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Jan 19, 2000, 3:23pm

> also:
>
> o special key to switch between whisper and regular text (like you are in
> regular text and you press the button and it moves the cursor to whisper, you
> press it again and you go back to regular text)

Can't you just TAB to the whisper box and SHIFT-TAB back? This is a Windows
interface after all. (Or did they mess up when they built the window?)

Jan 23, 2000, 9:55am

I have been fighting the Building Inspector a lot lately. Mainly
because I am using lots of actions. Even after optimizing by using
only the best objects, I still cannot do what I want. Since it may
be too difficult to have AlphaWorld's data limit set, at least, to
"Large", here is my proposed idea:

Allow people to use a compact format for the action field. People
who would not be familiar with the abbreviated form can still use
the current format. However, for people needing to save every bit
of data possible, this would be the solution:

__Triggers__ __Abbr.__ | __Commands__ __Abbr.__
create c sound s (or o)
bump b noise n (or z) :o)
activate a url u
adone d teleport t
warp w
visible v
solid o (or l)
name m (or n)
sign g (or s)
picture i
color c
animate a
frame f
astart r
astop p

(These abbreviations were picked for easiest memorization when each
trigger/command is reduced to a single character. Behind several I
have included an optional abbreviation. My initial thought was to
use 'g' as it is unique to sign. However, sign is probably more
used than sound, so sound becomes 'o' if sign is 's'. Solid would
be changed to 'l' if sound uses 'o'. Another change would be to
have 'n' for name. The only letter that made sense to use if 'n'
is taken was 'z' for noise.)

In addition to reducing the number of letters, spaces would also be
removed. Commas and semi-colons could still be used as is. Flags--
yes/no, on/off, and true/false--would all be replaced with -/+. I
have listed some examples of actions with their shortened forms:

activate teleport 123.4n 5678.9e 0.2a 45
at123.4n5678.9e0.2a45
(saves 19 characters)
NOTE: While harder to read, spaces are not really needed.


create sign "Something" color=ffff00
cg"Something"ffff00-
(saves 16 characters)
NOTE: The - at the end means to use default "bcolor".


create animate me dud 3 5 100 1 2 3 2 1
came dud 3 5 100 1 2 3 2 1
(saves 13 characters)
NOTE: Unfortunately, spaces are still needed here. If you
have any ideas on how to improve the animate command,
post them to this list.


create visible no;bump warp +0 +0 +1a
cv-;bw+0+0+1a
(saves 25 characters)
NOTE: Semi-colon still separates triggers.


create name something,visible no,solid no
activate visible something on,solid something on

cmsomething,v-,o-
av+something,o+something
(saves 48 characters all together)
NOTE: Commas separates commands, and trigger is not needed for
each additional command. Also, the [name] part of the
visible/solid commands is listed after the -/+.

Using the compact form, we saved 121 characters from all of the above
actions. Now you would have room for more objects and even actions on
the new objects. Consider this: You are turning many objects in one
place to a single color, 123456. Note the savings on one object:

create color 123456
cc123456
(saves 11 characters)

That means two action fields, using the compact format, take up less
space than one field using the normal format. If you had ten objects,
you would normally use 190 characters for the actions. The shortened
format would reduce the actions to only 80 characters.

........................................................................

Now I have checked the examples several times to prevent any confusion.
However, I may have made a mistake somewhere. Remember, this is most
likely *not* the implementation AWCom would use. Still, I hope these
examples will give you an idea of what I mean by a compact format for
action fields.


====
Aaron Hill (Redmond, Wash.)
Electronic Mail: serac at lightmail.com
IRC Nickname: serac (on EF-Net)
ICQ UIN: 46803963
ActiveWorlds
Citizenship: serac

Mar 1, 2000, 5:38am

I've worked with parsers before; and it should be easy for a parser to
figure out the compact form. In fact I could probably implement one. Yes,
there are some problems with using an abbreviated form: mainly the learning
curve. It is not easy to learn the compact form since you are working with
single letters and not the words. However, whitespace is usually never
needed. And with a few cases, I see no need for the extra whitespace in
actions.

Since I am completely bored... I think I *will* implement my compact form.
Just as a proof-of-concept program; I'll write a program that accepts an
action in the compact form and parses it displaying the results.

