Travel Industry Seeks Socially Responsible Second Life

In 2007, I met with Management at Suntec Exhibition Centre in Singapore regarding virtual worlds and the opportunity for Real & Virtual World events to be run in Unison with each other. Singapore recently held the IT Show at Suntec, 770,000 people packed the centre and SGD58.5 million was spent in four days – how much more could have been spent if they held a virtual event for those unable to make it to Singapore over the 4 stipulated days – i wonder ?

Excerpt from Travel Industry Article below:

At the ITM’s 37th annual conference in Liverpool this week, the people responsible for spending an annual £34bn ferrying business executives and staff around the world will hear that physical attendance is not always the ideal way to convene conferences and confabs. Instead, the technology of online virtual worlds can bring delegates together in an equally productive, immersive, businesslike environment which is also socially responsible, greatly reducing the impact of corporate travel on the environment.

Alan Haymes, director of London-based New Business Horizons – which provides Second Life offices, meeting and conference facilities for other clients as diverse as Universal Music Group and the London Chamber of Commerce – will be leading the ‘Meeting in Cyberspace’ session at the ITM conference, explaining the business benefits of events that take place in a virtual world and comparing the experience not only to physical meetings but to the ‘traditional’ virtual option of teleconferencing.

Haymes comments: “Virtual world conferencing is a more complete experience than the webcam or teleconferencing suite, which means that the ITM’s initiative extends beyond saving money and improving CSR. In a virtual world, delegates can immerse themselves fully in the conference environment and truly feel part of a big event. Breakout and one to one sessions can be easily incorporated, there’s less pressure on performance and appearance … and it can be more fun.”

via Travel Industry Seeks Socially Responsible Second Life.

I also shared this idea with Twinity management….

Digital Hologram to rock your imagination – itsReal

I knew setting up the google alert for “holograms” was going to change APLINK’s perspective on the future of digital imagery and life as we know it – here is another example – one that will really make you THINK how amazing how could it be used ! But god how much would it cost !

GE Plug Into The Smart Grid: Digital Hologram

It’s hard to explain, so just click the links below.  You might think it’s some kind of trickery, but I did it myself last night and it is 100% real.

Was throwing around ideas with people about how to use this as a marketing tool … Can you imagine debuting a music video or new television show this way?

see original post: http://www.flaggedforfollowup.com/2009/02/ge-plug-into-the-smart-grid-digital-hologram.html

See the Digital Hologram Augmented Reality demo here: http://ge.ecomagination.com/smartgrid/#/augmented_reality

THIRD PLACE: Wake up class with holograms GRADES 9-12 | APP.com | Asbury Park Press

APLINK is glad there are others out the that think like i do… hologram technology has the potential to transform life as we know it ! Applications are only limited by imagination and funding now between imagination and funding which is the hardest to make a reality !

What if…

there was a way to keep kids entertained, enthusiastic, and well-educated? I believe a new frontier in educational technology could do just that. Holograms would open whole new worlds

Technology could help make Alexander Hamilton a lot more real. Holograms could be used to display lifelike historical figures to the class. A hologram is a

three-dimensional image produced by rays of light. The holograms could be programmed to answer questions as well. Instead of sitting in class listening to someone else describe Alexander Hamilton, students would see the man with their own eyes. Not only that, but they could ask him questions. It’s much easier to learn through hands-on experiences, and that’s exactly what the holograms would provide. To some, historical figures are just dead guys who did important things. Being able to meet and question them would break that stereotype and increase learning. By interacting with these famous people, student would be able to truly become part of history. History would become alive for them.

read more: http://www.app.com/article/20090225/OPINION03/90225020/1028/opinion

Audi push for holograms | Australian IT

The debut of the life-size projection comes after several electronics companies demonstrated 3D televisions at the consumer electronics show in the US last month.

For all technology there comes a tipping point, and Audi’s holographic experiment, coupled with the sudden international interest in 3D as a viable technology, suggests that the tipping point in the next generation of electronic media and marketing is fast approaching.

Just as the iPhone shuffled mobile media out of relative obscurity, it may soon be the era of holograms and 3D, thanks to cartoons, out-of-home marketing and games.

Dreamworks and Disney have already announced that all their feature films produced from now on will be capable of being viewed in 3D.

Telstra has installed 3D screens at its corporate centre in Melbourne, while gaming developers are also salivating at the impact of an era of truly immersive games.

Brian Craighead, managing director of Prime Digital Media, which created the Audi projection, says the transition of interest in using holographic devices and 3D content has been swift.

“It really went from bleeding edge to leading edge overnight,” he said.

via Audi push for holograms | Australian IT.

