This doesn't have much to do with media, besides that it was video-taped, but I thought I'd post it anyway.
Watch my proposal here.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Playing on Virgin America
I recently had the pleasure of flying Virgin America between LA and SF. WOW!
Not only were the seats leather, the lights pink/purple, and the staff fashionably clad, but the media experience was AWESOME!!
I don't have much time to describe all the fun I had in detail, so I'll let the pictures do the talking.
One interesting thing I'd like to point out is that they offered a game called "Mad Bomber".
My question: if I had started a chat room and asked the other passengers if they knew that I was the best Mad Bomber on the plane, would I be in jail right now?
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Back to reality
I recently spent a couple great months in the virtual world called summer vacation. It was an amazingly realistic environment - the people, the places, the parties - all of it seemed to happen to me as if I was really there. Furthermore, the world was rendered in a way that kept me from feeling any stress or anxiety. Visit some friends here, go sight-seeing and museum hopping there, relax and watch movies anywhere - it was as if I was free of all worldly responsibilities.
BOOM!! I was transported out of that virtual world, dropped into the cold bathtub of reality, still wearing my tennis shorts and a goofy this-can't-be-happening smile.
Anyway, I haven't posted in awhile because, as you can guess, there were few opportunities in my blissful virtual world to enter the lesser, responsibility-ridden digital virtual worlds. The simple purpose of this post is to bring back a souvenir from the former - an artifact I came across during one of my leisurely moments, enjoying a science fiction podcast (on Escapepod - my favorite SciFi source) - my newest near-favorite quote:
"We love television because television brings us a world in which television does not exist." Barbara Ehrenreich
We, of course, is our society, not me. I don't need TV to live in a world without TV *I profess unabashedly*. TV is a virtual world that I do not find to be so enriching, for various reasons. In my lovely summer world there was no TV. Actually, even in my reality there is no TV. That's not the point, though. The irony is that, according to Ehrenreich, all of us - the TV haters and lovers - in a way feel the same about TV.
I do, however, love SciFi podcasts. I feel like the short-story form complements the genre very well. There is enough space to get the new sciency idea out, but not too much room that it becomes muddled in a complicated plot. Further, consuming SciFi is kind of like research for me. It gives me ideas about technology and psychological approaches to media. And most of all, listening to podcasts is a great way to pass the time on a long drive. So, thanks EscapePod! You were a wonderful complement to my virtual summer world and you've given me something to keep me smiling through reality.
If anyone is interested in the particular story I was listening to, it was called Eight Episodes and it's a very well written tale about the power of virtual worlds. Stephen Eley, the podcast's daddy, reads the Ehrenreich quote at the end.
BOOM!! I was transported out of that virtual world, dropped into the cold bathtub of reality, still wearing my tennis shorts and a goofy this-can't-be-happening smile.
Anyway, I haven't posted in awhile because, as you can guess, there were few opportunities in my blissful virtual world to enter the lesser, responsibility-ridden digital virtual worlds. The simple purpose of this post is to bring back a souvenir from the former - an artifact I came across during one of my leisurely moments, enjoying a science fiction podcast (on Escapepod - my favorite SciFi source) - my newest near-favorite quote:
"We love television because television brings us a world in which television does not exist." Barbara Ehrenreich
We, of course, is our society, not me. I don't need TV to live in a world without TV *I profess unabashedly*. TV is a virtual world that I do not find to be so enriching, for various reasons. In my lovely summer world there was no TV. Actually, even in my reality there is no TV. That's not the point, though. The irony is that, according to Ehrenreich, all of us - the TV haters and lovers - in a way feel the same about TV.
I do, however, love SciFi podcasts. I feel like the short-story form complements the genre very well. There is enough space to get the new sciency idea out, but not too much room that it becomes muddled in a complicated plot. Further, consuming SciFi is kind of like research for me. It gives me ideas about technology and psychological approaches to media. And most of all, listening to podcasts is a great way to pass the time on a long drive. So, thanks EscapePod! You were a wonderful complement to my virtual summer world and you've given me something to keep me smiling through reality.
If anyone is interested in the particular story I was listening to, it was called Eight Episodes and it's a very well written tale about the power of virtual worlds. Stephen Eley, the podcast's daddy, reads the Ehrenreich quote at the end.
Friday, June 1, 2007
but she means nothing to me ...she's just an avatar
An interesting article from MSNBC, Is a virtual affair real-world infidelity?, takes up the issue of whether virtual infidelity is RL cheating. The story describes an affair between two female avatars who were most likely married men in RL. Is this cheating? If so, does it matter that it's a 3d virtual world (with sex animations) or would such an affair be similarly wrong if facilitated by another medium?
According to the MSNBC.com/iVillage Lust, Love and Loyalty survey, 53 percent of men and 73 percent of women think it's cheating to send a sexually flirtatious e-mail to a co-worker. Further, 57 percent of men and 77 percent of women think online talk or “Webcamming” is cheating. Unfortunately, the survey did not ask about SL sex.
