Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!ucsd!ucbvax!hplabs!well!bluefire
From: bluefire@well.UUCP (Bob Jacobson)
Newsgroups: news.groups
Subject: Re: CALL FOR DISCUSSION:  SCI.VIRTUAL-WORLDS
Message-ID: <14668@well.UUCP>
Date: 21 Nov 89 07:59:01 GMT
References: <14547-repost@well.UUCP> <1989Nov16.161429.12549@talos.uucp> <1988@atanasoff.cs.iastate.edu>
Reply-To: bluefire@well.UUCP (Bob Jacobson)
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, Sausalito, CA
Lines: 24


Mark Mehl suggests that the original charter of the proposed newsgroup
is too broad ("awesome" is the way he put it, with asterisks!).  He
suggests splitting the newsgroup into two groups, simulation and
ergonomics, with additional subcategories for each.
 
These are important issues and Mark is correct in noting that Usenet
currently does not (at least to his and my knowing) host such newsgroups.
He and others who share his enthusiasm for these topics should start
a discussion on these newsgroups.
 
Our "awesome" charter is nothing more or less than what is currently
taking place in at least five laboratories across the nation.  We are
not studying simulations per se, nor are we studying ergonomics per se.
We do not feel that we are awesome; neither are our ideas particularly
immense.  We are studying virtual worlds, their creation, and their
effects.  As Bugs Bunny said, "Th-th-that's All, Folks!"  Believe me:
we wouldn't undertake anything we couldn't finish.

-- 
BOB JACOBSON, Associate Director, Human Interface Technology Laboratory
       University of Washington (FU-20), Seattle, WA 98195 USA
   (206) 543-5075 (voice), 543-5380 (fax)   *   bluefire@well.uucp
                >> "We can do virtually anything." <<