Shame the root post was modded Flamebait, I'm inclined to agree. Virgin are a prime example of massively inappropriate spending: when their trains were running more and more crowded and their punctuality was getting worse, what did they do? Rather than ACTUALLY spending cash on more trains, they replaced the existing stock with trains which are more cramped and have less setas and carriages. But at least they have power points and push buttons to open doors and look like planes! Nice one Virgin.
With train fares as pricey as they are, I'd like to see my cash going into improvements in service and networks, rather than cosmetic improvements.
Sounds like something I dreamed up a while ago (at least the 'hosting your own area' & central server which only really acts as a framework bits) after reading 'Idoru' (more specifically, the Walled City bits). Never found an excuse to develop it though (probably just as well, 'cos it was VRML based;^) ).
I think these things (There, Palace, Blaxxun etc) are pretty interesting, but ultimately flawed, either due to bad planning or bad technology. For instance, speaking personally, I fail to see the point in paying real money (a la Habbo) for virtual objects, or getting frustrated by a clunky, ugly VR systems. The Real World is still vastly more entertaining:)
Incidentally, a pedantic side point in response to a point elswhere on this thread: weren't the habitats in Snow Crash rendered on the host machine, rather than the clients connected to it, so what you wanted to represent was only limited by the power of your hosting box?
Following the news of this lawsuit between Cobalt and Apple over the use of cube-shaped casings, I intend to patent the cuboid, sphere, pyramid, cylinder and other three-dimensional geometric primitives. This would enable me to sue makers of pipes, drinks cans, Toblerone etc.., but also the biggies: I could take on anyone who builds skyscrapers, Egypt for massive infringement in their historical artifacts and, of course, humanity for wilfully inhabiting a planet whose shape violates my patent on spheres.
Slashdot Mirror
Is too :P
Here's the coralcached version:
http://www.streetwithaview.com.nyud.net/
Shame the root post was modded Flamebait, I'm inclined to agree. Virgin are a prime example of massively inappropriate spending: when their trains were running more and more crowded and their punctuality was getting worse, what did they do? Rather than ACTUALLY spending cash on more trains, they replaced the existing stock with trains which are more cramped and have less setas and carriages. But at least they have power points and push buttons to open doors and look like planes! Nice one Virgin.
With train fares as pricey as they are, I'd like to see my cash going into improvements in service and networks, rather than cosmetic improvements.
Sounds like something I dreamed up a while ago (at least the 'hosting your own area' & central server which only really acts as a framework bits) after reading 'Idoru' (more specifically, the Walled City bits). Never found an excuse to develop it though (probably just as well, 'cos it was VRML based ;^) ).
:)
I think these things (There, Palace, Blaxxun etc) are pretty interesting, but ultimately flawed, either due to bad planning or bad technology. For instance, speaking personally, I fail to see the point in paying real money (a la Habbo) for virtual objects, or getting frustrated by a clunky, ugly VR systems. The Real World is still vastly more entertaining
Incidentally, a pedantic side point in response to a point elswhere on this thread: weren't the habitats in Snow Crash rendered on the host machine, rather than the clients connected to it, so what you wanted to represent was only limited by the power of your hosting box?
Following the news of this lawsuit between Cobalt and Apple over the use of cube-shaped casings, I intend to patent the cuboid, sphere, pyramid, cylinder and other three-dimensional geometric primitives. This would enable me to sue makers of pipes, drinks cans, Toblerone etc.., but also the biggies: I could take on anyone who builds skyscrapers, Egypt for massive infringement in their historical artifacts and, of course, humanity for wilfully inhabiting a planet whose shape violates my patent on spheres.