The other day I was in SL asking random people their opinions on this matter. The majority said that such a relationship would be cheating, though some did say it would be okay as long as your RL partner knew about it and approved. Well, of course! Some people have "open" relationships in RL, don't they? The only difference is level physical engagement, right? One way to test this would be to compare people's opinions about RL infidelity and virtual infidelity. I would hypothesize that more people are down with the latter than the former and if you're down with the former you're more likely to be down with the latter. In this world of STDs and psychopaths, it's probably safer to spread your virtual seed anyway.
And on a completely different note, if the two married men weilding female avatars knew that the other was actually a man in RL, does that make them lesbians in SL and gay in RL?
According to the MSNBC.com/iVillage Lust, Love and Loyalty survey, 53 percent of men and 73 percent of women think it's cheating to send a sexually flirtatious e-mail to a co-worker. Further, 57 percent of men and 77 percent of women think online talk or “Webcamming” is cheating. Unfortunately, the survey did not ask about SL sex.
The other day I was in SL asking random people their opinions on this matter. The majority said that such a relationship would be cheating, though some did say it would be okay as long as your RL partner knew about it and approved. Well, of course! Some people have "open" relationships in RL, don't they? The only difference is level physical engagement, right? One way to test this would be to compare people's opinions about RL infidelity and virtual infidelity. I would hypothesize that more people are down with the latter than the former and if you're down with the former you're more likely to be down with the latter. In this world of STDs and psychopaths, it's probably safer to spread your virtual seed anyway.
And on a completely different note, if the two married men weilding female avatars knew that the other was actually a man in RL, does that make them lesbians in SL and gay in RL?
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Virtual-Self dependent memory
I would really love some feedback on this thought.
General Preamble:
I have been thinking about memory. It's often assumed to be infallible - if it weren't then how could we believe that our conception of reality is really real? But, of course, memories fade, our minds play tricks, and confabulation happens. So, I believe that one of the major purposes of technology is to improve our feeble human memory device. Perhaps this is something that I will work toward with my research.
Specific Preamble:
It has been shown (source?) that when something is learned in a particular context, it is more easily recalled in that context. For example, if I learn math in a classroom, I am likely to do better on a math test in that classroom than in the library (all other factors, like noise, lighting, etc., remaining constant).
Question:
Is it possible that the same applies for the context of virtual self? In other words, if I learn something as a particular self (e.g., using my dolphin avatar in SL), will I recall it more easily when I am acting as that particular self than another (e.g., my pirate avatar)?
Meta-Question:
Does it make sense to ask this question or is virtual-self really just a context like a classroom?
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Mind Readers
I had no idea this technology was so close to market. These devices rely on EEG readers and can be worn dry (no gel), according to an article from the Economist. Apparently, the neuroksy device only uses 1 electrode and will cost about $20. While much of the media hype is geared toward using these things to control other media/technology (e.g., games, software) with your mind, I think they are going to be extremely useful for less conscious activities, such as making sure you are paying attention at critical moments while driving. While most of my research so far has been focused on virtual as opposed to augmented reality, I think this is an area that I would like to pursue.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
more virtual identity humor
This video highlights some of the humorous (and scary) ways that facebookers use and abuse the technology. The "Facebook Stalker" is humorous because of the way that he confuses, transposes and violates his crush's real and virtual identities. If the facebook stalker was not using this digital one-stop-stalking-shop (e.g., using the phonebook, old year books, etc.), I imagine that we would be more frightened that tickled. Yet, the facebook allows (encourages) people to reveal so much information about themselves that it's hard to blame the facebook stalker for being a creep. We laugh because this act of stalking, which was previously rare and looked down upon in the status quo, is now becoming the norm of a generation. Thanks facebook!
Friday, March 2, 2007
Virtual Heart Break
This video is quite funny and pertinent to my ongoing discussion about emotions experienced in RL vs. virtual environments.
"If This is Second Life Why is My Heart Breaking in Real Life"
I love that the women speak in TTS (text-to-speech). I guess now that SL is going to allow voice-communication, audiences may expect more expressive voice-acting in such videos - perhaps in real-time SL as well. I wonder if someone will offer voice-filters to maintain some of the anonymity afforded by texting.
But back to the main point - these women are heartbroken - in real and second life! But what if this were a para-authentic event (i.e., the same people who were dating in SL were dating in RL)? What if this guy was two (three)-timing these women in RL and SL? They would be even more heart-broken, right? What if he were faithful in RL but cheating in SL? I think they would be less heart-broken than in the previous condition. Now, what if he were faithful in SL but cheating in RL? Would his faithfulness in SL even matter? Probably not - unless the women ascribed more importance to their SL than RL relationships. This is not such a profound assertion, but perhaps it will lead to some better thoughts later. For now, it leads me back to my sea of email - the tides are rising, I'm hypothesizing.
"If This is Second Life Why is My Heart Breaking in Real Life"
I love that the women speak in TTS (text-to-speech). I guess now that SL is going to allow voice-communication, audiences may expect more expressive voice-acting in such videos - perhaps in real-time SL as well. I wonder if someone will offer voice-filters to maintain some of the anonymity afforded by texting.