Now where's my copy of flex and bison? :o)


[View Quote]

Feb 17, 2000, 12:32am

[View Quote] The easiest way would be to bold or dim (gray) the text for the current
number of people in the world. Also greying out the entire line would work,
that or just prevent you from clicking it.

I think the tabs sections needs a major overhaul. Better contact management
(like grouping) and better telegram management (like storing SENT tg's).
The world list could also be improved to include what you are wanting.

Just my $0.02

Feb 25, 2000, 5:38am

The name that shows is your name in Active Worlds I believe. For instance,
my settings in Outlook 2000 (Outlook Express for news) have my REAL name not
my nick. However, when this gets through it should show my nick in AW.


[View Quote]

Feb 26, 2000, 9:14pm

Here's one way to do it, albeit a little overkill. The special messages you
guys are talking about are related to whether the user has a right or
doesn't have a right. In the Rights window, have two [optional] text fields
below each list for the rights. One is a message that is displayed to users
that have that right, and the other can be displayed to those who don't have
the right. You would probably not use all of the fields, however it would
give you control over all messages for each possible combination of rights a
user could have.

I hope that makes sense...


[View Quote]

Feb 25, 2000, 6:34pm

> As long as they could be turned off at will. AW is slow enough as it
> is, but if it had to decode an MP3 at the same time, it would probably
make
> some of the older machines look like this. (Wraps a hand around his
throat
> and makes gurgling noises.)
> However, I've never ran AW and had Winamp (www.winamp.com) play an MP3
> at the same time. Maybe I should try it.

Don't! I used to run MusicMatch and AW at the same time. Granted, I was
playing MP3's off my dad's share on our network, but we have a 100mb/s
ethernet connection. I just think that AW sucks up a lot of CPU cycles.
For the most part I could listen to MusicMatch, but every so often it would
skip. Lately, I've just been listening to DMX (Digital Music eXpress)--a
service from AT&T Cable Services.

Feb 26, 2000, 7:48am

True. I bet both AW and MusicMatch were hogging the processor. Almost like
little children, "Hey no that's MY cpu cycle!" And, "Mom! (referring to
the motherboard of course...)

P.S. Sorry for the cheezy humor... couldn't help it. :o)



[View Quote]

Mar 8, 2000, 1:06am

I seem to recall there once was an X window manager that used 3d
graphics/virtual reality. Something similiar was used in the movie Jurassic
Park, although I think the movie version was heavily modified for the "movie
effect". Does anyone know what the window manager was called? Also if you
know where it is or if it is still available, that'll save me a little in
searching.

Someone was asking about a stand-alone version of AW, which I believe is
possible if all of the data is in the cache. AW will use the cache if you
decline or are unable to login to the server. Now, I was thinking that is
would be interesting to make a window manager out of the AW browser. With a
few modifications, you could have your own private world of any size.
Granted, I'm not sure how productive I would be in a VR world. Perhaps it
is nothing more than the cool factor. :o)

-- serac

Mar 10, 2000, 4:15am

I agree... It would be nice to have more ways to move. Climbing would help
in a world you don't want people to fly around, but still need vertical
movement (and have no room for stairs). I still think that teleports are
completely stupid and pointless. There is no realism in them at all. But
for now, in VR I guess they'll have to do. (Without faster modes of
transportation, I don't want to have to walk all the way to the edge of
AW...)

Actually, I think it would be cool to have joystick support in AW. A nice
analog joystick would be nice to have to move around and then you can assign
the buttons for various things. *grabs his N64 controller and jams it in
the USB port* Hrm... I guess that isn't going to work. :o)



[View Quote]

Mar 12, 2000, 2:24am

Why have the stupid eject window? Just give people with eject rights BFG
2000's to blast away those annoying tourists/citizens causing trouble. :o)



[View Quote]

Dec 17, 2003, 12:38pm

How is 10 considered strong or weak? There was no unit of measurement =
assigned or implied. Now compared to -9.8m/s/s, it would seem only a =
little heavy. But -32ft/s/s makes it seem unusally light.

Anyway, the force of gravity between two objects is proportional to =
their masses. So assigning the gravity's value makes no sense. We =
would simply use the known mass of the avatar and the known mass of the =
object. (Perhaps a density option could be used to increase the mass of =
an object. Blackholes anyone?)

Also note that we are pulled towards the Earth's core and not into the =
walls because the Earth's mass is several orders of magnitude greater =
than the building's. We cannot notice the effect the wall has on us. =
This is why we generalize gravity on Earth as a downwards (i.e. towards =
the core) pull using -9.8m/s/s (or -32ft/s/s) for all objects regardless =
of mass and elevation.

