Archive for Technology
Spreading yourself thick
Posted by: | CommentsLast month, the New York Times ran a piece outlining one of the many benefits of using virtual worlds; the ability to be in several places at once. The article can be accessed here: www.nytimes.com/2011/04/12/science/12tier.html?_r=2. While many of the points addressed in the article are known to those within the virtual world community, the masses are still being introduced to these benefits.
The article goes into detail regarding various technologies. However, the core benefit is the fact that a professor, for example, can sit on his couch, wear bunny slippers and simultaneously address an international consortium in ten separate locations. His avatar will likely provide the appearance of a buttoned up instructor who engages audiences using smooth demeanor. His physical location, hygiene status and dress hold little value in this case. The component that his audience cares about is his message and intellect.
The contrast between the professor's real environment, and his virtual one, can be likened to the now classic case of bricks and mortar versus an online store. In this case, efficiency is thrown out the window when an instructor is required to drive X number of miles to meet with a limited group of learners, who also must drive to benefit from a discussion. While this is how higher education works today, it no longer needs to.
Imagine a world where learners can earn credits from a dispersed group of virtually located instructors. Colleges and universities could recruit the best instructors based upon their credentials and academic pedigree, rather than physically relocating individuals from one location to another.
The notion of time shifting also comes into play. A weeks worth of instruction can be made available to students using a Tivo-like model. Because virtual world environments are digital, an instructional session can be replayed an infinite number of times while still leveraging the professor's avatar and his message. Further, that same instructor can provide a wealth of interactive materials that specifically relate to the curriculum. The student is capable of offline interaction with these materials to benefit from visual learning. The interactions, hence choices, are recorded for the professor to see and used to gauge the how well the student has learned the material.
The higher education example is only one of several fields that will benefit from using virtual worlds. Other fields may include motivational speaking, customer support, campaigning, law and many others. Whatever the field may be, it is clear that greater efficiency, and effectiveness, can be achieved by using simulated environments to reach greater audiences.
Coupled with these benefits, will be an ever present virtual representation of humans. Our likeness, knowledge and skills can be made available in an online fashion around the clock to a global audience. Online profiles will morph into online presence. This online representation of ourselves will be capable of sophisticated set of capabilities. This online virtual avatar will have the ability to recognize visitors, direct communication, answer questions, reveal real world status and available services. In closing, our online avatars will become a powerful tool used in communicating, conducting routine and tedious tasks and managing communication. In this day and age of a billion things to do, we are spreading ourselves thin. Virtual world environments will allow us to spread ourselves thick.
Virtual 3D Training Demonstration
Posted by: | CommentsCranial Tap is pleased to announce the opening of a publicly accessible virtual world training environment in Second Life. This virtual training demonstration features several of our technical solutions used to train associates effectively in 3D online environments. The theme of this simulation is New Employee Orientation, something many of us can relate to. The Training Gallery page features several images of this new virtual space.
Because most of our client training projects cannot be shown publicly, we created this area. Located on the Cortex region, or sim, visitors can experience first hand many of the technologies embedded into the virtual environments of our clients. If you have a Second Life account, you can visit this location here: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cortex/65/65/48/. Should you not have an account, you will be prompted to create one at no cost.
Upon landing in this virtual location, you will be immersed in a mock consumer electronics store we call Super Buy. The Super Buy virtual retail store features many of the expected product departments including computers, stereos, wireless devices, cameras and televisions. When entering the store, you will be greeted by a computer-driven bot named Jenny. She directs visitors to click on her to receive a training HUD, which will attach to your screen. Detailed instructions can be found on a nearby poster.
The training HUD provides clear instructions relating to orientation of the store and related departments. As visitors proceed through the various steps, a progress bar indicates completed objectives. The compass reveals the location of objectives within the store. Upon completion of training, visitors will have a overview of the store products and their related layout.