But back to the main point - these women are heartbroken - in real and second life! But what if this were a para-authentic event (i.e., the same people who were dating in SL were dating in RL)? What if this guy was two (three)-timing these women in RL and SL? They would be even more heart-broken, right? What if he were faithful in RL but cheating in SL? I think they would be less heart-broken than in the previous condition. Now, what if he were faithful in SL but cheating in RL? Would his faithfulness in SL even matter? Probably not - unless the women ascribed more importance to their SL than RL relationships. This is not such a profound assertion, but perhaps it will lead to some better thoughts later. For now, it leads me back to my sea of email - the tides are rising, I'm hypothesizing.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Wheelies - In Second Life, not on motorcycle
This is a great story about a dance club in SL for RL disabled people to kick it, literally ...hmmm, well, at least virtually ;).
This brings me back to the question of whether emotions experienced in virtual spaces can be more intense or important than those experienced in RL. Perhaps we experience emotions during para-authentic virtual events - virtual events which have RL corollaries (e.g., my virtual motorcycle) - differently than we experience emotions during completely artificial virtual events. This seems obvious - someone who doesn't have a motorcycle in RL experiences a virtual motorcycle in a very different way than I do. Do they love it more or less than I do?
The more salient question is how the disabled person who tends to avoid RL dance clubs feels in the virtual dance club. It seems obvious that they enjoy it more than RL dance clubs. But if they don't go to RL dance clubs, then is the virtual dance club a para-authentic or artificial virtual event. Further, do they enjoy the virtual dance club more or less than I do?
More thoughts for the eventual dissertation? I have a feeling that if I contemplated this for awhile longer I could come up with a theoretical framework to organize how we experience emotion in virtual environments depending on whether it is an artificial or para-authentic event. But I've got more short-term thinking to get back to.
----UPDATE----
After reading this posting, Simon sent me an email saying he doesn't like RL dance clubs but dancing in SL makes him feel great. He also offered me an interview, which I will most likely follow up on when I have an official (IRB sanctioned) research project.
This brings me back to the question of whether emotions experienced in virtual spaces can be more intense or important than those experienced in RL. Perhaps we experience emotions during para-authentic virtual events - virtual events which have RL corollaries (e.g., my virtual motorcycle) - differently than we experience emotions during completely artificial virtual events. This seems obvious - someone who doesn't have a motorcycle in RL experiences a virtual motorcycle in a very different way than I do. Do they love it more or less than I do?
The more salient question is how the disabled person who tends to avoid RL dance clubs feels in the virtual dance club. It seems obvious that they enjoy it more than RL dance clubs. But if they don't go to RL dance clubs, then is the virtual dance club a para-authentic or artificial virtual event. Further, do they enjoy the virtual dance club more or less than I do?
More thoughts for the eventual dissertation? I have a feeling that if I contemplated this for awhile longer I could come up with a theoretical framework to organize how we experience emotion in virtual environments depending on whether it is an artificial or para-authentic event. But I've got more short-term thinking to get back to.
----UPDATE----
After reading this posting, Simon sent me an email saying he doesn't like RL dance clubs but dancing in SL makes him feel great. He also offered me an interview, which I will most likely follow up on when I have an official (IRB sanctioned) research project.
Beatbox Chef Cooks up a Storm
This is another posting that may or may not relate to media or technology. Regardless, the chef boxes a succulent beat to titillate your hip-hauditory taste buds.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Valentars Day
Okay, it's a stupid subject, but since feb 14 is my bday I have poetic license.
Anyway, I was recently talking with a fellow rider about how some stuff, like my motorcycle, is real and other stuff, like my Second Life motorcycle, is virtual. Not hard to grasp, right? But what about feelings? The exhilarating feeling of accelerating past a line of cars at an intersection and then tucking deep into a turn is real. The feeling induced by watching my avatar do it in Second Life is less real - or at least less exhilarating. Not hard to grasp either. But what about my feeling of love for my real motorcycle and virtual motorcycle? Can the two be equal? Can the latter be greater? Are virtual emotions different than real ones in any way?
I'm not sure, but I want to think about this more. Maybe I'll design a study or write a dissertation. ;) In the meantime, I am happy to connect this thought to a recent portion of an article in the New York Times about Vday.
The question of whether I would love a virtual girlfriend or virtual motorcycle more is still open as well.
Anyway, I was recently talking with a fellow rider about how some stuff, like my motorcycle, is real and other stuff, like my Second Life motorcycle, is virtual. Not hard to grasp, right? But what about feelings? The exhilarating feeling of accelerating past a line of cars at an intersection and then tucking deep into a turn is real. The feeling induced by watching my avatar do it in Second Life is less real - or at least less exhilarating. Not hard to grasp either. But what about my feeling of love for my real motorcycle and virtual motorcycle? Can the two be equal? Can the latter be greater? Are virtual emotions different than real ones in any way?
I'm not sure, but I want to think about this more. Maybe I'll design a study or write a dissertation. ;) In the meantime, I am happy to connect this thought to a recent portion of an article in the New York Times about Vday.
