The Cyber Fair's Last Day

 

Today marks the last day of the Cyber Fair. This shopping event offers plenty of items to wear for those wanting a futuristic look, from headgear to outfits, to bionic limbs, various other accessories, and more. 
 

It's that time again... The virtual world is about to light up CYBER FAIR • SEPTEMBER ROUND ≼ is coming in HOT! From futuristic fashion to cutting-edge creations, this is where innovation meets style in the metaverse. 

 

To read more about it, check the website: https://www.access-sl.com/cyberfair.

 

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ACCESS%202/126/124/1504 

 

RFL Announcement: "Calling All Visionaries" For The Living Expo

 

Calling All Visionaries! 

Step into the City of the Future at the SL Living Expo—a futuristic adventure in support of the Relay For Life of Second Life! Are you a master designer with a passion for cutting-edge designs and advanced technology? A sponsor looking to make a forward-thinking impact? Or a participant ready to immerse yourself in a world of neon lights, and futuristic wonders? We need YOU!Signups aren't open yet - but you can let us know you're interested!  🔗 https://forms.gle/C6bbMYVM4saAdz7u8

 

Serenity's "The Fantastic Future of Health"

 

There are many exhibits at the Second Life Birthday.  Among them is one by Serenity (SerenKitty), "The Fantastic Future of Health Care." The exhibit at SLB Fabulous would discuss what she felt were the shortcomings of the US health care system, and the alternative she was working on.

 

Read the story in Design. 

Breaking News: SL20B Theme Revealed: "Our Fantastic Future"

 

 

 For those who have been wondering what the theme for the upcoming Second Life Birthday, the virtual world's anniversary, celebrations, will be, the wait is finally over. In the blogpost about the upcoming Music Fest (more on that later), Linden Lab would include the logo (above) and mention the theme.

This year we wanted a theme that not only reflects on where we have been but embraces where we are going. We are celebrating twenty years of Second Life. That is an amazing realization. Who could have imagined in 2003 the vibrant, engaging, and creative community we are in 2023? We are living the future that was only a dream twenty years ago. Now we are projecting the future we hope to see as we move ahead another twenty years as both a community and a world. 

We are pleased to announce our Birthday theme for this year: Our Fantastic Future. The cornerstone of this idea is what we would define as eco-futurism including sustainability, a focus on our environment, and the next generation of our world. Some might call this science fiction, but what is science fiction except a dream for a possible future? In Second Life we build worlds. Our worlds, our way. For SL20B, we invite you to show us your worlds of the future! 

The event will be held from Thursday June 22 to Tuesday July 11.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

Update on Mieville

 

Yesterday in the Mieville group posts, I noticed one "Regarding Mieville Rentals in Mieville Regions," in which "The rental situation is being resolved in a new way," I noticed the following sentence, "Linden Labs is in direct contact with us." Noticing that Wyv the FloxMonster™ (Wyvern Dryke), I asked if they were stepping in to help. Wyyvie wasn't sure as the talks were still ongoing. Annakari Dragonsworn (Annakari Genesis) did say, "Yes we are working closely with them to organize a plan for in case Perryn is unable to return to us. We are also gathering any information for possible transfers and have been guaranteed ample time to remove items from regions if there is no one able to have them transferred.  However, at this time, there is no reason to do anything except to plan."

Wyvie has gotten his own sim, Flox, where "Haunted Nawlins" can be found, and was told others in the community either have or are planning to get more sims. Exactly what will happen to the community lands is still up in the air. But it's fair to say they'll continue to have a place, or places, to call home.

 

Stay tuned for more details,

Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "2020s Vision" And "Events Or Discoveries That Inspire"

 

"2020s Vision: The Future Is Nearly Now"

Saturday January 15,

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM SL time

In a daily fog of uncertainty, we may lose track of transformational changes just over the horizon. So where are we headed? Some of the world’s smartest people in government, social research, academia, business, economics, science, and other fields have looked 20 years into the future and seen a time of abundance and shared opportunities. Let’s update on evolving technologies and trends from an optimistic perspective beyond the turmoil of today.

