WIRED’s blog asks us to “forget Second Life” and turn the real world virtual. That’s just the idea!

They post this interesting goggle-based augmented reality device with 6 modes of psychedellic visual effects (made even more so by the sound effects in this video).

The artists are named as Alexei Shulgin and Arstarkh Chernyshev and the system is called “SUPER-I” which is called “A real virtuality system”. In the mode of earlier Virtual Reality systems it features a publicly viewable screen for the un-goggled. Very cool and if it can “turn the reality around us into ASCII” then it could convert other artists’ views or digital effects as well.

One can imagine cartridges that process different artist realities enhancing the product. As always, send me any more information / links you may have about it!

The Deptartment of Defense is apparently creating a virtual world that will have you as a resident.  The Synthetic World Simulation will be an even more refined version of Synthetic Environment for Analysis and Simulations (SEAS)

Links: http://www.theregister.com/2007/06/23/sentient_worlds/

http://www.purdue.edu/acsl/abstract/march10_06.html 

The Register reports:

“Called the Sentient World Simulation (SWS), it will be a “synthetic mirror of the real world with automated continuous calibration with respect to current real-world information“, according to a concept paper for the project.

“SWS provides an environment for testing Psychological Operations (PSYOP),” the paper reads, so that military leaders can “develop and test multiple courses of action to anticipate and shape behaviors of adversaries, neutrals, and partners”.”

What’s different now is that YOU will be part of these models which are to be scaled 1:1 for human behavior prediction.  The virtual you will be called a “like someone“, although your name will be changed.  Developed by a company called Simulex http://www.simulexinc.com You can just imagine the possibilities and the temptation to run simulations to see if “you” get out alive or not.  Now, can anyone tell what data the sample map depicts in this story?