van internet. We vinden het in Nederland inmiddels heel gewoon om elkaar een email te kunnen sturen, iets op te zoeken waar we informatie over willen hebben en via social networks contacten te onderhouden en daar iets over onszelf prijs te geven. Daarbij zie ik geen fundamenteel verschil tussen afhankelijkheid voor jongeren of ouderen. We moeten ons misschien zelfs afvragen of de oudere mensen in onze samenleving niet een veel groter probleem krijgen met de afhankelijkheid van internet. Denk aan elektronisch bankieren, bestellingen doen, communicatie met diensten. Dergelijke voorzieningen zijn nu al erg vanzelfsprekend via het internet maar voor veel ouderen is dat (nog) veel te ingewikkeld.
Kortom: ik denk dat we allemaal (dus ook jongeren) in de westerse samenleving erg afhankelijk geworden zijn van internet.

- Is de virtuele wereld een vlucht uit de echte wereld of een ondersteuning van het echte leven?

Dit is een interessante maar moeilijke vraag omdat het antwoord van mens tot mens zal verschillen. Bij jullie vraag heb je wellicht gedacht aan virtuele spellen waarbij je met een avatar actief meedoet aan situaties waar meerdere mensen op hetzelfde moment aan mee doen. Maar het komt steeds vaker voor dat mensen (ook hier zowel jong als oud) met een verzonnen naam mee doen aan forums of een blog onderhouden of andere bezigheden hebben waarbij ze het prettig vinden om hun echte identiteit niet prijs te geven. Je zou dit een ‘vlucht’ kunnen noemen. Maar is het internet voor deze mensen dan niet juist een ondersteuning van het ‘echte’ leven? Hier zit jullie vraag verbonden met de vorige over afhankelijkheid.
Een ander aspect is dat sommige mensen in het ‘echte’ leven niet zo makkelijk contact maken of het gewoon niet durven. Dan is internet een makkelijke manier om dat toch (en dan dikwijls anoniem) te proberen; zowel een vlucht als een ondersteuning denk ik. We moeten echter oppassen met het verschil tussen ‘virtueel’ en ‘echt’. Wat we meemaken – op welke manier dan ook – is altijd echt. Als je naar muziek luistert via een headset is dat toch ook echt? Het verschil zit in de beleving. Voor de ene beleving weegt de ervaring zwaarder dan voor de ander. Als we naar een moorddadige film hebben gekeken, kunnen we achteraf denken ‘het was maar een film’ en wegen de indrukken veel minder zwaar dan wanneer je op straat getuige bent van een ernstige botsing. Deelname aan een virtueel spel kan wel degelijk zo ‘echt’ worden beleefd dat mensen erdoor in hun gedrag ernstig worden beïnvloed. Wat uiteindelijk telt is het ‘echte’ leven en de interactie met de ‘echte’ mensen om je heen.

- Hoe zie je dit terug in sociale contacten tussen jongeren?

Het is mijn overtuiging dat de jongeren van nu, die zijn opgegroeid met de mogelijkheden van internet, geen fundamenteel andere relatie hebben met hun vrienden (of wie dan ook) dan generaties jongeren vóór de tijd van internet. Vanzelfsprekend wordt bij het onderhouden van contacten veelvuldig gebruik gemaakt van alles waarmee dat mogelijk is maar net als bij de vorige vraag: wat uiteindelijk telt is het ‘echte’ leven en de interactie met de ‘echte’ mensen om je heen.

- Wordt het niveau van jongeren beïnvloed door dit verschijnsel?

