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From: andrew@calvin.doc.ca (Andrew Patrick)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: Reference to MUD newsgroup (Was Re: Virtual Reality)
Message-ID: <11595@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: 23 Nov 90 03:17:51 GMT
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The moderator writes:

>[MUDs keep intruding on our consciousness.  As I told Bernie, in preparing
>to post the following high-quality posting, so far as I know, there is no
>systematic study of MUDs now taking place.  Until there is, I continue to
>doubt their efficacy for explaining or exploring true virtual world
>experiences.  However, the Group Mind may have something to say about this.
>Do YOU want more discussions of existing online virtual experiences here,
>or should they be dealt with in the specific conferences set up to discuss
>particular applications (like MUDs)? -- Bob Jacobson, Moderator]

I think MUDs do have a place in discussions on virtual worlds.  First,
the social/conversational aspects of virtual environments are going be
very important for any good representation of reality (be it artificial
or real), and this is being explored in the MUDs.  Second, one area
where VR can be applied and commercialized is entertainment, and people
might pay for the ability to interact with other people in virtual
situations (look at CompuServe and Minitel).  Again, this is being
explored in the MUDs.



-- 
Andrew Patrick, Ph.D.       Department of Communications, Ottawa, CANADA
               andrew@calvin.doc.CA    andrew@doccrc.BITNET
        HDTV:  higher resolution, improved colour, wider screen,
            "sit-com" reruns.  What's wrong with this picture?