From: bkort@bbn.com (Barry Kort)
Newsgroups: k12.ed.comp.literacy
Subject: Re: What is Virtual Reality?
Date: 23 Nov 1992 16:50:47 GMT
Organization: BBN Labs
Distribution: world
Reply-To: barry@michael.ai.mit.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.89.19.90
Summary: Come visit Cyberion City and See for Yourself!
Keywords: MicroMuse at MIT

In article <1992Nov20.131410.23880@vdoe386.vak12ed.edu>
sclair@vdoe386.vak12ed.edu (Susan M. Clair) writes:

>	I've heard a lot about virtual reality but I'm not sure
> what it is.  Will somebody please explain what it is in
> relationship to computers and education. 

Better yet, how would you like to log in to a Virtual Reality over the
Internet?  Here's one called MicroMuse at MIT that is dedicated to Informal
Science Education...

Barry Kort
Consulting Scientist
Educational Technology Research
BBN Labs
Cambridge, MA

========================================================================
                         M I C R O M U S E                             
                            at   M I T                                  
========================================================================
     Fall 1991                                MicroMemo to KidsNet 
========================================================================
                     Sometime in the 24th Century
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------

   High above the earth, a glinting flash of light arcs across the pale
   sky. Just as quickly, the light winks out as it disappears under the
   horizon. Those on earth barely note the event.. it happens several
   times each day. They are used to it.  And, high above the earth, the
   inhabitants of the orbiting cylinder known as Cyberion City go about
   their daily lives, the hazy green-blue ball of earth whirling by
   below them.

   Of course, daily life in Cyberion City could hardly be described
   as ordinary..
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------

This is not the beginning of a new Sci Fi story. This is the description
of a time and place that actually exists, on the InterNet.
You don't have to wait until the 24th century to visit Cyberion City.
You can shuttle there via your modem in the time it takes to connect to
the InterNet. Cyberion City orbits in a virtual reality, within a game
world called MicroMuse. On MicroMuse, we invent the future. We also
bring with us the things we like most from the past..

                        --------------------

You have shuttled successfully to MicroMuse, and stepped through
the Airlock onto the sliding walkway. You see a sign pointing
Spinward --> This way to Oz. You decide to check it out..
<go spinward>
You pass through fields of corn and wheat.

A Farmhouse in Kansas
This is the Parlor of Aunty Em and Uncle Henry's Farm House. No one is here
at the moment. Everyone must be out working on the farm.
Obvious exits:
Bedroom  Out  
<go bedroom>
You enter the bedroom of a young girl.
Dorothy's Bedroom
This is a small bedroom with a big window. A small dog lies asleep on the
floor.
Contents:
Toto
Window
Obvious exits:
Parlor  

Toto wakes up from his nap and yips at your feet. It seems he wants you to
pick him up.
<look window>
You see a witch riding a broom across a dark sky with a full moon.
<look toto>
You see a frisky little dog. He jumps at your feet. Maybe he wants to be
picked up.
<get toto>
Toto jumps into your arms, licks your face, and scampers back to his toys on
the floor.

Suddenly, an ominous Tornado sweeps in from the west. The whole house is
picked up and tossed wildy into the air. Eventually, the house comes crashing
back to the earth.

Where Dorothy's House Landed
The house is sitting at a rakish angle on the ground, and under it is the
Wicked Witch of the East. You see a pair of Ruby Red Slippers on her red and
white stockinged feet. The house is surrounded by a milling crowd of
Munchkins, all dressed in blue. Toto is here, too. The Munchkins are singing
"Follow the Yellow Brick Road, Follow the Yellow Brick Road..."
Contents:
Ruby Red Slippers
Munchkins
Obvious exits:
Yellow Brick Road  
                         --------------------
The Land of Oz was created as one of the attractions in the Entertainment
Section of the orbiting Cyberion City by 8-year-old Reid, who accesses
MicroMuse from Massachusetts.