Presentation by Dr. Steven Van Hook

Auditorium

For more information, Click Here.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/125/132/22

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"Events or Discoveries That Inspire Your Love for Science"

Saturday January 15,

9:00 PM SL time

“Beautiful, beautiful. Magnificent desolation.” -NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin as he followed Armstrong onto the moon’s surface

“Every brilliant experiment, like every great work of art, starts with an act of imagination.” -Jonah Lehrer

Fireside

For more information, Click Here.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/161/99/25
 

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "A Biological Perspective on Mating Dynamics" and "The Future Is Now"

 

A Biological Perspective on Mating Dynamics in a Sex Ratio Imbalanced Population

Saturday January 1

10AM to 11AM SL time

The basic tenet of biology is reproduction to continue the species. Evolution and genetics has programmed every species’ to follow behaviors to ensure the next generation. This genetic programming influences the mating game between the sexes in those species even in “higher” cognitive species such as humans. The interplay between conscious and subconscious driven behaviors is increasingly complicated to understand as society becomes increasingly complicated compared to “cave-man” days. One aspect of human biology without intervention is that the birth rate of male to female is 50/50. One aspect of most historical and modern societies is a cultural trend towards life-long pair bonding being encouraged and even legally enforced in some cases. Research has suggested a correlation to economic and social stability in such monogamy encouraged societies.

China and India are notable case exceptions to the gender balance. Cultural practices has lead to an overabundance of men. These have important consequences for the mating game in those countries now and the foreseeable future. Japan similarly has had cultural practices leading to a current stagnation of dating today, developing the monikers: dating “‘herbivores” and “celibacy syndrome”

This presentation will explore initially the biology of sexual reproduction in vertebrates and humans, the development of monogamy practices in history, then look to reconcile or at least understand better the current society/cultural situation in these countries.

Presentation by Dr. Stephen Gasior (Xootfly)

For more information, Click Here.

Auditorium

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/125/132/22

*  *  *  *  *

"The Future Is Now"

Saturday January 1

9PM to 10PM SL time

In a daily fog of uncertainty, we may lose track of transformational changes just over the horizon. So where are we headed? Some of the world’s smartest people in government, social research, academia, business, economics, science, and other fields have looked 20 years into the future and seen a time of abundance and shared opportunities. Let’s update on evolving technologies and trends from an optimistic perspective beyond the turmoil of today.

By Dr. Stephen Van Hook

For more information, Click Here. 

Auditorium

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/125/132/22
 

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "The Past and Future of Virtual World Psychological Research and Development"

 

"The Past and Future of Virtual World Psychological Research and Development"

Saturday September 18

10 AM to 11 AM SL time

Second Life is underutilised as a platform for wide-ranging psychological research and community development projects. That statement was also true in 2003 when Linden Lab created the virtual world. Although other virtual world platforms may offer advantages for academic research and community impact projects, none are as robust and established as Second Life. In this presentation, I describe several funded research and development projects I have led in Second Life, including reflections on past pilot work using the platform for people with autism. I reflect on successes and ideas that were abandoned along the way and the different people I have encountered on my professional virtual journey. I  will also summarise some of the background published literature supporting a proposed research project with Science Circle, looking at communication styles in the virtual world. Questions, comments and challenges are encouraged.

By Dr. Simon Bignell (Milton Broome in SL)

For more on the event, Click Here.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/104/125/1114

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - " Follow The Food 3," "Science Cafe"

"Follow The Food 3"

Saturday August 1,

7:00 AM to 8:00 AM SL time

Follow the Food is a BBC documentary sponsored by one of the big Three agriculture companies, Corteva Agrisciences. It covers the current food chain, challenges to feeding the world, and new technologies in world agriculture. Come watch Season 1 over 4 weeks from July 11th through August 8th with a Q&A after each one with a Corteva Agrisciences Scientist.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/67/129/32

For more information, Click Here.