Online communities like SecondLife allow members to create animated versions of themselves called avatars that can go on dates, fly, carouse, even engage in prostitution. Theodora Stites wrote vividly in this space about how she conducts much of her romantic life this way and confessed to enlarging her avatar’s chest and perfecting its features to attract suitable male avatars.
You might assume that on SecondLife you are protected from the emotional upheaval of real relationships because the animated couplings tend to be, well, fake. But here’s the catch: They’re not fake. It’s still you behind the screen and you who is being accepted or rejected, with all the attendant joy and pain. As Theodora explained, “I’ve found that I act much as I do in real life, and my SecondLife relationships tend to fail the same way my real-life relationships do.”
The question of whether I would love a virtual girlfriend or virtual motorcycle more is still open as well.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Extreme Pogo
In addition to communication, I am big fan of transportation. In many ways the two are intrinsically linked - communication is virtual transportation. Hmm, maybe I should write a dissertation about that.
Anyway, this video has nothing to do with media except that it's on youtube. I came across it when my roommate's friend stopped by and remarked that my motorized scooter (it's a Bladez Elite 250 - a little electric lazy mobile which haven't used it in awhile) looked like a pogo stick. Next thing we were exploring the vurtego website and watching people do crazy things with powerful sticks on youtube.
It's fun to watch, but I still prefer wheels. Speaking of lil' boyz pushing big wheels, check out a silly cartoon video of my newest favorite pop-hop song, "The way I live", by Baby Boy Da Prince.
Anyway, this video has nothing to do with media except that it's on youtube. I came across it when my roommate's friend stopped by and remarked that my motorized scooter (it's a Bladez Elite 250 - a little electric lazy mobile which haven't used it in awhile) looked like a pogo stick. Next thing we were exploring the vurtego website and watching people do crazy things with powerful sticks on youtube.
It's fun to watch, but I still prefer wheels. Speaking of lil' boyz pushing big wheels, check out a silly cartoon video of my newest favorite pop-hop song, "The way I live", by Baby Boy Da Prince.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
From SL pic sharing - to - I want to work at LL!!
Snapzilla, a website for sharing photos from Second Life, is one of the many cool things I learned about during my interview at Linden Lab this Monday. Why would they give an internship to someone as clearly ignorant about SL as I am? Well, I'm an overworked PhD student with a passion for the metaverse. Although I don't spend much time in it, I have faith that metaverse will make the real world a better place. But doesn't that mean I have blind faith? Well, I would argue that faith must be blind in some regard in order to be faith at all. Anyway, I promised I'd read some blogs and spend more time in-world before my start date - if I am fortunate enough to have a start date.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Nicktropolis is coming - tomorrow
Virtual worlds seem to be springing up all over the place. Can Second Life handle the competition? I hope so. And then I hope they all merge into one beautiful unified mega-virtual universe.
Here's an article about Nicktropolis, a virtual world for kids and predators.
And in a completely unrelated story, click here to make a mii on your PC (I played the wii today. Thanks Anna for the link!)
Here's an article about Nicktropolis, a virtual world for kids and predators.
And in a completely unrelated story, click here to make a mii on your PC (I played the wii today. Thanks Anna for the link!)
Sunday, January 28, 2007
2.5 weeks till my birthday
Friends, parents, countrymen,
The time has come yet again to pool your wealth and give me stuff. The Scientific American article "20 Hottest Gadgets From the Consumer Electronics Show" is a great place to start for ideas.
Scientific American: 20 Hottest Gadgets From the Consumer Electronics Show
New ideas and fresh takes on old favorites--
Click here to launch the gallery
Or, you could just get me a ticket to space on Virgin Galactic.
http://www.virgingalactic.com/htmlsite/index.htm
Or how about a sexy android to give me back massages while I procrastinate writing my papers by posting on this blog?
http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.php?id=40329&adid=news
I WANT A PONY!!!
The time has come yet again to pool your wealth and give me stuff. The Scientific American article "20 Hottest Gadgets From the Consumer Electronics Show" is a great place to start for ideas.
Scientific American: 20 Hottest Gadgets From the Consumer Electronics Show
New ideas and fresh takes on old favorites--
Click here to launch the gallery
Or, you could just get me a ticket to space on Virgin Galactic.
http://www.virgingalactic.com/htmlsite/index.htm
Or how about a sexy android to give me back massages while I procrastinate writing my papers by posting on this blog?
http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.php?id=40329&adid=news
I WANT A PONY!!!
Thursday, January 25, 2007
ENV, the Hy-Bike
Britain’s Intelligent Energy recently unleashed the world's first fuel cell motorcycle. Yes, it's pretty - but it's also pretty slow, though apparently it can still pop wheelies.
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.01/play.html?pg=5
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Chatting with the a&&#@%$ who stole my friend's identity
The chat started out fine. She said hi and I gave her an update on my life. Then she asked me for my skype account info, which made me suspicious, so I asked her an identifying question (her former roommate's last name - which now I realize could have been found easily in the archived emails). When she avoided the answer, I realized that my friend's gmail account had been stolen. I proceeded to chat with the thief.
