Sunday, October 12, 2014


Oculus Rift, Second Life
and just the state of things
 
 
 
   There has been a lot of talk - and a lot of hype - around Oculus Rift over the last few months. Now that some of the hysteria has died down a bit I want to say a couple words. The fact is this is a new gadget worth paying attention to. Will it be bringing on a new 'paradigm' in technology? Maybe, then again maybe not, the sheer amount of money being thrown at it argues that it is going to matter in some way. We just don't know what yet.
 
  Now I've seen a few people who think that Oculus Rift is going to be the death of Second Life as we know it. I really doubt that. The fine management of Linden Lab has made it widely known that they're going to create a whole new Second Life. The new virtual world will be of their creation initially and will be so superior to the old Second Life that we residents will abandon the old and flock to the new without any regrets.
 
I doubt all of this.
 
   First off, the Lindens might well not want us to all give up our sims and rush off to the New World. Right now we are their cash cow; they haven't made a single penny off Oculus Rift yet. The money they are using for all of this nifty research and development is coming from the users of the current Second Life virtual world platform. They need us, they need us badly.
 
   I also have my serious doubts that they are going to match the creativity of all those builders and creators that have worked so zealously to create the current Second Life. They seem to believe they'll create something that will capture our imaginations more than what we currently have. I really do think the Lindens need to spend more time inworld and seeing just how much so many of us have created.
 
   Sure, I say let them work on their nifty new virtual world. I just think they would be making a mistake to turn their backs on the people who are essentially bankrolling this for them. If anything they should be working as hard on making Oculus Rift usable in the current Second Life as the coming brave, new virtual world.
 
Enough said.
 
 



Sunday, October 5, 2014

Once again from the Desk
of Bernard Broono
 
 
 

   I haven't posted anything in a great awhile. I'm sure quite a lot of you know what it's like to have life to take on it's own momentum and things like blogging and creating get shoved on a back shelf. It is time for me to catch up though. So very much has been happening.
 
 
 
   Kwai and I have added a new member to our family. Please meet the completely wonderful Piper Hanriot. The three of us are rapidly getting very fond of each other. Our only difficulty is that dear Piper is on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean; seven time zones away in the United Kingdom.
 
  I'm a bit philosophical about this distance issue. Distance is a barrier, not an obstacle. It has been my experience that where there is a will, there is also a way. I have faith in myself and as long as my ladies have faith in me then nothing can really stand between us.
 
   Real life is also bringing new adventures and new hopes for the future. Kwai and I are both within a short few months of retirement from our Real Life professions. This will open a whole new chapter in our lives with new challenges to meet. I believe in a sort of destiny though; that this next new phase in life will bring with it new hopes and new discoveries.
 
 
Kwai on top of the World
 
  With a bit of luck I'll stay on top of this blog for the coming future. Who knows what stories we will have to tell...