Archive for October, 2008
1 nov: physical virtuality: “what’s the weight of an avatar?”
by Frans on Oct.31, 2008, under Virtual Worlds
FEEL the presence of virtual world avatars in a cross-world interactive installation, connecting virtual life to our physical world.
On saturday the 1st of november, visitors of the NEMO Science Center in Amsterdam will be physically connected to inhabitants of the virtual world Second Life through an intervirtual balancing plateau.
The total weight of avatars standing on the virtual side of the plateau will be calculated and processed along with the weight of all people standing on the physical side of the plateau. This outcome will trigger the synchronised real-time movement of both the hydraulic powered and script controlled side of the plateau, resulting in an experience of indirect physical contact between real and virtual beings.
A two way videoprojection will visually connect the virtual and real-life participants standing on the installation.
web-location: sndrv.nl/physicalvirtuality
physical location: Science Center NEMO, Oosterdok 2, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
virtual location: Brooklyn is Watching project space in Second Life. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Popcha/72/140/27
Date/time: saturday 1st of november 2008
18:00 – 1:00 GMT
19:00 – 2:00 CET
10:00 – 17:00 PST
Dutch court convicts teens for stealing virtual property.
by Frans on Oct.26, 2008, under Virtual Worlds
In the Leeuwarden district court two boys, aged 14 and 15 where sentenced to community service for forcing a other boy to transfer Runescape items to the attackers accounts. The 2 boys punched, kicked and threatened the victim with a knife.
The most interesting part of this case was that the issue isn’t the assault but if virtual items should be considered goods that can be stolen. The lawyer defending the 2 boys argued that legally the items don’t exist and can’t be stolen.
The court doesn’t agree with that defence and cited a earlier ruling that electricity can be considered a a material object in criminal law and stealing electricity is theft. The same principle applies in this case and stealing virtual items is theft, the court rules.
source: RNW