Now... per object attraction (or repulsion) could be useful for =
game-like worlds or just to keep people out of certain areas. But I =
would not recommend calling it "gravity."


[View Quote]

Dec 19, 2003, 7:41am

: "1. The apostrophe indicates that a number or a letter has been =
omitted:
:=20
: it is =3D it=92s
: does not =3D doesn=92t..."
:=20
: Therefore, following this rule, LEGO's is a proper contraction, of the =

: word LEGO Bricks, by use of apostrophe. Go ahead... keep saying I'm=20
: wrong like you always do. Both your link and my link agree with me.

Hmm... you are somewhat right and somewhat wrong.

----

When you need to pluralize a letter, you do use an apostrophe:

- Make sure to dot your I's and cross your T's.

When you need to pluralize multiple letters, you do not need an =
apostrophe:

- The CDs are next to the DVDs.
- I learned my ABC's in school today.

Acronyms generally omit the apostrophe.
Sequences (i.e. ABC's, 123's) usually require it.
Be mindful of attribution and ownership. (The CD's cover.)

----

So, "LEGO's" is not a contraction of "LEGO bricks." (That's just =
silly.)
Rather, it is simlply an acceptable plural of LEGO.
Personally, I would use LEGOs before using LEGO's.


-- Serac

Dec 19, 2003, 7:44am

I remember making a potato cannon for Physics class.
Some PVC pipe and fittings plus some of that awful smelling glue stuff.
A flint lighter thingee from a lantern and some hairspray.
Optional laser sight plus hearty potatoes.

Wee!

P.S. Your project is much cooler though. ;-)


-- Serac

http://www.hillvisions.com/
[View Quote]

Dec 15, 2003, 1:45pm

How are you going to prove that it wasn't an accident? ;-)

[View Quote]

Dec 17, 2003, 12:41pm

Nov 25, 2003, 12:34am

If anyone here is a little confused by the [overly capitalized] posts =
regarding some bizarre pop-up conspiracy regarding the various =
message-passing services...

Windows Messenger and the Messenger Service are different programs.

Windows Messenger is a built-in version of MSN Messenger that provides =
access to the .NET Messenger Service as well as other "communications =
services." It, from my experience, runs cleaner than the MSN version =
and seems to have better voice chat support. YMMV. If you use another =
IM client (MSN or Trillian), you can safely uninstall Windows Messenger =
with no loss of functionallity in other IM clients and Windows.

The Messenger Service allows 'net send' and Alerter messages to be =
transferred between computers for administrative purposes. It has no =
connection with the .NET Messenger Service that both Windows Messenger =
and MSN Messenger use. If you do not need to send or receive 'net send' =
or Alerter messages, you can safely disable the Messenger Service. =
Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger will still function normally.

Remember: if you don't run the software, uninstall it or don't install =
it in the first place.

Have a good day,


-- Serac

Dec 1, 2003, 7:29am

: And your point is? SM cannot be an accessory to crime...think of it =
this
: way. This guy hangs out in a coffee shop, he pays for meals and coffee =
etc.
: but one day he walks out across the street and shoots a guy. Is the =
coffee
: shop an accessory? NO. Better stop screwing with SM or its owner will
: probably sick lawyers on you. Horny ones at that!

I am clearly no expert in the law. I took a course in Entertainment =
Business and Law in college, which could be good or bad... however... I =
do believe that an employee of the coffee shop could be considered an =
accessory to that crime if they had prior knowledge of the possibility =
of a crime or if they continued to serve the customer while knowing =
he/she was the shooter. (Anyone have some good links on criminal law? =
;-) So do not discard mrbruce's accusations quite so quickly. I =
believe he is basing his claim on one of those two cases. Either a =
representative of Spiral Matrix knew of the crimes beforehand or =
permitted the guilty party to continue using the SM service despite the =
knowledge of the aforementioned crimes.