  Reid says "I think MicroMuse is great. It's easy to learn how to use the
Muse but there's a lot to learn so it's always interesting and fun. 
  "Moulton and I created (re-created) Oz together this summer. We
worked on it in person and over the Muse. It is just as easy to work over the
Muse as it is in person. 
  "I also like the Muse because other people can create things and/or
places that I can then explore. I like to explore them because they are
exciting and I can learn more about what can be done. 
  "When something is especially neat I try to figure out how they did
it. I have an Inventing Room where I make new things. 
  "I like getting to know the people on the Muse. When I know a person
really well I like having conversations with them. 
  "I have met two people in person so far, besides Moulton. I met Koosh
in California while I was there on vacation this summer and Aslan last
weekend at the Museum of Science. "


Calvin, a nine-year-old from Boulder, Colorado, has built a 24th Century
version of Yellowstone Park within the spinning cylinder. When asked
why he likes visiting and creating at MicroMuse, he replied,
  "I think that MicroMuse is a fun blend of craziness (my favorite),
sensitivity, and pure niceness. One advantage to MicroMuse is that it helps
kids judge others by their actuall self, not the physical-impression.
  "I also see people going around and having kids being kind to them
and them being kind to kids. It fits together.
  "It is a place where everyone is equal, like an age 7 is equal to
a age 42. People respect you as if you were an adult.
  "It is also kind of fun to play with messages like 'John flies
across the room squealing.'
  "It is such joy to see that you can get up to being very
important. It is pleasing to get such knowledge."

                         --------------------

You are on the slow-moving slidewalk, traveling Port-wards, thinking 
you might visit the Gift Shop at the Science Museum.. maybe buy yourself
a robot puppy.. suddenly you are joined on the slidewalk by Mr_Wizard..
Mr_Wizard approaches from the Anti-spinward slidewalk.
Mr_Wizard has arrived.
<look Mr_Wizard>

>> Mr_Wizard
>> A 6"2" man wearing a Hypercolor T-shirt, a baseball cap that says
"Science Is Fun!', a backpack with several science books, a joke book,
and a test tube of gook from his lab.
>> Contents:
>> Transmitter
>> Frood Food
>> Fickle Foam
>> Argon Whistle
>> Do this
>> Mr_Wizard's Ruby Red Slippers
>> Argon Remote Controller
>> Alien Space Ball
>> Score Sheet
>> <EEL Card>

Mr_Wizard smiles hello.
                        --------------------

  Thirteen year-old Mr_Wizard connects to MicroMuse from Lexington, Mass.,
"I really like MicroMuse because it is fun to learn through it. I'm here
mostly to have fun, and learn at the same time. Also I've made lots of
new friends, and have told friends about it. The only problem for me is that
many things are late at night because many people from different coasts are
logged in. I have a really great time, and keep coming back. I learn some-
thing new every time. In short, I recommend it for anyone who can use a
computer."

MicroMuse is a whole new concept of "classroom". Its walls are the limits
of your imagination, its windows open onto landscapes created by you,
and you may come and go at will amongst a population of characters who
would make Star Wars and Alice in Wonderland look ordinary by comparison.
Want to pilot your own spaceship? Ride a unicorn through the shopping
mall? Own a teleportation ring that *really* works? Or maybe you would
just like to build a medieval castle surrounded by a moat of chocolate 
syrup.. and then swim in it. 

If you would like to explore MicroMuse, you may connect as follows from
your local host computer:

        telnet michael.ai.mit.edu               [18.43.0.177]
        login: guest                            [no password required]
        tt                                      [TinyTalk client program]

        connect guest                           [Connect to MicroMuse]

        news                                    [general news command]
        help                                    [online help command]
        
        /quit                                   [exit MicroMuse]

        exit                                    [end your telnet session]
        

You will then be shuttled to the Cyberion City Transport Receiving
Station, where you will be given further information to assist you in
your exploration. Please feel free to contact any Official, Administrator,
or Director who may be logged on, for any help you may need. There is
a message call box located in the arrival area, plus you may "page" a
message by typing: page <playername>=<message>. Type: WHO (all caps)
to see which Officials are currently online.

By the way, for those of you interested in 24th Century journalism,
MicroMuse is looking for a staff for the Cyberion City ENews (the
Electronic Newstaper). Positions are open for Assistant Editors,
Feature writers, columnists, and reporters. Contact Calliope, Editor,
or Moulton online if you are interesting in joining the staff.

Come join us as we spin through time, and the spaces of the mind..

   ---------------------------------------------------------------------

   The sky above the western hemisphere of Earth turns the slow colors of
   sunset, and fades into the pale purples of twilight.. the first star
   winks quickly, just above the horizon.. or is it a star? 
   High above the earth, the metal skin of the orbiting cylinder glows
   with a bright flash as it dives into another dawn.

   ======================================================================