Second Life as a Real Life Engineering Tool

For those of us who can hardly build a box in world, it may amaze us that Second Life can be used as a real life engineering tool but Professor Matthew Traum of the University of North Texas says it's time that Second life be seen as just that. as a "a future tool for engineering design and testing." Professor Traum writes, in a blog for Design News, that he is using using SL in his Computer Aided Engineering class taught in the Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering at UNT's College of Engineering.  The article sets out some other real life examples where Second Life has been used as a real life engineering tool.  It looks like despite some of SL's desertions and technical issues that there lies potential for the growth of the grid as a serious academic and industrial tool.  

Daily Mail Fun With Mandy-Clone

Having reported the impending arrival of Peter Mandelson's avatar into Second Life. the folks at the Daily Mail decided to have a little fun and introduce their own "Mandy-Clone" onto the grid and set him loose on UK themed sims. Mandy-Clone visits London, Harrods Department Store, goes house hunting and ends up at a nude beach. Read the entire article here and wonder if this gives the Labour Party pause considering the less than stellar reception received.

Are You a Boxtard?

boxtard
verb |bäkstärd| [ trans. ]
the act of typing dialogue in the wrong box or chat window either from local to instant message, vice versa, or from instant message to instant message : Did you boxtard that last line?

noun |bäkstärd|
one who performs the act of typing dialogue in the wrong box or chat window either from local to instant message, vice versa, or from instant message to instant message : Cheetara is a boxtard.

DERIVATIVES
boxtardation |bäkstärˈdā sh ən| noun
boxtarder |bäkstɑrdər| noun
boxtardment |bäkstɑrdmənt| noun

Are you a boxtard?  Admittedly I'm a boxtard.  Many us are boxtards.  I believe that all of us have have a boxtard that we can point to and laugh.  Some call it "ww" as shown below but it is and will always be a boxtard.  

BT: oh wrong window 

BT: hehe 

Mikalis Karas: that's a boxtard 

BT: lol i ike that word 

BT: I am a boxtard 

[BT: I likeit.. I just say ww 

Mikalis Karas: you are a boxtard and the text itself is a 

Mikalis Karas: dual meaning

One of the best ways to avoid boxtarding is to close down chat tabs until your friend replies.  Also don't engage in IM's when you're having a special moment with that special someone: that way you avoid boxtards like this one.  

[2008/12/17 9:04]  Jenzel Rotterssman: have to send u chee's boxtarding.....

[4:09]  Cheetara Magic: oh rui

Having a boxtard in your group can be at times confusing but it also can be a great source of unintentional humor.  Have you boxtarded lately?  

  

The Politics of Real Life Invading SL

The Guardian out of the UK has an article about a politician and political party using an avatar on Second Life to get their word out.  Apparently the opposition Labour Party will be unveiling an sl avatar of  Peter Mandelson during the introduction of a new blog.  One has to wonder how the Honorable Baron Mandelson of Foy (or whoever will be operating the avi) will react when a noob with an enormous attachment chases him around the New Labour sim.  Read the entire article here.  

Peter Mandelson's avatar, courtesy of the Guardian and Labourlist.org.

A Field Guide to "SL Hybrids"

As readers of this blog have gleaned, I am a reader and a fan of Virtual Neko, the incredibly visually rich and superbly written blog by Stacia Villota, with whom I've become friends.  While Stacia writes about the art of being Neko in SL, there exist a vast variety of anthropomorphic beings in SL.   Kotaku.com has an article entitled a "Field Guide to Second Life Animal Hybrids." 

The article is clearly designed for those who have little knowledge of these creatures and breaks down the differences between Furries, Nekos, Ferrals, Tinnies and other "hybrids."   Not dissimilar from a field guide one may purchase about birds or north american mammals, what is contained in the short guide are pictures, species description and roundup that includes other categories of beings that were not delved into at length, perhaps warranting a second edition of the field guide.  Some lively comments including one from someone who doesn't "understand the point of Second Life" follow.  Read the entire article here.