The text of our chat is below. The comments I'm inserting now are in bold/CAPS. For most of the conversation I was on the phone with my friend (who had not been able to access her email for 3 days) and I submitted the incident to google immediately. This makes me want to join some sort of policing agency. Crime sucks.
NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED SO THAT, WELL, YOU KNOW
11:53 PM Jessie: hey
me: hiya. I went to Beard Poppa's tonight (in LA) and thought of you!
11:54 PM Jessie: really
tell me what happened
11:55 PM me: at BP's? ...well, I ordered a milk tea cream puff. it wasn't as good as vanilla, but still yummy.
how are you!?!?
Jessie: wow
Jessie: I`m doing great here....what about you
11:56 PM me: first semester went well. My favorite recent research topic is the virtual world Second Life. I'm also doing a study on the Nintendo Wii
Jessie: really...
me: But the bummer is that 3 of my potential advisors are leaving USC
Jessie: so how is your lady
HMM ...GOOD GUESS
me: she's well.
I'm going to see her this weekend
11:57 PM Jesse: post to her my greetings ok
WEIRD GRAMMAR - FIRST MAJOR CLUE
me: We're still surviving the long distance
furshur
how's John?
Jessie: she`s doing great
SECOND CLUE
11:58 PM me: she?
Jessie: lol
me: :)
11:59 PM Jessie: Robby do u have skype account?
me: yup. I think I'm rratan
wanna talk talk?
Jessie: sure
12:00 AM can u lend me some few minutes
wanna have some few talks
HAHA - THIRD CLUE - BUT THE FUNNY PART IS THAT I THOUGHT SHE MEANT GIVE HER SOME TIME AND PERHAPS ADVICE, NOT "LEND" HER MINUTES LITERALLY
me: furshur - I hope your grammar is better in person ;)
12:01 AM Jessie: yup
Ratan can u help me out?
FORTH CLUE - NOBODY CALLS ME RATAN
12:02 AM wanna talk talk
me: okay - what's your skype name?
12:03 AM Jessie: dont have one ratan....would like you to lend me yours
FIFTH CLUE THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK
12:05 AM me: hey, quick question... I forget Della's last name and I wanted to send her an invitation to my party. Can you remind me?
Jessie: same here lol
I CAUGHT YOU!!!
me: that's funny
I'll have to ask Della
12:06 AM Jessie: yup...very very funny
my memories
12:08 AM ratan are u gonna help out
I'VE EDITED SOME OF THE FOLLOWING TO BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AUDIENCES - I WAS A LITTLE HEATED WHEN I FIRST REALIZED WHAT WAS GOING ON
12:09 AM me: Look you f****** a******. You stole my friend's gmail account. Tell me who you are!!!
Jessie: am Robby
12:10 AM me: Tell me who you are NOW!!!
12:11 AM Jessie: why u wanna me
12:12 AM talk
me: I want you to give my friend her gmail password back
Jessie: really
me: don't you feel bad. Stealing her identity is f***** up.
12:13 AM Just to get a skype account?
Jessie: yup
me: how did you get it?
Jessie: if you guys help me out am gonna release
12:14 AM me: how did you get the password?
Jessie: brb
me: how did you get the password?
12:15 AM F*** Y**!!!
12:16 AM Jessie: hey dont try to insult me ok
12:17 AM or u gonna loose your mail toooooo
me: ok, fine
Jessie: i promose you
me: But give me her password back ...please
I GOT A LITTLE SPOOKED - SO I TURNED ON A SECOND FIREWALL
Jessie: i will at the write time
12:18 AM me: she's already in contact with google
Jessie: so?
me: so they'll change the password and give it bck to her
Jessie: i have about 1000`s of google mail and password ok
THIS IS WAY SCARY ...IS IT THE TRUTH? IF SO, HOW?
12:19 AM hey stop talking s*** or u gonna loose your email ok
you must know that we live 2gether tooo
me: listen man, I'm not trying to talk s***. I just want you to give my friend her gmail too.
12:20 AM Jessie: u wont believe it when u recognise me
me: Oh ... you and I live together?
THAT'S INTERESTING. MY ONE ROOMMATE IS JUST LEARNING HOW TO USE EMAIL - I DOUBT SHE'S STEALING ACCOUNTS. MY OTHER ROOMMATE IS A GERMAN SHEPPARD. YOU'RE RIGHT, I WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT WHEN I "RECOGNISE" YOU USING YOUR PAWS ON A KEYBOARD TO MAKE FAKE THREATS ...ALL YOU WOULD NEED TO DO TO SCARE ME IS GROWL!!!
Jessie: we know each other.....lol
12:21 AM u very close to me ok........so you beware of what you say ok
me: are you threatening me?
I WONDER IF I COULD PRESS CHARGES?
