Re: [ogpx] Virtual worlds versus the real world

["Dickson, Mike (ISS Software)" <[e-mail]>]

From: [e-mail] [mailto:[e-mail]] On Behalf Of Morgaine
Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 7:30 AM
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [ogpx] Virtual worlds versus the real world

[snip]

For those who have not before seen the topic addressed, I suggest you read Henrik Bennetsen's useful summary at http://slcreativity.org/wiki/index.php?title=Augmentation_vs_Immersion .  The topic of augmentism versus immersionism has been discussed in immense detail over many years, and if a single article can be said to capture the essence, Henrik's comes close.   If after reading this you are still in denial about the separation of worlds, this positions you as an augmentist, which is a highly coercive worldview.  Immersionists affirm that all worlds are possible and separate and non-interfering, so their worldview is inherently inclusive.
Henrik's summary is indeed well written and a good synopsis.  I guess I feel like given the wide range of possible use cases for virtual worlds both models are "correct".   So nothing in the protocol should preclude either approach but IMO conversely the distinction is almost unimportant at the protocol level.  As long as there's a mechanism for the AD/RD to negotiate with the client the caps/constraints in play and a way to represent and visualize the in world content the VW content developer (which may be its users) should be free to evolve as appropriate for that VW context.

Mike