Solipsis P2P 3D

Solipsis is a free and open source system for a massively multi-participant shared virtual world. It was designed by Joaquin Keller and Gwendal Simon at France Telecom Research and Development Labs. Its goal is to provide the infrastructure for a “Metaverse-like” public virtual territory. Once again taking scalability into account it relies on a (P2P) peer-to-peer architecture sothat the virtual space has the potential to be populated by an “unlimited” number of participants.

Solipsis is Funded By:

ANR - French National Agency for Research
The French National Agency for Research (ANR) is a public administrative institution. It was created on January 1st 2007 as a funding agency for research projects. It aims at increasing the number of research projects coming from the whole scientific community. The projects are assessed by peers and go through a selection process based on their competitiveness; the selected ones are then funded. ANR addresses both public research institutions and companies with two main goals: generating new knowledge and promoting interactions between public and corporate labs by developping partnerships.

I&R - Media and Networks
A “cluster of clusters”, “Media and Networks” brings together actors from higher education and academic research institutions, SMI/SMEs and large companies mainly from Bretagne and Pays de la Loire regions, who are leaders in the media and networks fields. Encompassing the three markets of audiovisual, telecommunications, and information technologies, the Media and Networks cluster helps its members develop tomorrow’s world-competitive innovative technologies.

Open Source Make-up

The Solipsis project includes the use of a number of open source projects that it supports, or that makes up its DNA. Currently the list of supporting tech include:

OGRE (Object-Oriented Graphics Rendering Engine) -OGRE is a scene-oriented, flexible 3D engine written in C++.

Navi - Navi is a new library for Ogre3D developers. In this implementation think of making a GUI with HTML. Pretty simple.

Lua - Lua is a powerful, fast, light-weight, embeddable scripting language. It combines simple procedural syntax with powerful data description constructs based on associative arrays and extensible semantics.

Breplibrary - An implementation of a topological data structure similar to the WINGED EDGE data structure, representing the boundary of a polyhedral solid.

ODE (Open Dynamics Engine) - ODE is an open source, high performance library for simulating rigid body dynamics e.g. vehicles. It is a mature and platform independent that utilizes a C/C++ API.

TPG Tokamak Physics Engine - The TPG SDK is a high performance real-time physics library designed especially for gaming interaction.

XmlRpc++ - A C++ implementation of the XML-RPC protocol based on py-xmlrpc. The XmlRpc protocol was designed to make remote procedure calls simple: it encodes data in a simple XML format and uses ubiquitious HTTP for communication.

TinyXml - Very simple, and light weight C++ XML parser designed for easy integration. It reads XML and creates C++ objects representing the XML document. The objects can be manipulated, changed, and saved again as XML.

Note: So I don’t get too acronym happy–

XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a standard for creating markup languages which describe the structure of data.

HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) isthe protocol used to transfer web pages written in HTML. The protocol is used to follow links from one web page to another.

SDK (Software Development Kit) A set of programming instructions, points of access and guidelines for plugin developers.

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) A markup language designed for the creation of web pages with hypertext and other information to be displayed in a web page. Not an actual programming language.

GUI (Graphical User Interface) The use of pictures rather than just words to represent the input and output of a program. Hails from the days of mice, windows, and icons invented at Xerox PARC (not by Apple or Microsoft- they looted it.) in the 1970’s. DOS, if you are old enough to recall it, used a CLI (command line interface)

From Wikipedia on Solipsis

Strolling through a magnificent virtual world can now be casually experienced in massively multi-player games. It somehow corroborates the concept of a massively shared public virtual world depicted by Neal Stephenson in his science fiction novel Snow Crash. In these worlds, users’ interactions are not only allowed but empowered, so, in some ways, they outperform the current Web and appear as a possible evolution of our networking experience. However, some issues still need to be addressed.