Het is inmiddels duidelijk geworden dat ik de ‘verschijnselen’ van internet afzet tegen de belevenissen die we hebben en die altijd in het ‘echte’ leven getoetst zullen worden. Als jullie met het ‘niveau’ de intelligentie of de sociale vaardigheden bedoelen dan denk ik dat de invloed van internet samenvalt met die van alle andere communicatiemiddelen. Een van de grootste veranderingen die we de afgelopen decennia hebben meegemaakt is dat jongeren minder boeken zijn gaan lezen. De reden daarvoor zou wel eens kunnen zijn dat het jongeren steeds meer moeite kost om langere tijd achter elkaar één ding te doen (en dat is nodig voor het lezen van een boek). Mijn idee is dat de huidige ‘communicatiemix’ vooral veel onrust veroorzaakt, een stress waarvan we de bron niet zo goed in de gaten hebben. Stel je eens voor dat je op een plek bent waar geen internet is, geen tv, geen mobiele telefoon, er wordt geen post bezorgd, helemaal niets! Onwillekeurig denk ik aan vakantie.

- Zal deze tweede wereld de eerste wereld uiteindelijk gaan vervangen?

Internet is inderdaad een ‘eigen wereld’. Wat we er nu van zien is nog maar het begin en zal beslist nog veel meer impact gaan hebben op allerlei aspecten van ons leven (contacten, hobby, leren, gezondheid, veiligheid, etc.). Ook is duidelijk dat we daardoor het internet steeds moeilijker zullen kunnen missen. Toch zijn we mensen van vlees en bloed en mogen we de manieren waarop we het internet gebruiken niet overschatten. Een van de interessantste verschijnselen van onze soort (de mensen) is dat we communiceren met veel meer middelen dan we denken. Er is veel onderzoek gedaan naar communicatie en algemeen wordt aangenomen dan ongeveer 90% daarvan non-verbaal is. Internet kan maar twee dingen: iets laten zien en horen. Alles wat we zien is bovendien (voorlopig nog) plat en wat we via boxen horen wordt door ons meestal herkend als niet ‘echt’. We begrijpen meteen dat er nog heel veel ontbreekt.
Het is te hopen dat we allemaal kunnen blijven genieten van een gesprek in de zon waar plotseling een hommel voorbij komt zoemen en waar je je vriendin een geheimpje in haar oor kan fluisteren zonder dat je je zorgen hoeft te maken dat je per ongeluk een verkeerd emailadres hebt gebruikt.

Als ik mij probeer voor te stellen in hoeverre de virtual reality voor jongeren een echte wereld geworden is, maak ik mij weinig zorgen. Die wereld zal meer en meer virtual connected zijn maar voor reality hebben we geen stroom nodig.

(het artikel in MMNieuws waar deze studentes aan refereren is te downloaden via: Artikel MMNieuws)

G4’s Attack of the Show recently paid tribute to Johnny Chung Lee, a researcher for Microsoft and graduate of Carnegie Mellon’s Human Computer Interaction Ph.D. program. Lee is the king of Wiimote mods.

Using innovative DIY approaches, Lee has modified Wii peripherals into finger-tracking devices,

low-cost electronic white boards,

and desktop virtual reality. Yes, that’s right, virtual reality at home via your desktop.

As Attack of the Show thought to add Lee to its own Hall of Fame, so too do I.

Exquisiteness abounds in this chic Print dress from the Fall 2009 collection of SHIKI Designs. Sculpted prim ribboned sleeves complement the richly textured sweetheart neckline bodice and ribbon-belted skirt.  The colours are beautiful in this dress and featured below is the vermillion style. You can never go wrong with SHIKI for versatility and classic silhouettes.

(Above) SHIKI Print Dress (vermillion), Hair by Dernier Cri (Jenelle), Skin by League (Misty Classic – Suntan), Pose by Glitterati

(Above) SHIKI Print Dress (vermillion), Hair by Dernier Cri (Jenelle), Skin by League (Misty Classic – Suntan), Pose by Glitterati

SHIKI blog

TP to SHIKI

Here’s a lovely jewelry set from Dragon Charm Designs called Ember.  A complete set of highly detailed jewelry; earrings, bracelet and necklace.  Glittering amber stone set in beautifully wrought silver to gracefully accentuate any outfit!