Cranial Tap has created similar environments in the areas of medical instruction, safety training and emergency preparedness. The retail theme of this training demonstration was chosen to offer the broadest appeal possible. While a highly technical virtual training environment could have been constructed for public use, this particular theme is readily understood by most people.
Our clients leverage virtual world environments for many reasons, including:
- Reduction of risk to life and property
- Lowering costs associated with physical space
- Allowing remote learners to access training from any location
- Ability to offer self-paced training around the clock
- Groups of students or trainees benefit from shared experiences
- Virtual spaces and equipment are available at significantly lower costs, compared to the real world
- Wear and tear of work related devices and machinery is significantly reduced
- Retention of learning curriculum in virtual environments is considerably higher in visual 3D spaces, as compared to text books
- All employee training actions and choices are captured for management review.
- Full assessment is built into each scenario
- Virtual humans are capable of full interactive dialog and tasks
As companies, institutions and organizations seek to reduce operational costs, they are also struggling with a workforce that is often spread across many geographic regions. As a virtual world developer, Cranial Tap works with these organizations to design and construction highly engaging and effective environments for training and learning. Over the last four years, we've worked hard to create rewarding virtual spaces enjoyed by learners, and managers, alike.
Would your organization like to learn more about the benefits of this rapidly growing field? Feel free to reach out using our Contact page and we'll be happy to schedule a discussion.
Robotic teachers on the rise in S. Korea
Posted by: | CommentsThis week, and throughout 2010, news stories have surfaced relating to South Korea's use of mechanical teachers geared toward English studies. Several news outlets are reporting that use of such robots have had measurable effect on school children who are responding favorably. It is often easier for children to connect with a character, rather than a human stranger, thereby allowing them to open up and learn better. Historically, the country hires around 20,000 English teachers per year who often come from surrounding places, like the Philippines (hence strangers).
But of course this is more an issue of reducing costs rather than making children open up in the classroom. Operationally, the cost for importing teachers every year adds up quickly when accounting for travel, room and board, meals and salary. This national research effort may very well benefit S. Korea's goal of making the younger generation globally ready and reduce costs while doing so.
Some may find the notion of robotic teachers to be strange. However, we here at Cranial Tap feel they could be doing much more. With the availability of today's virtual world technology, this program could go much further and deliver greater impact.
Virtual 3D characters, or teachers in this case, can appear as humans, animals or anything else. Appearance can be changed dynamically thereby allowing for testing to determine which gains the most attention, hence effectiveness. The Korean robots are plastic molded and feature a video screen for a face, where the broadcast instructor can be seen.
When projecting a virtual learning environment into a classroom, it can be used to visually demonstrate concepts rather than merely discussing them. Learning retention rates dramatically increase when subject matter is presented visually, even with English studies. It has been reported that text book retention rates average between 15% and 25%, compared to visual learning environments that provide upward of 85%.
Virtual teacher characters can be driven by a live instructor from any place on earth, or by an intelligent virtual bot. This flexibility allows various approaches in teaching where some studies may be self paced and others as a group exercise. The former example can support the hiring of the same quality instructor without the high cost of travel and stay. Many of our clients do this today in bringing notable management trainers to geographically remote staff. Virtual bot teachers can follow prescribed pedagogical paths effectively while addressing questions from students using today's artificial intelligence engines.
Another benefit of using 3D virtual world environments for teaching is dynamic access to language and supporting content. Virtual teachers can choose to speak, or interpret, most common languages in real time using today's technology. It is no longer required to be fluent in several languages to communicate globally. For example Google's Translation API service does a fair job of making foreign language accessible to everyone. This API is being used successfully today in virtual world spaces.
Being tied to a mechanical manifestation, updates and wear will continually plague the plastic teacher. The use of virtual characters and environments can be updated quickly, even on the fly. Appearances, virtual learning spaces, AI engines and curriculum can be updated at the server side thereby keeping everything fresh and overhead costs down. In addition, virtually present teachers can demonstrate supporting subject matter on demand; video, web pages, photographs and working 3D models.