In a virtual world, every object — avatar of a player or a virtual object — should be aware of all objects within its virtual surroundings. Yet, objects are dynamic: their virtual position can change. Therefore the system should ensure that an entity is aware of all events occurring nearby. The simplest way to implement such a system is to centralize the management of the virtual world. If a “god” knows, at any time, the positions of all entities, it can easily alert entities about important events happening nearby.

However, this architecture relies on costly server(s), mostly owned by some private companies. These virtual worlds are not public at all! They just are some private worlds having some rules that are unilaterally decided by a company. The behaviours of inhabitants are strictly monitored and some non-expected tendencies could result in banishments.

Moreover, a centralized virtual world adopts a common graphical appearance that is initially designed by owners. Even the most customizable systems where users can build their home will impose limits on the creativity of users. There is no clear consensus on the graphical shape of a virtual world and there will probably never be.

Furthermore, these systems fail in creating a complete ecosystem for the virtual world. The presence of an unsustainable owner prevents the raise of business opportunities.

Some recent initiatives attempt to implement a peer-to-peer virtual world. Algorithms based on collaboration between participants ensure the consistency of the virtual world that is a public place because nobody owns it, except its inhabitants.

The Open Source Metaverse Project builds a world seen as the union of several separate worlds, each one being managed by one user which could be potentially anybody. This edonkey-like architecture supports some 3d graphical routines. Solipsis is a one-layer peer-to-peer system in which there is definitely no manager, nor a precise implementation yet. Briefly speaking, Solipsis seems to have a greater potential because of its pretty open design, but it is far less enjoyable by now. Both approaches suffer from a bootstrapping issue. A world becomes attractive when it is crowded although they currently are quite empty.

No Escaping Snowcrash

Seems one cannot escape the Snowcrash metaphor these days. At any rate while researching Solipsis I came across some interesting documents- one in particular that readers might find worthy of study- The P2P Manifesto and I quote again because it ties directly into some recent and somewhat abstract exhibits to highlight our notions of economy, genetics, memetics, scarcity, abundance and perhaps even authenticity.

From the P2P Manifesto this opening piece.

Our current political economy is based on a fundamental mistake. It is based on the assumption that natural resources are unlimited, and that it is an endless sink. This false assumption creates artificial scarcity for potentially abundant cultural resources. This combination of quasi-abundance and quasi-scarcity destroys the biosphere and hampers the expansion of social innovation and a free culture.

In a P2P-based society, this situation is reversed: the limits of natural resources are recognized, and the abundance of immaterial resources becomes the core operating principle. The vision of P2P theory is the following:

1 ) the core intellectual, cultural and spiritual value will be produced through non-reciprocal peer production;

2) it is surrounded by a reformed, peer-inspired, sphere of material exchange;

3) it is globally managed by a peer-inspired and reformed state and governance system.

Because of these characteristics, peer to peer can be said to be the core logic of the successor civilization, and is a answer and solution to the structural crisis of contemporary capitalism.

Plenty more interesting points in the P2P Manifesto…

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John Rice rounds up the Magic Circle idea on his blog- and it is still an outstanding issue in my eyes. I recommend his short Wii post.

Wayne Porter and Dusan Writer discussed Edward Castronova’s contentions regarding the Magic Circle here and here. So, the concept is alive and well and discussed frequently in the serious gaming community. There has been a lot of solid gaming research emerging from Finland, and this conference looks very interesting. The deadline for abstracts is Jan. 15.

“The Magic Circle” and preserving its sanctity… I don’t believe any gaming circle is sacrosanct and by inscribing such “sacred space” you miss the “real game” or the ability to take gaming to whole new heights. A lot of discussions have been going on in world about Second Life’s “Economy”… one of the hidden secrets and assets in the Second Life milieu is the ability to rapidly find and connect those very forward thinking, collaborative and creative people (who do not always agree) to explore things and explore new modes that cause break through thinking.

