Apple fans beware...you will find no sanctuary here.
Lowell Cremorne, a certified Apple Kool-aid drinker, recently posted an article extolling the amazing awesomeness of the iPad and how it represented a game-changing (nice pun) shift for virtual environments such as Second Life.
To the first point, I, along with many other critics, think the iPad is going to be a product flop for the ages. Even Apple fanatics have labeled the device "an over-sized iPod with no calling feature." The app market is going to explode because of this? Isn't that a little presumptuous? I mean don't people have to actually buy the product before they download apps onto it? This starts to lead into my second point, but the crux of Apple's revenue-generating machine is software, which in order to sell it must first move its hardware, which is a big question mark.
Would it improve participation in virtual worlds? Maybe. A portable screen big enough to enjoy and touch features for easy avatar manipulation sure sounds like a winner. But the price tag on the hardware and the limited improvement over existing iPods and iPhones makes me pause. The boon to virtual worlds will only come when the hardware moves.
$1 billion spent on virtual products? Are you kidding me? Its headlines like this that make me question where our priorities as a civilization are headed. Disclaimer everyone, I've never been a fan of virtual worlds like Second Life where reality and fantasy blend so easily that it becomes difficult to tell what is what at times. While I'm sure it has its benefits, I can't get past the idea that we've created and continue to expand a world where people go to "escape" for long periods of their lives. Its not healthy and its like living in the Matrix!
People on disability are spending time and money in the virtual world? Shouldn't you be spending time rehabilitating or spending money on medications? Did you ever want to become a productive member of society again?
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1 year ago
You certainly have a strong argument against the iPad, but it's one of those things...know one knows how it will do until it's released. I don't think I'd purchase one - but that's because my MacBook Pro is compact, portable, and has more functionality.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally with you on augmented/virtual reality - it's just weird and it doesn't seem to have any great benefit to society.
Hi Andy,
ReplyDeleteSorry to disappoint, but I'm no Apple fanboy. I've written on Mac technology for coming up to ten years and I've been plenty critical at times. With the iPad, I do think it's likely to be a game-changer for virtual environments, particularly given there's a couple of apps for iPhone already covering Second Life, WoW etc. Regarding sales of the iPad, I'd be surprised if the first generation sells particularly well, but am anticipating the 2nd generation may do ok.
On your other point about these environments just being an escape, you need to read / experience a bit more widely as the story is a little more nuanced than that to say the least. As part of completing my MBA, I completed a paper on policy and virtual worlds, and have fleshed that out for people to download for free (or after donating US$9.95 to charity, it's your choice) from the publications section of my site. There's certainly a lot more to it than South Park's World of Warcraft episode.
Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteI certainly agree with you that the topic of virtual environments is riddled with nuance, but I would also argue that my particular slice of opinion is valid.
There are obviously legitimate businesses that have established a presence in these worlds and I applaud them. I am also cognizant of the fact that many people utilize these worlds to learn about and experience new things.
However, you would have a hard time convincing me that the vast majority of people involved in these worlds are there for productive purposes. I still contend, albeit from anecdotal evidence, that the bulk of these virtual populations are seeking some degree of escape. Is that bad? Certainly not in moderation.
Andy, congrats on receiving the author's comments!
ReplyDeleteBefore I read the assignment articles on SL, I also thought it was a frivolous idea and people just wasted time there. I'll go ahead and read Mr.Cremorne's papers when I have some downtime. I have a feeling there's more to it than just entertainment.
Assuming all is well and you're a responsible member of society, then yes, go spend your hard earned savings on SL or whatever you please for that matter.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I still find the sales figures a bit shocking, considering you're spending money on something that doesn't physically exist and for all purposes falls under the entertainment category ... makes you wonder what good that money would do were it donated to charities and non-profit organizations (New Orleans, Sri Lanka, Haiti, Chile - anyone got a billion dollars to help them?)