It is our belief that educational institutions around the globe will continue to demonstrate interest in this area. Not only driven by the need to reduce spending, but the fact that quality education can be dramatically improved. These recent news stories won't be the time we hear of virtual teachers in the classroom.
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Reference articles:
International Business Times: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/95971/20101229/korea-english-teaching-robots-language.htm
Yahoo News: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101228/tc_afp/skoreaphilippinesroboteducationtechnologyoffbeat
Cranial Tap Forms Partnership
Posted by: | CommentsCranial Tap announces today a partnership with Innovative Systems and Human Mosaic Systems. This new venture promises to deliver decades of applied research and cognitive application development to learning in simulated environments. The three firms will combine their expertise to deliver highly interactive and responsive 3D virtual reality environments.
Human Mosaic Systems will provide expertise in the area of human dynamics related to individual learning and group collaboration. Innovative Systems will provide cognitive decision systems to increase the effectiveness of complex training scenarios within 3D environments. Cranial Tap is well known for developing engaging 3D spaces embedded with their learning and training solutions. The combined forces of these three companies will provide new levels of immersive education that results in higher retention rates of subject matter, lowered training costs and the reduction of risk to human life.
Press Release
Round Hill, Va., November 16, 2010 — Cranial Tap, Inc., a leading developer of virtual world solutions, announces a partnership with Innovative Decisions, Inc. and Human Mosaic Systems. The partnership will bring new capabilities and technologies to the virtual world learning, training and simulation fields.
Backed by proven cognitive decision-making technologies, students and trainees will benefit from critical thinking systems based upon dialog theory. Training no longer needs to be a series of static steps. The new partnership will offer dynamic processes that evolve to reinforce subject judgment. Training variables can dynamically change to accommodate choices made by individuals, and groups. Simulated scenarios can be played out in endless configurations as driven by data, interactions, dialog and choices made. Virtual characters, or bots, will be programmed to interact intelligently and be capable of reason. Through these solutions, trainees will receive a realistic exposure to life situations.
Through the new partnership, a deep understanding of human psychology and social behavior will be applied to virtual learning simulations. Using scientific approaches, learning scenarios will anticipate human behavior to deliver maximum educational benefit. The introduction of the human element into complex training creates a more meaningful and rewarding learning experience for individuals and groups alike.
Global corporations, institutions of higher learning and organizations are using virtual reality systems at an increasing rate. Virtual environments are effective in connecting dispersed team members, reducing travel costs, minimizing the need for physical space and high rates of subject matter retention. Visual learning and training environments allow individuals to experience situations without risk to human life or property.
Examples of learning and training scenarios in virtual world environments include nurse and technician training, commercial safety, group critical thinking exercises, product and facility orientation, scientific and academic research, workplace relationships and emergency preparedness.
“We are excited about this new partnership and the value it will deliver,” said Dave Levinson, President of Cranial Tap. “Organizations are seeking more effective and engaging ways to train their staff and students. This new joint relationship offers deep insight and knowledge that will take learning environments to new levels.”
Dennis Buede, President of Innovative Decisions, added “Our intelligent agent technology can dramatically improve the effectiveness of virtual training and education applications. We are enthusiastic about applying this technology, Dynamic Decision Networks, to the critical task of dramatically increasing the productivity and value of an organization’s most critical resource, its people.”
“Human Mosaic Systems is very excited to be a part of this partnership with Cranial Tap and Innovative Decisions”, said Beverly Gay, President of HMS. “The unique combination of each of our companies’ skills will help to move the field forward in realizing the incredible power and potential of 3D immersive environments, especially with regard to facilitating individual and group learning and interactions.”
About Cranial Tap, Inc.