So imagine a primitive island, on a grid, where some of these people congregate to spear fish and discuss something like The Zeitgeist Movie- ok a bit silly WHAT type of people would make a primitive island when you can make so much more?…..a few links to the movie, I am not going to debate the “factual errors or omissions” or take on a religious debate. I am just saying that primitive avatars COULD be extrapolating ideas from this film and using it as an intellectual catalyst…

Video Description:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Zeitgeist - The Movie” is a three part film. The film, unedited, is two hours long. The video you are currently watching is part three of three of the film; “The Federal Reserve”. If you’d like, you can view parts one (Religion) and two (World Trade Center) in my profile.

I have split this video into five parts. You can view the entire video at this link.

I can hear the primitive avatar talk now- Central Bank, Interest, Federal Reserve Act, Secret Meetings, Front Men, The Fed, Economic Stabilizers, Zero Crisis, Dionysus, Purple Robes…

Corwin Chevalier notes in a group…(yes he sent it out twice- he couldn’t “verify” it went out.”)

This is a brief notice to let members know of a new and ongoing “exercise” currently located on currently being constructed “fastlane” island.

Mythically- “The Monument of Time is a place where the magic of art, technological sorcery and old school wizards blaze up to meet in secret and trade spell craft, knowledge, power, build alliances and puzzle out what the timeless monolith is spelling out. The actual lore behind this exercise was the construction of seven (7) black granite textured monoliths by a long-time resident years ago- not all have been found. Some are “lost”.

Recently a “Monolith 8″ surfaced at the top of seven scripted steps. This piece was acquired by the head of this group though terms undisclosed for the exercise. 􀀁

As per the charter there are no “right answers”, it is more important to ask the right questions about our virtual worlds and engage in conversation. Participants will find many recurrent mathematical symbols, historical symbols and formulas in the build. In addition obvious themes could time, virtual age, genetics, memetics, scarcity, authenticity, value, and aesthetics- even economics.

Members are welcome to study the build, interact with items from inside Second Life or other media to see what type of questions these recurrent themes and symbols stimulate- if any. The build is not static and will change over time.

All are welcome.

Play close attention to dates, scripts, effects, Second Life history, art, search results and other mediums that might produce thought or a different view of the virtual. Members are welcome to create, within good “prim limits” visual interpretations (submit to members with title Historian) or Officers, or post on their land. In addition comments via blogs, twitter, BlogHud, SlTweets, or writing about what questions or thoughts you have on any “social media”. At times disabling spatial music may allow you to hear other sounds.

(Page Preview)

and a list of factoids to stimulate thought is included….Virtual History, Virtual Preservation, Mathematical Riddles, and Trivia that seem to hint towards some breakthrough thinking on?time, virtual age, genetics, memetics, scarcity, authenticity, value, and aesthetics- even economics. and they are inviting others along, if they dare, to see what questions they have.

Then some tidbits about eight that run from physics to astronomy to chess…you can find Monolith 8 here.

In chess, each side has eight pawns and the board is made of 64 squares arranged in an eight by eight lattice. The eight queens puzzle is a challenge to arrange eight queens on the board so that none can capture any of the others.

In nuclear physics, a magic number, the second, is a number of nucleons (either protons or neutrons) such that they are arranged into complete shells within the atomic nucleus.

The *seven* known magic numbers as of 2008 are: 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126

In particle physics, the eightfold way is used to classify sub-atomic particles.

An octopus has eight tentacles.

Messier object M8, a magnitude 5.0 nebula in the constellation of Sagittarius.

The New General Catalogue object NGC 8, a double star in the constellation Pegasus

As of 2006, in our solar system, eight of the bodies orbiting the Sun are considered to be planets.

The atomic number of oxygen.

The number of allotropes of carbon.

The most stable allotrope of a sulfur molecule is made of eight sulfur atoms arranged in a rhombic form.

The maximum number of electrons that can occupy a valence shell.