Jessie: i aint
only telling you what u should know
12:23 AM so ratan what are u saying
take my regards to williams ok
me: i'm saying, can you please tell me the current password so I can send it to her so she can get back into her email
12:24 AM Jessie: ok
i will if you answer me correctly
12:25 AM what does she needs it for
I NEEDED A BREAK
12:26 AM Jessie: waiting 4 an answer
12:27 AM guess u re busy
12:28 AM am very naughty dont u c
12:32 AM brb
12:46 AM me: you still there?
12:48 AM Jessie: think so
12:50 AM me: well, my friend needs her account so that she can do her work. she's a social worker - someone who helps people, not someone who takes advantage of them like you. With your computer skills you could probably get a very well paying job. But I'm sure you enjoy the thrill. In a way I understand where you're coming from - needing a thrill - but I still would never put people through the pain that you do. Anyway, I gotta sleep and wake up for class. good luck not going to jail. If your heart softens and you want to send me her password, I would appreciate it
12:51 AM Jessie: ok thanks
gudnite
I HAD TO END WITH AN EVANGELICAL RANT. NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT THIS PERSON WASN'T EVEN WORTH THE RANT. I JUST HOPE THAT GOOGLE AND THE PROPER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CAN FIGHT THIS TYPE OF CRIME. OF COURSE, THERE ARE WORSE THINGS HAPPENING OUT IN THE WORLD AND I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO NOT HAVE TO ENDURE THEM REGULARLY, BUT THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT HELPS ME REMEMBER THAT ANY ACT THAT INTENTIONALL HARMS ANOTHER PERSON SHOULD BE PUNISHED. WHEN I'M DONE WITH THE PHD, MAYBE I SHOULD SIGN UP FOR SOME INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CYBER-TERRORISM/CRIME AGENCY.
The text of our chat is below. The comments I'm inserting now are in bold/CAPS. For most of the conversation I was on the phone with my friend (who had not been able to access her email for 3 days) and I submitted the incident to google immediately. This makes me want to join some sort of policing agency. Crime sucks.
NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED SO THAT, WELL, YOU KNOW
11:53 PM Jessie: hey
me: hiya. I went to Beard Poppa's tonight (in LA) and thought of you!
11:54 PM Jessie: really
tell me what happened
11:55 PM me: at BP's? ...well, I ordered a milk tea cream puff. it wasn't as good as vanilla, but still yummy.
how are you!?!?
Jessie: wow
Jessie: I`m doing great here....what about you
11:56 PM me: first semester went well. My favorite recent research topic is the virtual world Second Life. I'm also doing a study on the Nintendo Wii
Jessie: really...
me: But the bummer is that 3 of my potential advisors are leaving USC
Jessie: so how is your lady
HMM ...GOOD GUESS
me: she's well.
I'm going to see her this weekend
11:57 PM Jesse: post to her my greetings ok
WEIRD GRAMMAR - FIRST MAJOR CLUE
me: We're still surviving the long distance
furshur
how's John?
Jessie: she`s doing great
SECOND CLUE
11:58 PM me: she?
Jessie: lol
me: :)
11:59 PM Jessie: Robby do u have skype account?
me: yup. I think I'm rratan
wanna talk talk?
Jessie: sure
12:00 AM can u lend me some few minutes
wanna have some few talks
HAHA - THIRD CLUE - BUT THE FUNNY PART IS THAT I THOUGHT SHE MEANT GIVE HER SOME TIME AND PERHAPS ADVICE, NOT "LEND" HER MINUTES LITERALLY
me: furshur - I hope your grammar is better in person ;)
12:01 AM Jessie: yup
Ratan can u help me out?
FORTH CLUE - NOBODY CALLS ME RATAN
12:02 AM wanna talk talk
me: okay - what's your skype name?
12:03 AM Jessie: dont have one ratan....would like you to lend me yours
FIFTH CLUE THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK
12:05 AM me: hey, quick question... I forget Della's last name and I wanted to send her an invitation to my party. Can you remind me?
Jessie: same here lol
I CAUGHT YOU!!!
me: that's funny
I'll have to ask Della
12:06 AM Jessie: yup...very very funny
my memories
12:08 AM ratan are u gonna help out
I'VE EDITED SOME OF THE FOLLOWING TO BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AUDIENCES - I WAS A LITTLE HEATED WHEN I FIRST REALIZED WHAT WAS GOING ON
12:09 AM me: Look you f****** a******. You stole my friend's gmail account. Tell me who you are!!!
Jessie: am Robby
12:10 AM me: Tell me who you are NOW!!!
12:11 AM Jessie: why u wanna me
12:12 AM talk
me: I want you to give my friend her gmail password back
Jessie: really
me: don't you feel bad. Stealing her identity is f***** up.
12:13 AM Just to get a skype account?
Jessie: yup
me: how did you get it?
Jessie: if you guys help me out am gonna release
12:14 AM me: how did you get the password?
Jessie: brb
me: how did you get the password?
12:15 AM F*** Y**!!!