Cranial Tap, Inc. is a leading virtual world development firm located in the metro Washington, DC area. The company supports corporations, universities and organizations around the world in the development of 3D environments embedded with productive technology solutions. With a focus on virtual learning and training solutions, the company designs and constructs highly interactive spaces with effective results. More than 500,000 people have been trained using their innovative solutions geared specifically to virtual world environments. As denoted by Linden Lab, parent of Second Life, the firms is recognized as a Gold Solution Provider. Cranial Tap’s clients include Corbis, Cognizant, AOL, 1-800-Flowers, Michigan State University College of Nursing, NIC USA, and University of Virginia. Website: cranialtap.com.
About Innovative Decisions, Inc.
IDI specializes in using analytical methods and models to bring insight and closure to decision makers. Our methods include decision and risk analysis, modeling and simulation, systems engineering, performance measurement, and facilitated group decision conferencing. Our Dynamic Decision Network technology has been implemented for dozens of applications associated with the Army’s Future Combat System. IDI’s analysts have decades of successful experience applying these methods to agencies in the Intelligence Community, the services and agencies in the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and government contractors. Website: www.innovativedecisions.com.
About Human Mosaic Systems
Human Mosaic Systems facilitates human systems through designing robust 3D immersive environments with the complex dynamics of individuals and groups, their avatars, and the virtual environment in mind. We are architects who understand how individual and group dynamics in the physical world extend into 3D immersive or virtual environments and design spaces and courses/workshops with a deep understanding of how these complex dynamics impact organizations, teams, and individuals. We can help organizational leaders develop greater understanding and abilities to help meet the new challenges facing organizations in today's fast paced complex world. Website: www.humanmosaicsystems.com.
Contacts
For Cranial Tap:
Nancy Ritchie
703- 879-8499
info@cranialtap.com
For Innovative Decisions:
Dennis Buede
703-861-3678
dbuede@innovativedecisions.com
For Human Mosaic Systems:
Beverly Gay McCarter
731-431-1596
bgmccarter@hmsystems.net
New Client: Michigan State University – College of Nursing
Posted by: | CommentsCranial Tap is pleased to announce Michigan State University College of Nursing as their latest client. We feel honored to be supporting MSU and their progressive position on education. While project specifics are not available at this time, the university will be providing students with cutting edge curriculum now, and well into the future. This institution is internationally recognized for their educational nursing and medical programs.
Over the last couple of years, our company has focused heavily on supporting educational institutions around the world. Michigan State University is now included in the growing ranks of educational institutions supported by Cranial Tap. Others include the University of Virginia, Northern Virginia Community College, King Khalid University and the CyberWatch organization.
Cranial Tap, a virtual world developer, offers several solutions geared specifically for immersive 3D platforms in support of learning and training. Our highly interactive environments are embedded with computer-driven characters, or bots. The bot avatars are often customized to meet various cultural, socioeconomic or demographic needs. Bot can support self-based training and aid in replicating real world scenarios. Students and trainees interact with environment components while making decisions along branching story lines. Streaming media can be presented in meaningful ways throughout the training experience. As learning choices are made, the central HUB controller records every action for purpose of assessment.
Often, our clients leverage the Cranial Tap CommTool HUD solution as a means to manage all front-end communication, interactivity, dialog, environment administration, data and curriculum. The HUD is capable of media sharing, dialog support, locating virtual environment points of interest, accessing data from external sources and location based information. This highly successful virtual world solution can be customized to meet nearly any virtual world training and learning scenario. More information about Cranial Tap solutions for virtual worlds can be found on our Solutions page.
About Michigan State University College of Nursing
The College of Nursing at Michigan State University is an international leader in technology-assisted learning for nurses, from entry into practice through professional development, and has responded to the nursing shortage by creating curricula and learning opportunities that facilitate access to higher education. Our graduates are leaders in healthcare who anticipate and respond to the ever-changing needs of a global community.
The mission of Michigan State University's College of Nursing is to enhance the health of the community by providing excellence in nursing education, advancing the profession of nursing and serving as an advocate for optimal health care for all people.