Superstition and divination

In the major arcana of most tarot, card No. 8 is “Strength”.

If each of the classical elements is assigned a cosmic projection, the resulting number (8) represents them.

In numerology, 8 is the number of building, and in some systems, also the number of destruction having unique polar meanings.

In Astrology, Scorpio is the 8th astrological sign of the Zodiac

In the middle ages, 8 was the number of “unmoving” stars in the sky, and symbolized the perfection of incoming planetary energy .

August is the 8th month of the year.

A note played for one-eighth the duration of a whole note is called an eighth note, or quaver.

An octave, the interval between two notes with the same letter name (where one has double the frequency of the other), is so called because there are eight notes on a western scale between the two, including the notes themselves

There are eight notes in an octatonic scale.

There are eight musicians in an octet.

Most historic computer architectures are eight-bit.

On most phones, the 8 key is associated with the letters T, U, and V, but on the Black Berry it is the key for B and N

In Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, eight is a holy number and is considered taboo. Eight is not safe to be said by wizards on the Discworld and is the number of Bel-Shamharoth. Also, there are eight days in a Disc week and eight colors in a Disc spectrum, the eighth one being Octarine

October was the eighth month in the Roman calendar; currently August is the eighth month

Eight is the number of categories the VALS system uses to classify consumer groups, and the number of categories used by

In Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, dialing an 8-chevron address will open a wormhole to another galaxy.

8vo is shorthand for “octavo”, a book size…reading and asking questions about things that appear common is a good activity.

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I am not saying educators do not! The system does not get it and when I see this

The Immersive Education Initiative is an international collaboration of universities, colleges, research institutes, consortia and companies that are working together to define and develop open standards, best practices, platforms, and communities of support for virtual reality and game-based learning and training systems.

Immersive Education combines 3D and virtual reality (VR) technology with digital media to bring distance learning and self-directed learning to a new level. Unlike traditional distance learning, Immersive Education is designed to immerse and engage students in the same way that today’s best video games grab and keep the attention of players. Immersive Education combines interactive virtual reality and sophisticated digital media (voice chat, game-based learning modules, audio/video, and so forth) with collaborative online course environments and classrooms. Immersive Education gives students a sense of “being there” even when attending class in person isn’t possible, practical, or desirable, which in turn provides faculty and remote students with the ability to connect and communicate in a way that greatly enhances the learning experience.

Immersive Education and the Media Grid public compute utility on which it is built were recently recognized with a national award by Computerworld as “…innovative, promising technologies which hold the potential to significantly affect society in the near future.”

A) No kidding. Second Lifers have known this for a long time.

B) I do not need pixels to get immersion…(they are fun though)

SOME LOWER TECH EXAMPLES:

LISTENING TO STORIES AROUND A CAMP FIRE

Which is why I try not to ever get to immersed in some mechanical “college marketing books”.

Why? FORWARD THINKING FICTION or ADVENTURE IS GREAT FOR IMMERSION and EDUCATION….and where I get my blue prints.

Phillip Jose Farmer
The World of Tiers: Volume One (World of Tiers)

In the World of Tiers we meet earthlings Robert Wolff and Paul Janus Finnigan (alias Kickaha) who through strange circumstances are “gated” into a parallel pocket universe. These pocket universes are maintained by mostly insane “Lords” who are paranoid and spend most of their time trying to kill each other to stave off ennui. The World of Tiers is just that, a multi-tiered world that spans a virtual garden of Eden and changes each level until we come to a deadly palace at the top. I won’t spoil it, but the first three are really good, old-fashioned rip roaring reads.

