Those of us who use virtual worlds in our daily life know that one of the many obstacles to acceptance of new tools and methods is simply the unfamiliar terminology.  We constantly have to update our vocabulary as perception and popular terms change.  As with any industry,  arcane insider language is fine when talking to industry peers but comes off as erudite and provincial when unloaded on those who may be encountering it for the first time.

Erica Driver and Sam Driver of ThinkBalm (http://www.thinkbalm.com) have a handy guide to improving this situation at:
http://www.thinkbalm.com/2009/09/28/to-cross-the-chasm-we-must-close-the-language-gap/

Here are some samples:

Terms to avoid:
Virtual world
Holodeck
Holoscene
Metaverse

Suggested alternatives:
Collaboration space
Studio
Practice room
Interview room
Meeting room
Conference center
Control room
Operations center
Bridge

I’m really glad to see this point being made.   Their complete list is at:
http://www.thinkbalm.com/2009/09/28/to-cross-the-chasm-we-must-close-the-language-gap/

Thanks ThinkBalm!

[-Bob Ketner]

[-Bob Ketner]

Virtual World expert (http://www.digitalspace.com/)  historian (http://www.vwtimeline.com/) and presenter at our Virtual World  SIG (https://virtualworldsig.com/bruce-damer-mar-26-2007/)  Bruce Damer was featured 9/29 in a New York Times article by Dan  Markoff.

Article here: (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/science/29grid.html)

Article is about Bruce’s project and PhD subject, his EvoGrid (http://www.evogrid.org/index.php/Main_Page)

[-Bob Ketner]

We will be hosting an event on Oct. 13 “Virtual Worlds in 2020″ in Palo Alto.
Here’s an input form where you can send input to this interactive workshop:
(http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=cjh3ZGJIZjU4WnVKQVZGVEJWUlpLcHc6MA..)

In particular it would be great to involve forward looking folks (futurists? or not)who might want to lead a table of VWSIG attendees (4-6 persons) in input on a question facing virtual worlds in the coming decade. Hey, jump in and do this, it’s fun.

Do you care?  Do you want to be part of it? Let me know bob[at]studiosfo.net if you do and I’ll add you to the description.
This will be held at:
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM October 13, 2009
Pillsbury Winthrop
2475 Hanover St.
Palo Alto,  CA

* Leaders in virtual worlds also welcome to arrange parallel virtual sessions!

Full description of the 10/13 event:

The SDForum Virtual World SIG will be hosting our 3rd annual “Future of Virtual Worlds” session on Tue. 10/13/09 -  “Virtual Worlds in 2020 Workshop”. I’d like to ask for your input, and for any of you futurists who would like to lead a breakout session on this SIG meeting to contact me.

In particular it would be great to involve forward looking folks (futurists? or not)who might want to lead a table of VWSIG attendees (4-6 persons) in input on a question facing virtual worlds in the coming decade. Hey, jump in and do this, it’s fun.

We have an input form at (http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=cjh3ZGJIZjU4WnVKQVZGVEJWUlpLcHc6MA..)

Do you care?  Do you want to be part of it? Let me know bob[at]studiosfo.net if you do and I’ll add you to the description.
This will be held at:
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM October 13, 2009
Pillsbury Winthrop
2475 Hanover St.
Palo Alto,, CA

* Leaders in virtual worlds also welcome to arrange parallel virtual sessions!
Details below:
This year we host an interactive workshop where you can bring ideas, input and questions for a very rare, long term view of virtual worlds.

In just a few weeks we enter a new decade equipped with abilities that existed only in science fiction a few years ago.  Although plans for using using graphical, collaborative virtual worlds  predate the internet itself by many years, many advances in productivity remain unclaimed.  It’s time now to take a look ahead. This workshop will produce a set of inputs showing what might be possible – along with a list of challenges to be overcome along the way over the next decade.

Some questions to consider:
- What must virtual worlds eventually do that they do not do now?
- What known changes will have the most impact on virtual worlds between now and 2020?
- What hurdles must be overcome to enable more collaborative virtual worlds?
- What goals should virtual world developers be most focused on in coming years?

Joining this workshop will be guest leaders in the virtual world space  (tba.) with on-site demos of their newest products.

We will then break into discussion groups to outline some of the most crucial factors for virtual worlds between now and 2020.

Have questions of your own?  Bring them on! Have ideas about solving challenges facing virtual worlds? Meet others interested in the same.

An input form is available for input at (http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=cjh3ZGJIZjU4WnVKQVZGVEJWUlpLcHc6MA..) and results will be posted from the workshop.

Don’t miss this highly interactive session where you can directly impact the vision of the next generations of virtual worlds!

[-Bob Ketner]