They’re invisible companies that we know little of and they produce unfathomable circuit boards and odd looking Electronic Components. Without their work the new sensor gaming platforms such as the Wii, the Xbox and kinect wouldn’t be so compelling. [Read more...]
Virtual Concerts and Shows
February 21, 2011 by
Bono U2 online Avatar
With a decent broadband connection and a computer, laptop or i pad you can live in your own virtual world. Television can be downloaded via various providers straight onto your computer at your convenience. Facilities like Sky+ and Virgin + enable you to store programme onto a hard drive and not only can you watch TV when you like and freeze live TV you can also fast forward through the adverts.
In addition to online communities, forums, virtual worlds, online gaming and virtual DJ ing you can also experience virtual concerts. ‘Live’ music made available online to an audience – even in a simulated concert hall. [Read more...]
Virtual Worlds and their Environments
February 18, 2011 by
Flight Simulator cockpit
Virtual worlds and simulated environments provide a valuable way of offering an experience without the risk of doing the same in the real world. Simulators have been used for many years and obvious examples are flight simulators to familiarise pilots with elements of the flight experience without the risk of flying an actual plane.
It can be used to assess aptitude prior to full training being provided and allow the potential pilots to learn and ‘crash’ which you clearly wouldn’t want to do in real life. [Read more...]
Virtual DJ
February 15, 2011 by
Virtual DJ
It seems that everything is going ‘virtual’ and the modern equivalent of the mix tape is the virtual DJ with software and specialist equipment to match. Now that every man and his dog has some variation of an mp3 player and all of i tunes at their fingertips it should be fairly easy to create playlists for every eventuality. It seems that vinyl may be consigned to the bin – or to retro clubs – as a virtual DJ needs a range of audio/video mixing software and packages to run on PC or Mac to allow computer DJs to mix music or videos.
The ‘music groups’ facility enables a virtual DJ to see what tracks other DJs have used to follow each of the track choices. The software offers suggestions as to what tracks to mix together although arguably this takes some of the skill and personal touch out of DJing.
No more jumping or scratching as the DJ fumbles to mix his or her tracks as the future of club culture is controlled by computer. At least for now the DJ might be in the room although I’m sure the technology could all be managed remotely and the DJ could be at home with a cup of tea in their pyjamas rather than in the club itself. Any requests would have to be directed by text message or via tweets to the twitter page.
At least the clubbers would be physically in a club to listen to the virtual DJ – the next step in living in a virtual world is sending your avatar out to a club whilst you stay at home on the computer. There are a number of virtual environments where this happens already and some of the more complex simulated environments include virtual clubs where you can enjoy the music without having to socialize in person. Virtual DJ sets can be broadcast to the internet for anyone to enjoy.
Virtual Communities
February 2, 2011 by
Virtual Communities
‘The world is your oyster’ well the virtual world that is. All you need is a decent internet connection and you can go anywhere and do anything you could possibly imagine. There are online communities dedicated to living in virtual worlds and your virtual neighbours might be from Croydon, California or Colombo. The concept of creating online virtual communities and worlds isn’t new but they have become increasingly sophisticated with all the nuances of everyday society reflected in a virtual one.
You invent your online personal – your avatar (hence the film title) and can begin a whole new life. Virtual world games can be played with the computer simulating the environment or you can join a gaming community already occupying a virtual world. There seems to be two main streams of virtual world games; those that replicate the real world and the fantasy worlds which have developed from the roll play communities of the 70’s and 80’s. Your avatar may acquire special powers and magical abilities the further you progress in the game.
Virtual communities are thriving and this is probably down to a number of reasons but one of the best (although also possibly the worst) is that anyone can enter a virtual world and pretend to be anyone else. A lonely 40 year old man might take the role of a young hero or even a princess. Who’s to say your buxom 20 something virtual neighbour isn’t actually a grandmother from Stoke on Trent?
There are some virtual arenas which are designed to appeal to a younger audience where there are levels of regulation to try and ensure that adults aren’t posing as children. Internet security and guidance should apply to all though as sometimes the borders between virtual and real worlds cross. No one should arrange to meet someone they have only met online without taking some precautions like meeting in a public place, make sure other real life people know who and where you are meeting etc.
Are virtual worlds one day going to supplant living in the real world? For some they already do to a large extent but there are lots of positive aspects of experiencing virtual worlds including educational aspects and opportunities for those limited by money or physical or mental issues to ‘see’ things which they simply wouldn’t be able to do in ‘real life’.
About World of Warcraft
January 21, 2011 by
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is an online game in which you play in third or first-person view. You control a toon and travel around a number of different landscapes, getting given different quests and fighting different monsters so you never get bored, you also get to interact with non-playing characters or other players. All the fun doesn’t come free, you must either prepay so you have a set amount of time to play and add on. The other option is to use a credit or debit card to pay on a regular basis. [Read more...]