Screenshot of Share to my group

Class 7, Assignment 1: Second Life.

This is my first shot of me being in second life

This is me in battery park.  I found someone and asked them where I could go and did not get a response.  This area has a lot of artwork. 

Still in battery park, found another person.

This is me in a large group with over 30 people in London.  They are all chatting among each other.

I asked people of where to go and no one responded.  They were arguing about avatars pushing each other.

I am not sure what to make of this area, it seems like a fantasy island of some sorts.  There are many interactive objects but few avatars.

I happened to take screenshots with the only two people I could find.

In this screenshot I found a nightclub which actually had music.  People made their avatars dance and people were actually communicating with each other.  

In this shot I jumped behind the  bar and could see the dance floor.  If you click on the dance floor your character can dance as well.  There are interactive objects that can lead you to purchasing them in the second life currency.

This is a bar that was recreated in second life.  What is interesting is that people can own virtual real estate in second life and can actually trade it.  

Here I am sitting watching the people around me dance and chat.  I've had trouble throughout the second life trying to get people to tell me where to go.

Here I am back in London customizing my avatar using the options I have available.  Generally you can purchase more options within the game.

Class 7, Assignment 2: Twitter Group Messages

Here are the screenshots of my group using twitter group chat to communicate.  We primarily discuss our assignments, how we contact our contacts, and group organization.

Class 7, Minecraft: Interface Fundamentals.

In this screenshot I am entering the world on minecraft.  I am hitting the horse.  I was testing the control keys in the game. 

Here in this video, they are describing the nature of the game.  What can be done and some of the tools that exist.  

Here the video is describing how to craft certain objects.  It shows that you  must use certain combinations of different raw and finished resources to develop more tools and weapons.  Essentially there is an algorithm to create.

In this screenshot they describe how eventually you can mechanize certain objects in the game as you become more advanced.  Here there is an image of a working elevator that was created by a player.

In this screenshot the narrator is describing how to set up the control keys in your game to your specific preference.  Also how to manipulate character movement, audio during the game, and other graphics and audio tools.  

In this screenshot this is me using what I've learned from the videos. I am punching a tree trying to gather resources to build a house.  

CLASS 7, PINGING MY FAVORITE SITES

CLASS 5 ASSIGNMENT 1: REVISING MY IMMERSIVE TECH REPORTS IN GOOGLE DOCS

In this post, these screenshots summarize us working together as a group to revise our reports on subjects that involve Immersive Education.  As you see, we are communicating using Google hangouts.  We can virtually see each other and communicate.  In this Google hangout we would instruct each other, check each others work, help each out, and communicate throughout this project.  Rather than spending time searching for help, you can ask your peers for help and they can almost instantly answer.  This is a quicker way to work.  Also you can see me editing multiple team member's Google docs on their reports.  They are sharing their Google docs with me, I edit and add new info in regards to their topic.  Essentially what you see is us collaborating as a group using immersive tools.  

Report on Robotics

In this report I am reporting on the technology of robotics.  Robotics will be one of the topics that the Immersion Education Summit 2015 will be covering this year.  More information on this summit can be located by clicking on this link Immersive Education 2015.

Robotics is the science where hardware or mechanical objects are programmed by a computer software program to preform a certain physical task.  Robots can be used for many purposes including manufacturing, entertainment, warfare, transport, cleaning, and many more uses.

The first robot was created in 1954 by George Dvorklin.  Most robots are powered by batteries but some have a direct electrical connect, and solar polar connection.  Robots mostly mimic humans and or a human function, some robots can mimic animals as well.  Some robots have been and are currently being programmed to mimic human emotions, personality, and daily life social interaction.  Robots can be self propelled using their own power source but some robots are made to stay in the same position.  Most robots that are in fixed positions might have an arm or a part to them that is capable of being in motion.

Robots are generally made of metal and or plastic composites.  The inside of robots are generally a myriad of wires, microchips, and support rods depending on the robot.  There are currently many robotics companies out there and most specialize in their own robotics niche.  One of the robotics companies named Boston Dynamics came out with a robotic dog in 2005.  Aside from entertainment purposes the dog can be used for transport or military purposes as well.