*  *  *  *  *

"Science Cafe: The Future of Higher Education"

Saturday August 1

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM SL time

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/206/216/25

For more information, Click Here.

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - " Follow The Food 2," "Science Cafe"

"Follow The Food 2"

Saturday July 25,
7:00 AM to 8:00 AM SL time

Follow the Food is a BBC documentary sponsored by one of the big Three agriculture companies, Corteva Agrisciences. It covers the current food chain, challenges to feeding the world, and new technologies in world agriculture. Come watch Season 1 over 6 weeks from July 11th through August 22nd with a Q&A after each one with a Corteva Agrisciences Scientist.

For more information, Click Here.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/67/129/32

*  *  *  *  *

"Science Cafe: The Future of Higher Education"

Saturday July 25,

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM SL time

For more information, Click Here.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/164/184/22

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "The World 20 Years Ahead with 2020 Vision"

"The World 20 Years Ahead with 2020 Vision"

Saturday May 2

10 AM to 11 AM SL time

"Our current times are bad. But where are we headed? Some of the world’s smartest people in government, research, academia, business, economics, science, and other fields have looked 20 years into the future, and seen a time of abundance and shared opportunities. Let’s visit evolving technologies from an optimistic perspective above and beyond the turmoil of 2020. "

By Dr. Steven R. Van Hook

To read more, Click Here.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/67/129/32

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - The COVID-19 Pandemic: Envisioning the Future

"The COVID-19 Pandemic: Envisioning the Future"

Saturday April 18
10 to 11 AM SL time

A major pandemic is sweeping the globe. While new cases and COVID-19 related deaths continue to climb throughout our connected world, there are signs that the pandemic has reached its peak in several parts of the world. Individuals and societal groups are reacting differently, looking for solutions to stem the threat to our health and way of life.

In the face of this threat, people are turning to governments for action, to the medical community for help, to the scientific community for answers, to commercial entities for products, to mass media for information, to social media for support, and to non-scientific organizations for miracles. In many ways, the pandemic is not just a test of our immune systems, but of what we hold valuable and where we put our trust.

Dr. Youngblood will bring us up to date on the pandemic and discuss the science and psychology behind what we are being asked to do to save the lives of others and possibly our own. No one has “2020 hindsight” about what will happen next, but we can share probable futures based on experiences in our past and the ability of the scientific approach to project future .

To read more, Click Here. 

 https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/67/129/32
 

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at Virtual Ability. One thing many futuristic movies have in common is the flying car, which while there have been numerous prototypes not one has made it to production. Fortunately in Second Life, they're not so hard to get.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Linden Lab Still In Talks With Djehan Kidd Over Hangars Liquides

Last Friday, the Newser reported on the five region Hangars Liquides urban sci-fi sims in danger of being shut down at the end of the month. This weekend, I had a few words with the builder and owner Djehan Kidd about the area, and it's situation.

Djehan told me it's looking unlikely Linden Lab will allow Hangars to rent out apartments and still remain a nonprofit. She felt it's not because they don't want to, but in her opinion they're "monitored" by the US Government more today than in the past. She's also gotten numerous offers of help to keep the sims afloat. But she feels their best chance lies with the Lab's sim preservation program, "So far I didn't get a no or a yes. All I know is that a commitee will visit (the sims) and decide."

Meanwhile, others are spreading the word about the sims. A concerned resident created a thread on the official forums about Hangars Liquides, and it quickly grew to numerous pages, some people posting pictures of the area. There were numerous pleas for the sims to be given a break and allowed to stay on. One commented, "I don't think I have been there before or if I had I didn't spend long there because the scale of it whilst immersive is also bewildering. Spent 30 minutes exploring it again and it is undoubtedly a work of art. Despite all its complexity it is well optimised, I had none of my usual problems with textures and objects not bothering to load. It is a fine example of what is possible to do here."