12:16 AM Jessie: hey dont try to insult me ok
12:17 AM or u gonna loose your mail toooooo
me: ok, fine
Jessie: i promose you
me: But give me her password back ...please
I GOT A LITTLE SPOOKED - SO I TURNED ON A SECOND FIREWALL
Jessie: i will at the write time
12:18 AM me: she's already in contact with google
Jessie: so?
me: so they'll change the password and give it bck to her
Jessie: i have about 1000`s of google mail and password ok
THIS IS WAY SCARY ...IS IT THE TRUTH? IF SO, HOW?
12:19 AM hey stop talking s*** or u gonna loose your email ok
you must know that we live 2gether tooo
me: listen man, I'm not trying to talk s***. I just want you to give my friend her gmail too.
12:20 AM Jessie: u wont believe it when u recognise me
me: Oh ... you and I live together?
THAT'S INTERESTING. MY ONE ROOMMATE IS JUST LEARNING HOW TO USE EMAIL - I DOUBT SHE'S STEALING ACCOUNTS. MY OTHER ROOMMATE IS A GERMAN SHEPPARD. YOU'RE RIGHT, I WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT WHEN I "RECOGNISE" YOU USING YOUR PAWS ON A KEYBOARD TO MAKE FAKE THREATS ...ALL YOU WOULD NEED TO DO TO SCARE ME IS GROWL!!!
Jessie: we know each other.....lol
12:21 AM u very close to me ok........so you beware of what you say ok
me: are you threatening me?
I WONDER IF I COULD PRESS CHARGES?
Jessie: i aint
only telling you what u should know
12:23 AM so ratan what are u saying
take my regards to williams ok
me: i'm saying, can you please tell me the current password so I can send it to her so she can get back into her email
12:24 AM Jessie: ok
i will if you answer me correctly
12:25 AM what does she needs it for
I NEEDED A BREAK
12:26 AM Jessie: waiting 4 an answer
12:27 AM guess u re busy
12:28 AM am very naughty dont u c
12:32 AM brb
12:46 AM me: you still there?
12:48 AM Jessie: think so
12:50 AM me: well, my friend needs her account so that she can do her work. she's a social worker - someone who helps people, not someone who takes advantage of them like you. With your computer skills you could probably get a very well paying job. But I'm sure you enjoy the thrill. In a way I understand where you're coming from - needing a thrill - but I still would never put people through the pain that you do. Anyway, I gotta sleep and wake up for class. good luck not going to jail. If your heart softens and you want to send me her password, I would appreciate it
12:51 AM Jessie: ok thanks
gudnite
I HAD TO END WITH AN EVANGELICAL RANT. NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT THIS PERSON WASN'T EVEN WORTH THE RANT. I JUST HOPE THAT GOOGLE AND THE PROPER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CAN FIGHT THIS TYPE OF CRIME. OF COURSE, THERE ARE WORSE THINGS HAPPENING OUT IN THE WORLD AND I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO NOT HAVE TO ENDURE THEM REGULARLY, BUT THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT HELPS ME REMEMBER THAT ANY ACT THAT INTENTIONALL HARMS ANOTHER PERSON SHOULD BE PUNISHED. WHEN I'M DONE WITH THE PHD, MAYBE I SHOULD SIGN UP FOR SOME INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CYBER-TERRORISM/CRIME AGENCY.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Welcome friends and family
Hi to everyone who's looking at the blog because you received the link in an email from me. Thanks for checking it out!
There's just a few postings below. Let me know what you think. Hopefully I can juggle this hobby with my research and classes. :)
There's just a few postings below. Let me know what you think. Hopefully I can juggle this hobby with my research and classes. :)
I have a thing for quotes
This has nothing to do with technology, but I read it in the foreward of a book about serious video games ("Serious Games" by D Michael and S Chen).
"Work and play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions"
- Mark Twain
This explains why I'm doing this PhD program! It also explains the whole user-created content craze. That Mark Twain was so sharp!
More Mark Twain quotes:
http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Mark_Twain/
"Work and play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions"
- Mark Twain
This explains why I'm doing this PhD program! It also explains the whole user-created content craze. That Mark Twain was so sharp!
More Mark Twain quotes:
http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Mark_Twain/
Robots - what will we call them?
Below is a link to the article "A Robot in Every Home" by Bill Gates in the Jan 2007 issue of Scientific American. In addition to comparing the robotics industry to the computer industry 30ish years ago and speculating about the near-term future of the robotics industry, he raises an interesting point about what "robot" really means.
"In fact, as mobile peripheral devices become more and more common, it may be increasingly difficult to say exactly what a robot is. Because the new machines will be so specialized and ubiquitous--and look so little like the two-legged automatons of science fiction--we probably will not even call them robots."
How about we then call them "ARTs"? ...Anthropomorphized Robotic Thingy's!
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&articleID=9312A198-E7F2-99DF-31DA639D6C4BA567&pageNumber=1&catID=2
"In fact, as mobile peripheral devices become more and more common, it may be increasingly difficult to say exactly what a robot is. Because the new machines will be so specialized and ubiquitous--and look so little like the two-legged automatons of science fiction--we probably will not even call them robots."
How about we then call them "ARTs"? ...Anthropomorphized Robotic Thingy's!