(Above) Dragon Charm Designs Ember jewelry, Dress by Ingenue (Ella), Hair by philotic energy (Portia), Skin by League (Misty Classic – Suntan), Pose by Oberon’s Trick

TP to Dragon Charm Designs

Look at me!! Check me out!! I’m on Kissed by Lithium’s vendor for their new casual outfit called Decorin!  It’s rather fun to be on the other side of the camera for a change, I have to say.  I enjoyed it immensely even if Kissowa Kamachi IS bossy.  Just kidding, she was great to work with and made it all very easy. Plus, she got to do all the work

In any case, enough about my being a model, let’s talk about the outfit.  I love the sculpted cuff jeans.  They come in all the different layers that you need to make them versatile with other outfits as well as boots.  The knitted top is adorable and comes in tons of colours.  I like the red and and the pink particularly.  You can also wear the top long or short.

Kissed by Lithium Blog

TP to mainstore

Al ver Zoom.net de TVE A la carta del 17.11.2009, en el que entre otras cosas se habla de Invizimals, me ha venido a la mente una idea, creo que original, sobre un videojuego o tipo de videojuegos o concepto de juego (gameplay, si no me equivoco) que aprovecharía mucho más el concepto de juego de Invizimals, el uso de una cámara más la conexión a internet más el GPS en un dispositivo móvil como la PSP o los nuevos teléfonos móviles más potentes para crear videojuegos que interactuasen con la realidad, que hagan al jugador moverse por la ciudad o incluso fuera de la ciudad. Aunque igual que Invizimals se podrían crear juegos de este tipo, no online, usando solo la cámara, sin GPS ni conexión a internet.

Se trataría de usar la cámara de un dispositivo móvil, tipo teléfono móvil o añadir una (como la de Invizimals) a una PSP o a una Nintendo DS, para dar vida en el dispositivo móvil a objetos o personas que estén en la calle (o dentro de bibliotecas, iglesias, universidades, etc.).

El jugador iría por la calle andando o parado/sentado en algún sitio, depende del momento en el juego, de forma que, por ejemplo, de repente en la pantalla o mediante un sonido el juego avisa de que una persona de la calle (que podría estar sentada, andando o ir en bici o estar trabajando en un mostrador, por ej.) es una personaje del juego, podría ser un demonio o espía, por ejemplo, y eso se vería en la pantalla (con la apariencia similar al objeto o persona real o bien totalmente distinta que le dé el juego), el jugador se acercaría a la persona y en la pantalla esa persona real cobraría vida: hablaría (voz o texto) al jugador para darle pistas o darle objetos virtuales o para luchar con él (con el personaje de la pantalla, no con la persona real, claro).

Igualmente con objetos o lugares que estén en la calle o en espacios públicos, tipo estaciones de metro, tren, aeropuertos, parques, plazas, centros comerciales, etc.

Se podrían crear varias versiones, unas en las que en pantalla apareciese el personaje u objeto animado (a partir del objeto o persona o lugar real o bien totalmente distinto al real) y con voz, otras en las que no apareciesen gráficos reales o basados en los reales, es decir, no se usase la cámara, solo la conexión a internet y el GPS del dispositivo portátil para informar al jugador dónde están los objetos o lugares a los que debe ir, otras en las que se usase la conexión a internet, el GPS y gráficos de personajes, objetos y lugares más voz y texto, etc.

Se podría hacer, en el caso de una versión online (por ej. un MMORPG) de un juego basado en este concepto de juego, que todos los jugadores de una misma ciudad interactuasen entre ellos, individualmente o en grupos o equipos, además de interactuar con objetos y lugares y con personas que no son jugadores del juego.

Se podría hacer, en un juego de este tipo que sea online, que cuando un jugador viaje y esté en otra ciudad, por medio del GPS el juego automáticamente sepa donde está y en base a los lugares propios de esa ciudad o a los jugadores que haya en esa ciudad, se genere automáticamente, o bien de forma personalizada por el equipo de desarrollo del juego online, una nueva fase (o quest si es un juego de rol, por ej.) para ese jugador concreto. Igual para nuevos equipos o grupos de jugadores. También se podrían formar nuevos equipos cuando varios jugadores que no se conocen entre sí lleguen a una ciudad o lugar desde otras ciudades o lugares.