There's also a Flickr page full of screenshots of the sims (caution, not all safe for work).

The full interview with Djehan will appear later this week in the Newser.

Image Credit: Lawrence Celestalis

Bixyl Shuftan

InWorldz Gofundme Within $500 of $17,000 Goal, Questions About Future Arise

The Gofundme set up by it's owner Beth Reischl has raised most of the money it needs to stay afloat. As of the printing of this article, it has raised $16,506 of the $17,000 USD goal.

But will the money be used for it's original purpose? At Update Number Three, Reischl seemed to be saying instead of saving the grid, the money would be used to create a new one.

Wow! Everyone has been amazing! So here's where things stand. I asked in discord this afternoon, once we hit our goal, then what? What about next month? After much agonizing and upset, it was suggested by the residents that we use these monies to start a new grid. We'll be able to move OARS, profiles, groups. Inventory can only be taken that can be put in a box to be OAR filed. We'll be opening the sandbox for people who have no region to place their items and can get them back.

If you are NOT ok with this, I urge you to please withdraw your support on the page. I do not want to take anyone's money who is not ok with this! Otherwise, please start boxing your items up on your region or ask a friend or tomorrow I'll be opening the Sandboxes up for people!  

Every single one of you simply amazes me!

There were some unhappy comments following this announcement.

Toysolider Thor: I thought this was to save Inworldz. Why now still abandon Inworldz and force everyone to change to a new grid? I am lost. Inworldz has a lot of invested brand recognition and many have an emotional affinity to it. I dont get it.

Lin Stamos-Valentine: So the $17,000 was NOT to pay the loan and set up a new payment platform then (as we were told)? You are using it to start a new grid and we only have a few days to save 8 years (in my case) worth of work? Even though you HAD to know long before now that InWorldz was a lost cause? Jim says no matter what the grid was closing, but I thought we could save it, but now we aren't. Did I donate to start a new grid? NO! I donated to save InWorldz. I am asking for a refund. Go ahead and get mad at me, but I feel very betrayed at the moment.

Elpida Tisagapi: Ok STOP! the fund raising was to safe IW not to make a new grid! IW is special and its the ppl and the community there that makes it special. The goal is nearly reached and will give Beth a month to sort the problems with the loan people. Moving to another grid is NOT solving anything at all! Never mind there are no full perm creators, in their right mind, who will ever give their permission to move to a new grid with NO control what so ever. I know I speak for Tao Dreamscape in this matter too. There is NO way she will agree to that. I look after Tao's store on both IW and SL (the customer service side) and please take this as if Tao herself stated it. For me its IW or nothing. Fight for IW instead of taking the easy road.

Gillian Holmes: It was not 'suggested by the residents' that you start a new grid, it was decided by a small clique of people who rudely refuse to listen to the views of others. Most residents don't even know about this yet. I think you have taken money under false pretences. The initial 'cause' has been replaced by totally different one. You should refund all donations and start again clearly stating exactly what you are raising the money for. As it stands this could be viewed as fraud.

 Others were more supportive.

Hypatia Emerson: They are doing what they have to with what they have to work with. They didn't come up with the idea to start a new grid. The people on IW suggested it and talked Ele into it on Discord. She could just tell you all to go take a leap. She didn't she set up a go fund me to save our homes. The timing is too short to save the grid so she asked what to do and IW people said make a new one and transfer us over.

Tom Minor: Inworldz isn't the grid, it's the people.. and the creative spirit they share. That is what's worth preserving.

Frand Lupschen: The current discussion and I have been brought up to the current situation. InWorldz as a business has been killed by the loanshark company. It no longer has any business assets. The account is empty. So the business is really dead. What is happening now is that everyone is to put out the content they wish to keep in their regions and oars will be made of the regions. For those who do not have land, several sandbox regions will be made available. The oars, user list DB of active accounts will be retained and used to build a new grid that will use the saved content as the starting point for a new world.

