Virtual World Immersion and Augmentation
Posted in Rick van der Wal, aka Digado, a blogger I have great respect for, recaps Ren Reynolds lively taxonomy discussion at Terra Nova:
* Game world
* Lucid World
* Metaverse
* MMORPG
* MMO
* MOO
* MUSH
* MUD
* WoW
* RPG
* HUD
* RCE
* RMT
* Synthetic World
* Social World
* Thick Virtual World
* Thin Virtual World
* Virtual World
If you can get past the emergent nomenclature I suggest you read his entire take-away on immersionism and augmentation and the comments.
The Views
He notes and adds, as I believe, they are NOT mutually exclusive…
Immersionist’s point of view
Virtuality is… a new reality, a new world (or as Philip Linden/Rosedale once said - “A country”), a new frontier.
Most common issues: The Avatar as a person, new builds and ‘In-world’ developments, in-world authority, the community and underlying relations, the future (a long-term time frame of 10-25 years from now).
Key elements: Freedom, vision, escapism, trust, recognition, community, immersion.
Augmentionist’s point of view
Virtuality is… a tool - a medium, a game and an extension/evolution/continuation of the internet and communication.
Most common issues: Perception of mainstream media, elevating the platform of Virtual worlds as a tool/medium, how virtual worlds influence the real world - economic, education, entertainment for ‘real people’, the timeframe of now until 3 years from now.
Key elements: Adoption of Technology, opportunity, verification, research, return on investments, benefits of virtuality, cross ‘realm’ communication.
Boiling It Down
1. Immersion and augmentism are not mutually exclusive.
2. Immersionists are a movement based on escapism.
3. Augmentists are opportunists.
Rick I think they are blog worthy issues and thank you…as I have been trying to find a good blend of “not mutually exclusive.” None of these schools of thought are “black and white”. That is why I think VR communities should pay attention to the thought leaders struggling with revenue generation and Web 2.0- and pollution- not to mention concentration risk. See my latest on Revenews.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Speaking of them mutually exclusive is pointless. You have to have two terms on the same spectrum to have them mutually exclusive. Immersion and augmentation are not on the same spectrum. One is connected with the quality of experience and the other is connected with how much we leave our avatars separated from the rest of our activities. Many people mix those terms, for various reasons, and make our understanding very blurry.