Some humans can also depend on robotics, there have been many companies out there developing robotic limbs and robotic suits.  These limbs and suits can help paralyzed people walk or help amputees out with daily life.  Check out this Video for a detailed view of a robotic suit.  The US military is now funding various projects involved in developing cyborgs, robotic transit, and more robotic weapons.  If more robots get utilized in the battle field, more lives can be saved, and the US can have a more effective army for the most part.  

Immersive robotics are also becoming more mainstream.  In certain sectors where robotics would be useful but cannot fully replace humans, there is a rapidly growing field.  There have been many cases where surgeons with specific skill sets that cannot be found in certain areas of the world have used immersive robotics to operate on patients from a remote area.  Aside from using immersive robotics for operations, a robotic scientist was also created, the robotic scientist can preform dangerous experiments without jeopardizing any human scientists.  

Immersive robotics also utilizes virtual reality.  For a surgery the robotics are strictly mechanical with a live video feed.  In manufacturing or certain scientific experiments, robotics are paired with virtual reality.  Some robotics firms provide virtual reality headsets so users can virtually see what they are doing with their robot that they are operating.  In many manufacturing plants where robots are used, when one breaks, the entire factory or a segment of a factory needs to shut down.  With Immersive robotics, some factories are using the Oculus rift headset to repair their robots with other robots, rather then risking human lives and or shutting down large segments of the factory.  

Google Hangouts

Google hangouts seems like an application that centralizes most of your communication.  It is available on Apple, Android, PC, and all google devices.  It allows group conversations, photo communication, text communication, email communication, and video communication.  Google hangouts also allows you to draw and send attached files as well.  You can use it through gmail, google plus, and the google hangouts app itself.  It essentially it's just synchronizing all your google based communication and integrating a few outside options.  More information on how to set up and use the google hangouts account can be found here

Immersive Illness

Immersive Illness will add onto the current distractions and addictions people already have towards technology.  With the internet, mobile phones, and most video games, people have the option to opt out or to put down the device.  Immersive technologies like virtual reality headsets will have people engulfed in a 360 degree HD view and surrounded by 3D sounds.  Virtual Reality will literally become some peoples reality.

We have seen how video game addiction can cause people not to take care of themselves, not eat, not leave their house, quit school and or work.  Virtual reality will take the video game addiction to the next level because it is more immersive and more real.  It will entice more people to be engaged in this virtual reality because it is incredible.  It is becoming noticeable how communicating via cell phone text or using social media is teaching the younger generations how to communicate differently.  People are becoming used to long distance or almost artificial relationships because of less interaction in person.  Interaction in person is natural, as real as virtual reality can seem to some people, it is still  not reality.

Even though the event of virtual reality becoming mainstream is great in so many other aspects, there will be downsides that will specifically have a large impact in the younger generations.  Some people will be literally living in a virtual cave and have almost no experience with the real world.  My worry is that virtual reality can eventually become so real, that some people will not only be addicted to the gaming aspect of it, but completely live their lives in this realm.  People will eventually and even not have two realities they will be able to live in, one being endless in one aspect, the other being real.    It seems like eventually meeting and hanging out online in VR will be more mainstream than people hanging out in person.

VR and other immersive technologies can create a lot of good, but it is important that people be trained to understand that it is not real.  If people make it their lives and lose touch with reality, or have an augmented reality, they will eventually develop psychological and social problems. We cannot underestimate the power of immersive technology.  We have seen how much technology has transformed in the past decades and how much impact television, cellphones, and social media have had.  

"A challenge that concerns me the most is lurking on the horizon, one we don't yet understand the full scope of. As Immersive Education and other forms of personal virtual reality become more realistic and compelling we're going to see "immersive illness" become more common and more difficult to deal with. Although this is an issue today we're somewhat protected by the limitations of today's personal computers and game consoles (they just aren't powerful enough...yet), but in another decade or more it'll be a different story altogether. Nobody knows exactly what impact insanely realistic, media-rich virtual reality will have on society. We're already dealing with early forms of immersive illness, such as addiction, alienation, mental schisms, and more, but today it's not a problem that affects a large percentage of users. We don't see massive problems today for a number of reasons, including rather low-quality virtual environments and limitations on how much time we spend in these environments. But what happens when the visual and audio quality becomes indistinguishable from reality, the technology becomes truly mainstream, and a substantial portion of education takes place in such environments and not in a real classroom? With massive power comes massive problems. Last week I was asked how big this problem will be, and I responded that nobody knows for sure but I'd estimate that the at-risk population can be calculate by adding the percentage of people with addiction problems to the percentage of society that suffer some form of mental illness. That's a big chunk of society. Is it all gloom and doom? Certainly not, but it's a grand challenge we're not even remotely prepared for today. As with other disruptions society will eventually adapt, but I think we're in for a very rough ride."