So while it looks like the Gofundme will succeed, some new questions have arisen about the long-term future of the virtual world. Stay tuned for further details.

Update: As of 10AM PST, some people have withdrawn their donations, lowering the total raised to $16,211. Also, comments have appeared to have been disabled.

Bixyl Shuftan

Second Life Used For Hotels.Com's "Hotel Room Of The Future"

What will the hotel room of the future be like? It was a question recently asked by hotels.com, a hotels booking service on the Internet that many are familiar with due to their commercials. The result was a video done in Second Life for them by Pooky Amsterdam's Pookymedia. Pooky contacted the Newser about the details.
 


(Click here if the video fails to load)

"It was Dr. James Canton who contacted us. He was the exec. producer of "Time Travelers," and Hotels.com asked him to do a prediction on hotels of the future and off world hotels. David Denton did the building for the Hotel on Mars. It's really stunning."

The video shows a futuristic-looking hotel room with amenities that have only recently been developed, still on the drawing board, or the technology hasn't been developed yet. These include a robot butler, a 3-D printer, a "smart toilet," and a bed with a "neuro-dreaming" feature.

Pooky went on to say while Pookymedia has done videos for clients before, hotels.com ranks as one of their biggest. More about the video can be read on the Pookymedia blog.



James Canton was interviewed by Canadian news station CTV News about the video, where he explained some of his predictions. You can view the interview here.

Bixyl Shuftan

Becky's Futurecast

What lies ahead? A question we all ask ourselves. In real life news, scientists began going along with a theory Becky had done so a long time ago. She had a few other predictions of what lies ahead, though trying to guess what the Lindens will do is beyond her talents. This will be Becky's last story for a while as she is going on a break that will last until at least the end of the year.

Read Becky's story in Extra.

SL Video: "Future Shock Episode 2 - Accidental Damage"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

By Pryda Parx on Sept 30, the second of nine parts of her "Future Shock" machinima, "Tracy has her interest engaged by a solar relay radiating in an unusual way; whatever is the matter with it...

"Future Shock is a new and original SciFi machinima animation series in nine parts. It tells a story of a dark and terrifying future where technology dominates and where real life and virtual worlds intertwine.

"The Future Shock series is designed for the interactive YouTube generation. Each episode is around 4 minutes long and to get the most out of it you will need to pause, rewind and revisit previous episodes. It is intended to entertain, provoke debate on technological and social trends and to explore what the future might actually hold.

"Episode 3 released Friday 14th October 2016."

SL Video: "Future Shock - Episode 1"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

By Pryda Parx on Sept. 16, "In a leisure orientated society people can choose to spend their time in a care free virtual world, but what happens when they run out of credit?"

Inara Pey would interview Pryda and write about the video, "Future Shock is set in a dark future world where technology is designed to keep everyone safe and secure. At least that’s the way it is meant to be. A place where technology dominates and where real life and virtual worlds intertwine."

This is the first of nine segments that took about a year to make, "to get the most out of the audience will need to pause, rewind and revisit previous episodes; there are a lot of subtle connections between episodes which will not be apparent when first seen."

Press Release: "The Future of the Metaverse: Blueprints for the Evolution of Virtual Worlds"

CRL-VWIG Meeting for Sunday, September 18, 2016

Noon - 2pm SLT - joint session with ALA Virtual Communities in Libraries MIG:
CVL Auditorium: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bradley%20University/26/140/24

Speaker:  William Gerard Burns III, Vice-Chair IEEE Virtual World Standards Group

Program:  The Future of the Metaverse: Blueprints for the Evolution of Virtual Worlds

This presentation will provide an overview of the history of virtual worlds and phases of development. Defining the "Metaverse" and a glimpse into the future of virtual worlds will include interoperability and other key elements of design.

Join librarians, educators, and anyone interested in virtual worlds and the future of immersive learning.  The session is jointly sponsored with the ALA Virtual Communities in Libraries

Member Initiative Group.