Farmer’s books went on to inspire the late Roger Zelazny who wrote The Chronicles of Amber. He was so inspired by The World of Tiers Zelanzy actually dedicated one of the books in the series to the main characters Jadawin and Kickaha. I have found Amber to be an incredibly accurate metaphor for Second Life. (Matter of fact you might find the quixotic Chevaliers names and behavior to be quite similar to those of Amberites at times.). In the Amber stories, Amber and the Courts of Chaos are the only two “true” worlds. Everything else, even Earth, are called or simply the byproducts of “shadows”. The royal family of Amber that negotiates the Pattern, and the equivalent Chaos nobility who have walked the Logrus, can freely travel through the shadows and alter them at will. The obvious metaphor for Second Life being that of some arbitrary static reality and the existence of an infinite number of “negotiated realities”. Furthermore we have the metaphor of a scripter or builder who can literally “create” whatever they choose- it is nothing but Shadow and really quite malleable- even the physics.

The books are narrated by Corwin who suffers from amnesia, escapes, tracks down his sister Florimel, and discovers that he is a prince of Amber. He is taken by his brother Random to walk the Pattern. The Pattern is the construct which gives the multiverse its order. Walking the Pattern restores Corwin’s memory and his powers to travel through shadow…I won’t spoil the rest and since it is late I will let the Wikipedia hammer at the metaverse concepts within.

Amber and Second Life Parallels

The series is based on the concept of parallel worlds, domination over them being fought between the kingdoms at the extreme ends of Shadow—Amber, the one true world of Order, and the Courts of Chaos. Amberites of royal blood—those descended from Oberon (and ultimately his parents, Dworkin, formerly of the Courts of Chaos, and the Unicorn of Order herself) —are able to “walk in Shadow”, mentally willing changes to occur around them. These changes are, in effect, representative of the Shadow-walker passing through different realities. There are apparently infinite realities, either found by the Shadow-walker locating such worlds or by creating them (we the readers are never sure; neither are the characters).

Within this multiverse, Zelazny deals with some interesting philosophical concepts about the nature of existence, compares and contrasts the ideas of Order and Chaos, and plays with the laws of physics—they can differ from Shadow to Shadow; for instance, gunpowder does not ignite in Amber, which is why the characters all carry swords. Other Shadows have green skies and blue suns, cities of glass and Kentucki Fried Lizzard Partes, and worlds out of our own fiction can come to life.

In short, as I have maintained, reality is what we mutually negotiate- like modems we will find a common protocol. A game is what we choose to make out of it and if left idle humans will create their own rules and games to satisfy their needs.

Pixels, Mud, Time and Collaboration…oh yeah and Permission to break the pattern. Oh yes and teaching us how to think…

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Arguments were strong in the back waters of the SLDEV and Metanomics groups over Linden Labs new policy. e.g. This post…. odd I remember covering in Revenews’ long ago and it didn’t ripple.

Linden Labs says:

Please read this if you operate, or have transferred L$ to, an in-world “bank” or financial company.

As of January 22, 2008, it will be prohibited to offer interest or any direct return on an investment (whether in L$ or other currency) from any object, such as an ATM, located in Second Life, without proof of an applicable government registration statement or financial institution charter. We’re implementing this policy after reviewing Resident complaints, banking activities, and the law, and we’re doing it to protect our Residents and the integrity of our economy.

Since the collapse of Ginko Financial in August 2007, Linden Lab has received complaints about several in-world “banks” defaulting on their promises. These banks often promise unusually high rates of L$ return, reaching 20, 40, or even 60 percent annualized.

Usually, we don’t step in the middle of Resident-to-Resident conduct – letting Residents decide how to act, live, or play in Second Life.

But these “banks” have brought unique and substantial risks to Second Life, and we feel it’s our duty to step in. Offering unsustainably high interest rates, they are in most cases doomed to collapse – leaving upset “depositors” with nothing to show for their investments. As these activities grow, they become more likely to lead to destabilization of the virtual economy. At least as important, the legal and regulatory framework of these non-chartered, unregistered banks is unclear, i.e., what their duties are when they offer “interest” or “investments.”

