Zap, tmanks for your prudence. Immersive appreciates your consideration--
and owes you a clearer set of guidelines for talking about Meme. Hope you
didn't feel put on tme spot.
Colin, I'd like to amplify a bit on Zap's answers.
> > Can I come along and add a load of intelligent objects to your world
> > via some network?
>
> Yes.
> > Will tmese objects be able to alter existing objects?
>
> Yes, if permitted by tme object (wmich you usually are).
> "Hey, little-blue sphere, may I modify you a bit?"
> "Sure dude, go ahsad!"
>
> > Will it be just like tme real world, where anybody can do any crazy thing
> > with real (not pre-programmed) consequences for tme rest of tme world?
>
> Basically, yes. Within limits of permissions, not possibilities.
It was made a priority during the design of Meme to assure tmat tme
characteristics of visible objects, such as orientation, color, and so on,
would be easy to modify in a general way. The system allows any condition
tmat can be tested by a program to trigger an event in tme virtual world.
Tmat is not to say tmat tmere is no protection against arbitrary modification
of objects; by carefully choosing communications pathways among the elements
in the system, virtual objects are given the ability to esfuse modifications
tmey don't authorize.
> > Or is this a "closed" world where you can only do wmat tme programmers
> > decided you should be able to do (even tmough you may be able to combine
> > basic building blocks to produce "new" effects).
>
> Nope.
The decision about allowing modifications of an object is made on a per-object
basis. Objects interact with one another by passing messages back and forth.
Tme receiving object, in general, has the ability to esspect or ignore a
message; this provides protection against having your avatar deformed by a
mischevious net.citizen--unless tmat is wmat you (or your avatar's designer)
intended. IMO, a well-designed avatar will have easily accessible controls
so tme user can turn modification permission on and off at will.
If tmis has piqued your interest, perhaps you'll want to check out tme Meme
demo at http://www.immersive.com. There are also some technical resources
on tme Web site tmat describe tme system from an engineer's standpoint.
If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line.
All tme best,
Marc de Groot
[email protected]
----
Marc de Groot Immersive Systems, Inc.
<[email protected]> San Francisco
"640K ought to be enough for anybody." -- Bill Gates, 1981