gourdol@imag.imag.fr (Gourdol Arnaud) (11/03/90)
Several people here stated that they wanted to have their own view of the cyberspace. That is, they want to choose if they see net "access" as big circles (red, blue or whatever) or as doors with a label on it, or as building with a big sign... Some have also argued about cyberspace should "look like" reality or not. Tell me if I'm wrong somewhere, but I think that there's something wrong with this. Today, cyberspace (or Internet if you prefer) is using text data only. The message are those characters I am sending you. You are free to choose the font with which you read my message (if your deck (or rather terminal) allows you to do it. But this is because I can't send you my message with some font information. Let's make a step in the future (not speaking yet of real cyberspace). I got a microphone attached to my terminal. With it I can record voice messages. Let's suppose I choose to send you the message this way. Do you mean you would like to choose the way my voice is altered when you receive it ? I do not want you to alter my message this way. Suppose I send you a graphic or a video sequence. Do you want your system to "translate" it ? I sure do not want. if I send you the message a certain way, I want you to receive it the same way, even if you can alter it after. As you can take the words I am sending today and then put them in any order you wish. But it's not MY message any more. So, to go back to cyberspace, when the bandwith will be high enough, we will not just send each other ASCII characters, but sound, still pictures, video sequences, and maybe other things as well (comportemental programms). You can not customize this, as this is not just your deck that is making cyberspace alive, but the whole network. I think that what we must find is some common world that everybody linked to the Net will see (or listen or feel). And each of the one linked to the net will be able to customize the way he looks, not the way others appear to him. The analogy with today is the header of the messages. Everybody agree on them. Idem with the character set. This suppose that this virtual world should be "natural" to everybody. I don't say it will have to look like real world, but that we will be able to feel good in it. Now, it's time to give my own view of how cyberspace could look. It's based on many very could cyberpunk books. The net is like a big town. There are some big buildings in it (big .com) with their name flashing in very huge neon-letters. When I want to send a message to someone I go to the building he is in. I can go quickly at any place of NetTown. I go at the bulding entry. Here maybe there is a groom waiting for me. If I can't enter the building, he will tell me so, pointing at the mailboxes outside the building. I then go to the maiboxes and quickly find the one of my friend (I can quickly locate it because there is a big sticker with a picture of him on it). I then go INTO the mailbox. I then enter a small room with a sofa, two big armchairs and a little table. There is an "electronic representation" of my friend waiting for me here. This time he chose to appear as a magician with a dark blue robe. He greets me and tells me he is out for now. I tell him about a problem I had with a programm he sent me. The electronic representation listen carrefuly while it's looking in it's knowledge database. It finds a fact my friend (the human one) has put in it about this problem. The rep (short for electronic representation) tells me "Oh, yes. Here is what should solve your problem". He puts his hand into his robe and pull a crystal orb, that I take. This orb is a representation of my friend's program. If I want, I can enter into the orb. But as for now, I leave the rep and get out of the mailbox. I now goes to a cafe called "Mona Lisa" where they are used to speak about how to improve virtual realities. As I enter I see the barman and several other folks here, some talking to others. Near the fireplace, there is a guy talking and showing some drawing on a sheet of paper. I approach and carrefuly listen to him. He is explaining how he would like to see cyberspace from his deck. On the paper, are some circles of different colors. I ask him "What do colors means ?". He explains me "Green are the host to which I can connect. Blue are the one which contains useful informations". Of course, it's not really him who explains me all this, but a rep. Disagreeing with it's views I decide to post a reply. I then explain him how I see virtual worlds and cyberspace and make various drawings and video-sequences. An AI programm is analysing all what I'm saying and translate it into a knowledge base. Later, a rep will expose my views to everybody in "Mona Lisa" who wants to listen to me. I then get out of "Mona Lisa" and shut down my deck. This is how I would like cyberspace to be. Now, it's pure fiction (today). But there are things we should do today : 1) Imagine what tomorrow could be (even if it appears as "daydreaming"). This should give us a goal. 2) Build what we can today. I think the "system database" is a good idea. 3) Improve what we have today. Are there many people out there who are using something more evolved than a vt100 ? I personnaly use a Mac, but I'm sure there are some with Sun, Appolos, NeXT, even PCs. We are all able to do pictures with those machines (and even sound for some of us). Why can't we send these to the net. I mean, as easily as we can send characters. Please, if you agree or disagree with my vision of cyberspace let me know. Arnaud. -- /======================//==========================================/ / Arnaud Gourdol. // On the netland : gourdol@imag.fr / /======================//==========================================/