Michigan State University College of Nursing History:
Nursing education has been offered at Michigan State University since 1925 when a five-year program was instituted jointly between the School of Home Economics and the Edward W. Sparrow Hospital School of Nursing in Lansing, Michigan. Since that time the evolution of the program through the current period has reflected the development of nursing nationally and internationally.
Website: nursing.msu.edu
Meet Tia, professional virtual bot
Posted by: | CommentsTia is Cranial Tap's virtual receptionist. She works purely in Second Life at the Cranial Tap virtual headquarters on the Cortex region. Her role is to greet visitors as they enter the building to learn more about our company. Virtual computer driven characters work tirelessly around the clock and have no need to call in sick. While today, they cannot replace humans, they do serve a valuable purpose.
Computer driven characters, or bots, serve many purposes in virtual environments today. Aside from the ability to greet humans in personalized ways, bots also provide information, host virtual tours and even relay communications. Backed by an artificial intelligence engine, Tia's abilities are supported by nearly half a million lines of dialog. On a regular basis, our team sorts through captured dialog sessions to identify communication areas that require improvement. This process helps to make future discussions with humans more effective.
You can visit Tia and chat with her using the following SLurl: slurl.com/secondlife/Cortex/27/231/56. A Second Life account is required to visit this location. Upon entering, she will greet you and ask how she may help. Using Chat, you can ask Tia a wide range of questions and she'll do her best to respond in an appropriate manner. She will ask for clarification should she not understand something. She even tells a joke or two upon request.
Computer driven bots can take many forms. Some feature a humanoid appearance while others may be machinery, animals or simply a presence. Offering the ability to interact, educate, provide presence and even train, bots are taking on serious roles in the virtual world realm. Whatever form they take, their effectiveness is seen in terms of trainee satisfaction and the ability to communicate using free-form discussion.
Virtual bots can be embedded into 3D learning and training environments to represent humans that role play in specific situations. A cast of characters can be used to replicate, or re-enact, real life situations. In doing so, an actual staff is not required in support. Trainees gain exposure to highly engaging online scenarios without traveling and risking costly new hire mistakes. Using virtual environments allow trainees to gain familiarity with work processes in complete safety.
Simulated humans can provide walking tours of 3D online spaces. Learning stations can be explored by groups of students or trainees to become familiar with real life environments. These environments can be open around the clock and accessible from anywhere in the world. Providing early access to simulated situations is an effective way to introduce associates to new concepts and surroundings.
The new hire demographic today is often associated with the Millennial generation. Some of our clients pursue use of virtual world environments not only for the inherent benefits, but to draw the attention of this demographic. This younger generation class has grown up alongside the use of technology, gaming and different lifestyles.
Cranial Tap, a virtual world developer, offers many types computer driven bots to meet nearly any learning and training need. Visit our Contact page to ask us how we can reduce your training costs while making them more effective.
Premade virtual work environment
Posted by: | CommentsCranial Tap now offers a pre-built virtual world work environment called Productivity Place. This complete virtual world environment features meeting space, an exhibit hall with booths, classrooms, work areas, auditoriums and lecture halls. Included are the time tested Media Display sharing solution and the CommTool HUD learning system.
If your virtual environment needs are immediate, this region can be setup within a day. Contact us for more information about this Second Life and Open Sim environment. Below is the Productivity Place video.
Virtual world environments such as Productivity Place are used by our clients to bring together remote staff, students and associates. Conducting training sessions and virtual trade show exhibitions using virtual spaces can reduce operational costs and the need for physical buildings. Why travel when your organization can logon and be highly productive with a terrific sense of presence with others.