There is no workable alternative. The so-called banks are not operated, overseen or insured by Linden Lab, nor can we predict which will fail or when. And Linden Lab isn’t, and can’t start acting as, a banking regulator.

I did converse with a representative of First Meta Card who I have had some conversations before (mostly over RPG’s and not banking) and she provided me this statement via note card. (no mod I think).

First Meta comment on Linden Lab’s New Policy Regarding In-World “Banks”

9 January 2008

First Meta fully supports regulation of financial services activity in the virtual economy. We agree with the statement by Linden Lab that in-world “banks…offering unsustainably high interest rates…are in most cases doomed to collapse – leaving upset ‘depositors’ with nothing to show for their investments.” We believe that the removal of non-credible players from the financial services sector of Second Life’s economy will benefit all of its participants.

First Meta’s approach differs radically from the “banks” as described by Linden Lab. We offer a full range of financial services focusing on credit products, including MetaCard(TM), backed by a robust real-world system, run by professionals with real-world financial expertise, and focusing on providing customers with transparency and accountability. We are a real-world company, registered in Singapore, one of the financial centers of the world. First Meta’s operations are supported by the Singapore government and we are funded by real-world private investors, not by our customer’s deposits.

We are in discussions with Linden Lab about our MetaSavings(TM) accounts. OurMetaSavings (TM) deposits are more than 100% funded, which means that no First Meta customer will lose any money as a result of the new policy.

Since our MetaCard(TM) does not “offer interest or a rate of return on L$ invested or deposited”, it should not be affected by this new regulation.

As First Meta’s business is not dependent on savings accounts or other investment instruments which are addressed by the new policy, we believe that the new policy will not have any adverse effects on our company. Insofar as the new policy strengthens the virtual economy, we believe this will actually benefit First Meta. As the leading provider of financial services in virtual economies, First Meta will continue to provide a trusted partner for our customers.

Sincerely,
Douglas Abrams (JP Mougin)
Chief Executive Officer
First Meta Pte. Ltd.

It does meet one of my acid tests. Douglas Abrams is a real name, and only uses his avatar name INWORLD. Also Lindens aren’t the only “fiat currency” they will be chasing I detect…but more to come! Monolith 8 is kicking off…

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Are you paying attention?

Fleep has been. In via Google Reader. Too intriguing not to just rehash with bolds. (Mine)

For those of you concerned that some of the time you spend on the web is a complete waste of time, you may now sleep at night. It turns out that the countless hours we devote to browsing the web and using web-hosted applications will benefit us in a new way—every minute we invest in using the internet will pay off in an increasingly relevant experience.

Programmers are leveraging APML (Attention Profiling Mark-Up Language) to allow users to share their “attention profile”—a compressed file of Attention Data such as browsing history, shared photos, blog posts, tweets, social bookmarks, and more—to reveal their ranked interests in order that they may receive more relevant information from content providers. Put simply, Attention Data tells content providers what we pay attention to the most so that they can align their efforts with our exact tastes.

Sounds brilliant? It is. Attention profiling has the potential to revolutionize an individual’s browsing experience. Currently, we are in an age of hyper-saturation in which searching for relevant content is a burdensome task. The APML standard will give you greater control over your Attention Data, allowing you to choose what is recorded in your attention profile—favorite websites, frequently used search terms, content you link to—and share it with your favorite websites and online services.

APML will provide marketers with a highly coveted wealth of information and users with a better web experience and control over their personal information in order to prevent exploitative data mining. The benefits are clear, which is why many new and existing sites, including many popular social media and networking sites that collect a magnitude of information, are on board. For a good example of how powerful it can be, check out Idiomag, the beautifully designed, highly interactive music magazine that shows you music news and media relevant to your favorite musicians.

Here’s a couple of links with more details about APML and other revolutionary open standards to appease the inner geek in you.

Miles Lennon is an entrepreneur and innovation enthusiast.

Remember this blogs title from the simple equation. Attention = Revenue.

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