Live, interactive hologram communication demo in London

Live, interactive hologram communication demonstrated in London Image 1

Holographic people have been in a staple in science fiction for decades. But now, just as as many other tecnhologies once were science fiction, three dimensional holographic communication systems are becomming a reality.

Last week there was the first live and interactive demonstration of a hologram communication system set up in a downtown London office.

The hologram is of very high quality, as you can see for yourself in the video below. There is hardly any noticeable delay in transmission, and the projection technology allows for personal interaction between people, and the projection. The projection itself is life-like, and projected at 50 frames per second.

The first public demonstration of this new technology was on CNN, in November of last year. A select few others then tried out the system, including Nike executives, musicians Madonna and Gorillaz for concerts, and Sir Richard Branson.

The successful live public demonstration last week was the result of two companies working together: MASERGY, a global network service provider who provided the network know-how for the fast, high bandwidth communication; and Musion, who developed the holographic projection system, which goes by the tradename of Eyeliner Foil.

The hologram telepresence system is being marketed as a ‘green’ alternative to actually flying somewhere and interacting with someone in person.

No price was given for the cost of setting up a system — but it does appear that, like so many other technologies, eventually the price will fall to levels that be affordable by almost anyone.

via Live, interactive hologram communication demonstrated in London – Neoseeker News Article.

When Daddy Is Off at War: A Hologram Home?

APLINK – thinks its gotta be more real to engage children – it is nothing more than a video with AI – somone should push the envelope on real time hologram technology – itsReal

Read on – plus see the full story at the link below…

Catherine Caldwell-Harris, a psychology professor at Boston University, says humans have always sought more realistic images of loved ones far away. “It used to be artist sketches, then photos, then video,” she says, “and this may just be the next step to facilitate our memories.” While she applauds the research that will be required to develop the application, she’s unsure about kids’ reactions. “How would a young child understand an artificial-intelligence program that is a simulacrum of their parent?” she asks.

Blogs have been asking similar questions, calling the idea “creepy” and wondering what the impact would be on a military kid whose parent is killed in action but continues to “live on” in cyberspace. Shilling says if the military discovers the idea is too challenging or won’t benefit the troops and their families, the project won’t go forward. “Part of the research is to look at its safety and efficacy,” he says. “We’d never put anything out until we are certain that it is good for the family.”

Spouses left on the home front also might have mixed feelings. “Would the AI spouse be a nice stimulant to my own memories?” Caldwell-Harris wonders. “Or would I even get more angry at the Army and think, ‘They’re just trying to fob off this fancy technology on me so they can send my husband out on his next tour’?” It’s obvious that the real breakthrough will come when the military can deploy parental holograms and let Mom and Dad stay at home.

via When Daddy Is Off at War: A Hologram Home? – Telepresence Options.

Vinton Cerf Event by TDM – itsReal

Last nite The Digital Movement (TDM) organised the..

Meet ONE of the Fathers of the Internet! (Google Chief Internet Evangelist) Vinton Cerf…

Event at Suntec sponsored by IDA Singapore and Google… WOW.. is all I can say to have the opportunity to meet and hear such a legend. His accolades as read out by James Seng as (moderator) are extensive, his stage presence even more compelling in his 3 piece suit and bearded face… This man, Vinton Cerf is remarkable in that his ability to articulate technology, present analogies, connect with his audience and inspire us with personal stories of victory such as for his wife who at the age of 3 lost full hearing, only 50 years later to regain her hearing through technology – MASSIVE is the only word that comes to my mind as I reveled in the concept of being able to hear for the first time in 50 years and as Vint said, greeting telemarketers with a keen desire to HEAR what they had to say (where in the world would u hear that a telemarketer call is welcome) Vint sliced humor throughout his presentation to the obvious delight of his audience.

The Topic for last night was The Internet in 2035 ! Why 2035 I do not know BUT Vint’s predictions are not sci – fi in reality – No Beam Me Up Scotty – from Star Trek – only Holograms managed to surface in the possible scenarios which strangely I wrote about in a post recently – Imagine

For myself, I have seen the Internet grow from dial up frustration to broadband lightning speed frustration in Virtual Worlds.

The opportunities for the developed world to harness the internet’s power for business, social and compassionate needs is unlimited. We must now address how this power can help the undeveloped world to enhance the lifestyle of those less fortunate than ourselves – how this will evolve I do not know – but by evidence of last nights event – The Internet has a LONG Future ahead of it and maybe somewhere along the way, its power will destroy poverty, hunger and disease. – itsReal

To donate to to the China EarthQuake Fund please visit: National Volunteer & Philanthorpy Centre Singapore

The Digital Movement (singapore) on Yebber.com

A more in depth review of the evening can be found at Byzantin3