Training benefits in virtual environments
Posted by: | CommentsLeveraging virtual worlds for corporate training provides several immediate benefits to business. In the past, professional trainers had to be flown to physical locations incurring travel costs, hotel bills, rental car charges and Per Diem fees. If these costly factors are eliminated, corporate training fees would be immediately reduced. Typical fees might look something like this:
Plane fare: $500
Hotel bill, 2 nights: $500
Rental car: $250
Per diem, 3 days: $400
Total $1650
For one, six-hour training session, up to three days of the trainer's time is required. Outside of the actual training fee, the travel costs and time spent are significant. Virtual world environments allow a typical corporate trainer to provide the same level of service while focusing on the session itself. The value proposition of six hours spent, rather than three days, is enormous.
The following video features a notable management trainer from Carnegie Melon University. Sitting in the comfort of his home, he instructs a large class of Cognizant employees. These staffers are located in various places around the world, representing a handful of time zones. The fact that most of these associates are not in the same physical location matters little.
The most common question that Cranial Tap fields from perspective clients is "Why use virtual worlds when we have PictureTel and WebEx." The answer is simple: Presence. Video tools and screen sharing applications support effective communication, but are often dry while limiting creativity. Virtual environments require the attention of participants, especially with engaging presenters (such as this instructor) who calls on individuals for their input. Further, these sessions are an enjoyable activity for everyone involved. This is evident in the video as determined by the level of excitement and eagerness to participate. The benefits of such training sessions are clear.
The need for a physical training rooms are made irrelevant when using 3D online spaces. Projecting forward, the need for office space can be drastically reduced, or even eliminated. The costs savings for this benefit alone can be significant. Once a virtual environment has been constructed, it can be used again and again for nominal maintenance fees associated with virtual land. Further, virtual training rooms can be changed on demand to accommodate shifting needs. For example, a control panel can provide the ability to add rows of seating, additional Media Display devices, expanded room, interior design elements and time of day.
As can be seen in the video, our technical solutions help maintain order during these types of sessions. The HUD (upper left) allows staffers to be placed in a queue for pending questions. This prevents the attendees from blurting out verbal comments while the instructor is speaking. In addition, the HUD is fed content from Media Display, located just behind the podium. As the instructor changes content in his/her custom play list, the HUD is always in sync. Should the instructor use the pointer feature to highlight a component in the Display, that too is shown within the HUD solution.
The benefits of using immersive environments are many. These include the reduction of operational costs, reduced travel fees, work location flexibility, engaging training sessions, interactive components, media sharing and increased productivity. As a developer of virtual world environments, we receive this feedback from clients on a regular basis. Would your firm or organization like to know more about this growing field? Navigate to the Cranial Tap Contact page and send us a message. We'll be happy to schedule time for a conversation and explain the benefits at length.
Announcing CyberWatch Virtual Environment
Posted by: | Comments
Cranial Tap is proud to announce the CyberWatch virtual environment in Second Life. After months of meetings, planning, design and construction, the region is now open. We view this launch as an important step in support of educational services using 3D online worlds. The announcement provides further credibility to the growing importance of virtual world spaces used for serious and productive work. Virtual reality development is finally coming into its own and becoming recognized for high retention visual learning, cost savings, productive meetings with remote staff and collaborative research.
See the CyberWatch gallery here: cranialtap.com/virtual-world-gallery/cyberwatch-gallery
YouTube video of the environment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeOZwOCJM10
Several Cranial Tap solutions are embedded into the environment, making it highly productive. The Cranial Tap Media Display is used to share curriculum and presentations. A customized CommTool HUD system provides menu choices and content directly to users display. These solutions work together in providing a learning and training platform in virtual environments.
CyberWatch Launches Virtual World Environment for Learning, Training and Global Meetings
Second Life environment will extend services to national members in virtual space.