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&articleID=9312A198-E7F2-99DF-31DA639D6C4BA567&pageNumber=1&catID=2
Monday, January 15, 2007
The expanding metaverse
How could I have started a tech blog and not yet posted about Second Life (which has been my significant research interest for the past few months)!? Perhaps I've been too focused on SL to think of it as something new.
Regardless, the metaverse is expanding. Recently, Linden Lab has open-sourced the SL client code. As the metaverse becomes increasingly similar to the internet, will the internet start feeling like using the dewey decimal system?
This move makes SL even more user-creatable, kind of like the irobot create. I wonder if I could get link an irobot create to my SL avatar...
Official posting here:
http://blog.secondlife.com/2007/01/08/embracing-the-inevitable/
Good synopsis article here:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/08/second-life-goes-open-source-should-it-be-non-profit-too/
In related but slightly older news, google will be jumping into the metaverse as well (surprised?). Cory Ondrejka, CTO and early developer of SL, has written about the inevitable need for interoperability between virtual worlds. The open-source SL client makes this possible ...or Google could just buy them for a billion.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/11/technology/business2_futureboy_0511/index.htm
Last and probably least, here's a cool article about how companies should approach using Second Life to market their products.
http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/13152.asp
Regardless, the metaverse is expanding. Recently, Linden Lab has open-sourced the SL client code. As the metaverse becomes increasingly similar to the internet, will the internet start feeling like using the dewey decimal system?
This move makes SL even more user-creatable, kind of like the irobot create. I wonder if I could get link an irobot create to my SL avatar...
Official posting here:
http://blog.secondlife.com/2007/01/08/embracing-the-inevitable/
Good synopsis article here:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/08/second-life-goes-open-source-should-it-be-non-profit-too/
In related but slightly older news, google will be jumping into the metaverse as well (surprised?). Cory Ondrejka, CTO and early developer of SL, has written about the inevitable need for interoperability between virtual worlds. The open-source SL client makes this possible ...or Google could just buy them for a billion.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/11/technology/business2_futureboy_0511/index.htm
Last and probably least, here's a cool article about how companies should approach using Second Life to market their products.
http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/13152.asp
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Burger King video games - yummy!
Obese American kids really need to be playing video games sponsored by Burger King (that feature the regal BK mascot) while muchin on a whoppers and sippin on soda.
I wonder if Nintendo would have let BK put these games out for the wii.
http://www.bkgamer.com/
Apparently, the fat kids love 'em. Over 2 million sold so far.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6163522.html
I am currently working on a research project on serious games. Here are some links to some healthier alternatives that are currently available.
http://www.archimageonline.com
http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids/kids_game.html
http://www.overtimefitness.com (not a game, but a gym in Mountain View CA for teens where exercise and gaming are combined).
I wonder if Nintendo would have let BK put these games out for the wii.
http://www.bkgamer.com/
Apparently, the fat kids love 'em. Over 2 million sold so far.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6163522.html
I am currently working on a research project on serious games. Here are some links to some healthier alternatives that are currently available.
http://www.archimageonline.com
http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids/kids_game.html
http://www.overtimefitness.com (not a game, but a gym in Mountain View CA for teens where exercise and gaming are combined).
Hella Sand at 4:14 am
I return home from a rare night and early morning of unrelenting indulgence in the present.
When I used to stay up this late as an undergrad I would play games that were much more violent. Tonight, I settled for some sand (can't wait to upgrade from dial-up). Hella it, in fact.
http://www.addictinggames.com/hellofsandfallinggame.html
/
oh man - it's 4:56 now. too much fun
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Robo-rights, coming to a nation near you
According to some futurist-types in the UK, robots could be granted rights before my grandkids get drunk for the first time ...legally. (In case not funny: I am 24 y/o, w/o children).
"The research suggests that at some point in the next 20 to 50 years robots could be granted rights.
If this happened, the report says, the robots would have certain responsibilities such as voting, the obligation to pay taxes, and perhaps serving compulsory military service."
Full story here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6200005.stm/
"The research suggests that at some point in the next 20 to 50 years robots could be granted rights.
If this happened, the report says, the robots would have certain responsibilities such as voting, the obligation to pay taxes, and perhaps serving compulsory military service."
Full story here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6200005.stm/
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
the iPhone - the newest Apple cyclone
What better way to start this media-oriented blog than with links to iphone-related sites? (it was announced yesterday at macworld)
http://www.apple.com/iphone/
http://appleiphone.blogspot.com/
http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/09/the-apple-iphone/
I'm in class so I can't comment much ...but my first thought: does it have a voice-activated taser gun?
Second thought: Second Life on the iPhone as I drive to campus (on autopilot). Did I mention that I rove technorogy?
http://www.apple.com/iphone/
http://appleiphone.blogspot.com/
http://www.engadget.com/2007
I'm in class so I can't comment much ...but my first thought: does it have a voice-activated taser gun?
Second thought: Second Life on the iPhone as I drive to campus (on autopilot). Did I mention that I rove technorogy?
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