You might be quick to disregard this whole matter as it pertains to a =
virtual world. Be aware that violations of end-user license agreements =
of software can be punishable by real-world criminal law. While a quick =
read through the ActiveWorlds EULA might help... I'm going to run off of =
memory and common sense: Tampering with or otherwise abusing licensed =
software to the extent of causing diminished quality of service for =
other licensees and obtaining unauthorized account access through fraud =
or theft are most likely violations of the EULA "signed" by all users of =
the ActiveWorlds technologies, whether they be through the primary AW =
universe or even Spiral Matrix. Of the parties in question, it is =
unclear to me (a reasonably informed third party of sound mind) that any =
one is guilty of the violations mentioned above. Yes, it is reported =
that citizenship accounts were stolen. Yes, worlds have been taken =
offline via DoS or other security holes. But I fail to see any evidence =
to suspect any of these parties specifically.

However, M a t t did admit to email-bombing mrbruce, among other =
targets, if the chat log posted by mrbruce can be verified. NOTE: =
mrbruce's attempts to obscure the source of the chat log do give me =
pause when accepting its validity at face value. Never the less, =
email-bombing, along with spam and other abuse of email technologies, =
may not be considered illegal as of yet (that is, pending laws =
introduced by the FTC), they are very much grounds for cancellation of =
Internet access and privilages by most ISPs.

----

(If you are skimming this post, please take the time to read this =
section.)

What is very disturbing to me is the presence of what may very well be =
tantamount to death threats. These should not be taken lightly by any =
means. Those of you who may be guilty of such a crime, take pause. =
Consider your words as powerful and as binding as the action. You can =
be assured that criminal law makes little distinction between the two. =
People are still people even if your only contact may be through an =
email or newsreader client.

----

In summary, I see a lot of people arguing. I see a lot of hate. I see =
the anti-Internet. I always felt that the Internet was about community =
with people around the world. True, it has become a great target for =
commerce and debauchery (ooh... did I spell that one right?); but at the =
heart of it remains the chat rooms, the video games and the virtual =
communities that draw together people who might never meet each other by =
other means. Let us not tear down what has brought so much good.

The most I would ask any of the parties involved in this dispute is to =
extend a hand of future friendship and nothing more. There is no reason =
that everything will be fixed in the morning or any pretending that this =
never happened, but you cannot begin to come together and resolve the =
issue if your backs are turned to each other. Forgiveness is something =
that I feel is too infrequently taught and even less often used. So, =
please, take this disagreement off of the newsgroups and apologize to =
each other in private. Take a vacation from ActiveWorlds if you feel =
you need time to heal. The rest of us will be glad to welcome you back =
to this "digital fellowship."

P.S. Hugs are optional. ;-)
P.P.S. Typos are unintentional. :-P
P.P.P.S. Moose bites can be pretty nasty.


-- Serac

Dec 1, 2003, 10:26pm

: Yes but the law applies completely differant to the internet. This is
: seriously like saying, If M A T T did something illegal in =
ActiveWorlds, and
: decided to go play Warcraft III and stayed in there Bruce could sue =
Blizzard
: for harboring criminals. That is completely wrong. You can't harbor a
: criminal online. It is impossible, Ecomencher would need to go to =
matts
: house, take him to his house to hide, and then he would be harboring a
: criminal. This claim would NEVER hold up in court.

You are right. There is no harboring charge that would stick. M a t t, =
and whoever else, is not being physically protected from the law. I was =
talking about the possibility of accessory charges, which should extend =
to computer software and its usage. Allowing the supposedly guilty =
parties to continue to use AW licensed software despite the violation of =
the EULA, that seems to fall under the scope of accessory to the crime =
after the fact.

I did leave out one key detail in all of this. Only ActiveWorlds Inc. =
has any authority to bring charges related to the EULA. mrbruce may =
feel empowered to threaten legal action against M a t t (and, now that I =
read, Echomencer and the entire Spiral Matrix universe). The most he =
can do is file civil charges relating to his lost time and income due to =
the supposed wrong-doing.

However, I do not feel that this potential litigation has ANY merit =
whatsoever. Obviously feelings were hurt and what happened was not =
fair. But the courts of law are not about fixing that. The solution is =
for all parties to get off their high-and-mighty soapboxes and realize =
that while they may feel hurt, they have caused much hurt to others.


-- Serac

Dec 19, 2003, 6:49am

: "*" ads a *Burst* of excitement in what a person is trying to say. But =
it
: should not be used to much. Like fireworks, only with a computer =
readable
: format, and it wont blow up your pc :o)
: That is my thoughts on this matter

I use *...* or, more recently, /.../ for emotes, actions or just an =
excuse to speak in the third person.


-- Serac

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