CyberWatch will conduct professional development workshops and presentations on an ongoing basis to both members and the public alike. The public section features information related to CyberWatch’s business partners and the organization itself. The stylish outdoor auditorium will be used to present information to the public through scheduled events. The private section features two large buildings that contain classrooms, social meeting areas, auditoriums, and lecture halls. The landscape sports a central lake with plants and rolling hills. A bridge connects both halves of the island. Second Life users can access the CyberWatch region using this link: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/CyberWatch/123/50/23
Dr. Robert Spear, Director of CyberWatch, states, “CyberWatch has grown from its initial 10 member institutions in the Washington, DC metro area to 50 institutions scattered across 18 states. We simply cannot afford to bring faculty together for professional development activities. The CyberWatch Second Life Island allows us to train faculty anywhere without leaving their home locations. This is a most cost-effective solution to our training needs.”
The virtual CyberWatch environment was designed and built by Cranial Tap, Inc., a metro Washington, DC area development firm. The island was developed by working closely with CyberWatch organization leaders to meet specific goals on behalf of their partners and members.
“Working with the CyberWatch organization was a terrific experience for our staff, “said Dave Levinson, President of Cranial Tap. “We appreciate the opportunity to serve the cyber security community in engaging and interactive ways. Virtual world environments are increasingly becoming recognized for their ability to assemble associates from all corners of the world in pursuit of learning, training, research, and collaboration”.
About CyberWatch (www.cyberwatchcenter.org)
CyberWatch is an Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Center funded by the National Science Foundation and headquartered at Prince George’s Community College, Maryland. CyberWatch functions as a consortium of higher education institutions, businesses, and government agencies focused on improving the quality and the quantity of the information assurance workforce. In addition, CyberWatch works to increase the awareness of information assurance issues in the education and business communities. Consortium participants collaborate to share best practices, methodologies, curricula, and course modules and materials. CyberWatch provides faculty training and support to colleges who want to develop or upgrade an information assurance curriculum. CyberWatch develops career pathways, including articulation agreements from high schools to colleges, from community colleges to baccalaureate institutions, and on into graduate school. CyberWatch sponsors student competitions in cyber defense, digital forensics, and security awareness; and it organizes scholarships, internships, and job fairs. CyberWatch maintains an extensive K-12 program for teachers, counselors, and students. And finally CyberWatch engages in significant outreach and dissemination initiatives to the public. More information about the organization is available at http://cyberwatchcenter.org/
About Cranial Tap (www.cranialtap.com)
Cranial Tap, Inc. is a leading virtual world solution provider located in the metro Washington, DC area. Cranial Tap has been certified as an elite Gold Solution Provider by Linden Labs, creators of Second Life. The company provides cutting edge solutions for businesses, academia and organizations helping them to realize the potential of online, 3D virtual worlds. The technologies serve as a platform for global collaboration, ideas sharing, research, teleworking, embedded learning/training, recruiting, and branding. Cranial Tap’s clients include Corbis, Cognizant, AOL, 1-800-Flowers, CyberExtruder, Oddcast, and MJM Creative Services. Learn more at www.cranialtap.com, or visit Cortex Island in Second Life at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cortex/27/231/56.
Contacts
For CyberWatch:
Fran Melvin
301-322-0452
Nancy Ritchie
703- 879-8499
nancy@cranialtap.com
Virtual WeatherBug panel exceeds 13,000 copies
Posted by: | CommentsSince launching in late 2008, more than 13,000 copies of the Cranial Tap WeatherBug panel have been provided to residents of Second Life at no charge. This virtual data visualization tool provides real time weather data captured by more than 8000 collection sites across the United States. Panel owners enter their zip code to see actual weather data in their chosen location. The panel automatically updates every 15 minutes providing accurate results including time, temperature, wind direction / speed and an icon representing current conditions.
Being a virtual world development company, Cranial Tap continually strives to create technologies that increase the usefulness of immersive spaces. The weather panel serves as an example of how real world data can be leveraged in virtual world environments. While many of our solutions are far more complex, the WeatherBug panel has served the Second Life community for fun and entertainment. A video of the panel in action can be see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qDILwBc15U. You can get your own virtual WeatherBug panel at the Second Life region named Cortex.