Professor Aaron Walsh from the interview "Virtual reality and higher education: Another perspective" at  http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/2007/05/teaching_in_vr_.html

Report on 3D Printing

In this report I am reporting on the technology of 3D printing.  3D printing will be one of the topics that the Immersion Education Summit 2015 will be covering this year.  More information on this summit can be located by clicking on this link Immersive Education 2015

3D printing is a technology that has been around for a while but has recently gained more popularity.  3D printing is essentially using a piece of hardware called a printer that can build a real 3D model.  The printer uses one or multiple jets that disperse a metallic, plastic, organic, and or chemical composite to build a model generated by auto cad.

2D printing is common and is a mainstream technology.  3D printing is a recent development that can turn models built on different software platforms like auto cad into real physical 3d material.  Currently most people who use 3D printing must develop the model on their own which requires a deep understanding on the different software's that build 3D models.  3D printers can come in small sizes that can easily fit on your desktop and can also take up the size of large rooms.

3D printers have been commonly used by the scientific and or engineering community to help build real models.  3D printers are now becoming available to regular consumers who can now print basic consumer products.   One of the large challenges of introducing 3D printers to the broad consumer market, is the fact it can take hours to print a small object, and in order to print sizable objects, you need an industrial scale printer.  One small mistake in the design developed using the design software, and you will need to wait many hours to print a new object.

The 3D printer itself is not complicated or hard to understand, there are many components, and the components are not anything out of the ordinary.  Most of the components of a 3D printer have been in existence for decades.  3d printers generally have a frame that help hold the rail that the printing jet is situated on.  The printing jet will have 1 or more nozzles, there will be a fan to help cool the fan and the material the fan is printing.  There will be a base plate where the material will print out on, some advanced 3D printers have more components, like entire HVAC systems or additional molding equipment.

The materials 3D printers can print vary significantly.  3D printer can print metalloid, PVC composites, and some organic material.  Many new types of printing material is still in research and development, there was a story of an organic organ that was printed.  There are now retail outlets that sell 3D printers and their prices can start at $150+.  3D printers can have the ability to turn almost every house and office into a miniature factory.  The cost of maintaining 3D printers is pretty low and the printing material is fairly cheap.  See more a  more detailed video and visual description of 3D printing here!

CLASS 5: OPERATING SYSTEM REPORTS SHARED WITH ME

In this screenshot, my classmates are sharing their google doc reports on OS summaries with me.  I am only in view mode so I can read them but I cannot edit or share them.  On the other end I am sharing my report with them in the same manner

CLASS 5: SHARING MY OPERATING SYSTEM REPORT WITH CLASSMATES

This is my google docs share screen.  Here I have shared my google doc with every single present member in my classroom.  I've only allowed a view capability so they cannot edit the document.

"Microsoft HoloLens, HTC Valve Vive, and Samsung Virtual Reality (VR)."

Microsoft Hololens is a new virtual headset announced in Jan 2015.  It would be considered holographic computing.  The set's goals are to integrate it's abilities into daily life by using hologram technology.  The set will create the illusion that they are using a virtual image to fill in a physical space in real life that will be interactive.  Read more about Microsoft Hololens   Watch the video on Microsoft Holoens video

HTC Valve Vive is a virtual reality headset that will essentially allow the user to experience video on a more personalized scale.  The HTC valve vive can track you.  Your physical movements while using the headset will be reflected in whichever game you are playing.  There is also significant integration with Steam expected with the HTC valve vive.  Read more about HTC Valve Vive and what a video on HTC Valve Vive

The new Samsung VR will be utitlizing it's new galaxy phone.  People will have the option to add the Virtual Reality Gear, this will be one of the first mobile phone integrated VR systems.  You can only use specific Samsung phones with this system.  Read more about Samsung Virtual Reality

Immersive Oscars

This is me liking the facebook oscars post

This is me about to share the IED post that contains the #oscars hashtag 

This is me retweeting the #oscars post