Se podría hacer, aunque no estén desarrollados todavía, que entre jugadores del juego que se encuentran en la calle o en un lugar se pudiese luchar o jugar a algún tipo de minijuego (tipo Mario Party por ej.) a través de la consola pero usando un guante de datos, por ej., que recogiera los movimientos reales del jugador para pasarlos al juego, es decir, los jugadores se moverían en el mundo real para realizar un determinado minijuego y eso se trasladaría al juego. Por estilo del mando de la Wii

Este concepto de juego se adaptaría muy bien a juegos de tipo aventura gráfica o de rol (sobre todo de tipo MMORPG).

También se podría usar, tanto la versión que lo combina todo como la versión basada en GPS o que solo indica lugares y objetos concreto para realizar juegos educativos. Por ejemplo un Carmen Sandiego “real”.

En el futuro, si esos dispositivos móviles se integran en la ropa o se convierten en un pinganillo como los que llevan los presentadores de la TV más unas gafas como las que salen en las películas de ciencia ficción, y además es cosa normal los dispositivos tipo “guante de datos” seguiría siendo válido esta forma de jugar, además permitiría más posibilidades para jugar que usar solo una PSP o un teléfono con conexión a internet más GPS.

Si alguna empresa de desarrollo de videojuegos quiere contratarme para trabajar en el diseño de un juego que use esta idea o concepto de juego lo puede hacer, estoy libre a partir de las 15.00h de L a V y fines de semana libres. Ruego contacte a través de la dirección de email que figura en esta bitácora.

En este momento me declaro autor de la idea original de esta idea de juego, concepto de juego, gameplay o estilo de juegos (ha ocurrido de nuevo, soy autor y español, por lo tanto podría ingresar en la organización con más influencia en España (tras el Club Bilderberg), la SGAE).
Pendiente de patente. Patent Pending.
Copyright a favor de Raúl Carmona Martínez.
Esta entrada está bajo la licencia Creative Commons BY-NC-ND-SA.

Relacionado:
Realidad aumentada. En inglés:Augmented reality.
De videojuegos de estudios de desarrollo españoles en el E3
De Android y la realidad aumentada

Matrix creep: Mind Trip Intel wants into your brain. (Image Warner Bros.)

Researchers expect brain waves to operate computers, TVs and cell phones

PopSci | Nov 20, 2009

By Jeremy Hsu

If the idea of turning consumers into true cyborgs sounds creepy, don’t tell Intel researchers. Intel’s Pittsburgh lab aims to develop brain implants that can control all sorts of gadgets directly via brain waves by 2020.

The scientists anticipate that consumers will adapt quickly to the idea, and indeed crave the freedom of not requiring a keyboard, mouse, or remote control for surfing the Web or changing channels. They also predict that people will tire of multi-touch devices such as our precious iPhones, Android smart phones and even Microsoft’s wacky Surface Table.

Turning brain waves into real-world tech action still requires some heavy decoding of brain activity. The Intel team has already made use of fMRI brain scans to match brain patterns with similar thoughts across many test subjects.

Plenty of other researchers have also tinkered in this area. Toyota recently demoed a wheelchair controlled with brainwaves, and University of Utah researchers have created a wireless brain transmitter that allows monkeys to control robotic arms.

There are still more implications to creating a seamless brain interface, besides having more cyborgs running around. If scientists can translate brain waves into specific actions, there’s no reason they could not create a virtual world with a full spectrum of activity tied to those brain waves. That’s right — we’re seeing Matrix creep.

