Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!usc!apple!well!bluefire
From: bluefire@well.UUCP (Bob Jacobson)
Newsgroups: news.groups
Subject: Re: CALL FOR DISCUSSION:  SCI.VIRTUAL-WORLDS
Message-ID: <14719@well.UUCP>
Date: 25 Nov 89 05:34:37 GMT
References: <14547-repost@well.UUCP> <1989Nov16.161429.12549@talos.uucp> <14642@well.UUCP> <20757@unix.cis.pitt.edu> <1989Nov22.163405.28428@talos.uucp>
Reply-To: bluefire@well.UUCP (Bob Jacobson)
Organization: Human Interface Technology Laboratory, U of Wash.
Lines: 31



It is appropriate for non-participants in virtual-worlds research
-- and that is a term of art that is now generally used by
scientists in this area, as opposed to cyberspace, which is not
-- to be skeptical about interest in this area.  However, in the
next two weeks, both SCIENCE and DISCOVER magazines will be run-
ning articles on virtual-worlds research.  (The SCIENCE article
is a short one noticing the existence of our laboratory; it will
be followed up by a longer one in early 1990.)  There is similar
interest among the societies:  virtual-worlds research will figure
large at the April 1990 SIGCHI conference.  (Our lab has been made
a site on the tour of Seattle activities to be shown to attendees.)

My private mail now holds about a dozen pro votes sent to me,
unsolicited, by Usenet users.  The reasons for these votes vary,
but each vote comes with a strong endorsement for the concept and
the title of the proposed newsgroup.

I suggest that the vote on this newsgroup will demonstrate that
there is a sizable interest in virtual-worlds research, and that
it is appropriate to locate this newsgroup in sci., where it can
be both eclectic and scientific.  But your comments -- all of them
-- are well-taken and you have our thanks for a most interesting
discussion about how Usenet accommodates an emerging field.

-- 
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." <<