More luxe glamour from Sascha’s Designs for you today called Tease.  Complete with Sascha’s Designs usual expert crafting, this new gown that has tons of different add-ons for specific looks.  There are three different types of bodice embellishments such as half and full-wrap matching stoles and a delicate and feathery stole.  As well, you have a choice of different flexi prim skirts from sleek to VERY full.  It comes in lots of beautiful colours, but I’ve chosen the lilac to feature today.  The shimmer effect is prevalent in this design, which gives it a glamourous, almost sequined effect.  This dress is highly detailed without being over the top, which is one of my favourite features of all of Sascha’s Designs.

(Above) Sascha’s Designs Tease, Hair by Truth (Leah), Skin by League (Misty classic – suntan), Pose 1 by Animah (Idle) Pose 2 by Cake

(Above) Sascha’s Designs Tease, Hair by Truth (Leah), Skin by League (Misty classic – suntan), Pose by Glitterati

(Above) Sascha’s Designs Tease, Hair by Truth (Leah), Skin by League (Misty classic – suntan), Pose by Animah (Idle)

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TP to Sascha’s Designs

Fayetteville Technical Community College was the first college in North Carolina to offer online courses and now they are leading in another area; simulation-based learning. The Advanced Visualization and Interactive Design Center is located in the Harry F. Shaw Virtual College Center at FTCC. The Center was designed to deliver leading edge interactive 3D and Virtual Reality curriculum to develop local economic and workforce development.

The Center which was opened in 2008 focuses on three key areas: developing simulation modeling technicians, creating interactive objects for other collegiate disciplines such as business, communications,nursing, radiology, and criminal justice, to use in training their respective students; and creating models for businesses to use in workforce training and development. The Simulation Modeling Technician Certification is a 16-week program that consists of four courses and a Capstone Exercise. The courses include Computer Aided Design, Geographic Information Systems and Global Positioning Systems, 3D Modeling, and simulation and game development programming. The Capstone Exercise is an experiential learning activity that facilitates student interactions and conversations with professionals outside of the classroom.

The Advanced Visualization and Interactive Design Center facilities include:

* Visual Learning Labs- designed for faculty and students to communicate ideas for discovery and development

* Telepresence Lab – an innovation hub for advanced distance learning and human interaction that provides cognitive eye-to-eye contact for more effective collaboration of ideas

* Immersive Learning Lab- A CAVE environment to create hands-on learning-by-doing.

* Experience and Discovery Lab- an innovative method of knowledge transfer in order for audiences to discover new ideas and concepts

*Broadcast Studio and Lab – a digital and 3D media environment where students and faculty can learn how to integrate virtual reality technologies with traditional media capabilities and emerging broadcast technologies

* Development Lab – provides 3D content life cycle development in order to support advanced distance and simulation based learning initiatives

There is so much clutter in advertising that advertisers have to constantly think of innovative ideas to capture audience’s attention. One of my favourite, very emotion provoking, is the bleeding billboard ad. [click it. you won't regret]

Anyone who knows anything about advertising knows that experiencing a product has far more impact than experiencing an ad. -Hoffman Lewis

Consumers are more or less immune to traditional print on billboard- Bill Gates sees an accelerated decline in traditional media.

This is the era where social network users are 3 times more likely to trust peer opinions over advertising when making purchase decisions- (JupoterResearch)

… where old and new media collide, where grassroots and corporate media intersect, where the power of the media producer and the power of the media consumer interact in unpredictable ways. -Henry Jenkins, “Convergence Culture”

15 megabytes is the new 15 minutes. Advertisers gladly welcome this change as less money will be spent on expensive traditional media and more money will be spent on investments in innovation, research, customer services, customer experiences, and marketing-specific technology and IT staff.

So what should we expect? That was 2005. We are experiencing the results of their investments now. We recieve mobile ads on an increasing frequency don’t we? There is something else, not avaliable in Singapore yet. This allows audience to have interaction by accessing info or finding location using it. Interaction- this is the most effective method to capture audiences’ attention, as of now.

Technology is working on that. Virtual Reality Technology is being developed now. It lets you see, hear, smell, taste and touch.

Once your fantasy? Not anymore.