tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24174676062555743612012-01-02T09:24:56.315-08:00A Design Journal by <i>N Formation Design</i>'s Chris Landau that logs the design and building of Wolverine Islandchrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.comBlogger491100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-23294665268794430062007-09-27T10:53:00.000-07:002007-11-01T09:06:57.760-07:00

Wolverine Island: Design and Construction by N Formation DesignIntroIn March 2007, Ted Hanss from the enabling technologies department of the University of Michigan Medical School approached N Formation Design to design and build Wolverine Island, a presence in the virtual world of Second Life.Second LifeSecond Life is a virtual online world where 3D people or "avatars" walk, fly, and teleport

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-56387697762655033642007-09-18T14:28:00.000-07:002007-09-18T14:42:07.217-07:00

It has been a long haul, but Wolverine Island is nearly complete, except for a few sculptures I need to build yet and a few really tiny things. Please take a tour of the island if you get the chance before the design review on Thursday at 1pm. We think it may take some time to discover all the in's and out's. Things to try:-Got to the "World" menu and select the last item on the list which

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-47169414606295292962007-08-31T07:15:00.001-07:002007-08-31T07:33:21.514-07:00

Many of the major structures are in place on Wolverine Island. We are mostly focused now in textures, details, and simple scripts. A few small changes seem to be presenting themselves as we move forward. One is lights; I don't think we will want to use as many lights as appeared in the original plan. this would use up prims and I have found another way to solve the problem. If we use key lights

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-42257768681165887352007-08-31T06:49:00.001-07:002007-08-31T07:37:52.579-07:00

I recently discovered a possible resource (or resource example) for Second Life orientation called the Orientation Station ( another SLURL). It's pretty nice and has a good deal of lessons. I think we could create something similar to this that would be more targeted at faculty, students, and staff of the university. Any university policies regarding Second Life could be built into the training.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-16647657743266193372007-08-22T08:26:00.000-07:002007-08-22T08:33:00.020-07:00

Ann Meyers recently conducted what they claim to be the "first medical simulation in Second Life". I missed it somehow, but a blow-by-blow can be found here. I'm not sure if it was quite as intense as some of the simulations that Wolverine Island will probably be doing, but it looked well attended.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-48191259317333360402007-08-17T08:15:00.000-07:002007-08-17T08:19:39.163-07:00

I recently wrote an article on the N Formation Blog about recent developments and criticisms of Second Life.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-34740739392837216252007-08-15T06:30:00.000-07:002007-08-15T06:33:54.612-07:00

I think that we can safely say that things are moving along on Wolverine Island. Personally, it's very nice to see all of it coming together. There are a few small changes we are making due to in-world revelations, but other than sore fingers everything is coming together smoothly.Up next: Simulation Building Tests, Small Structures, Architectural details, Textures, Script Examples, Tweaking

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-2877986829236276202007-08-07T14:55:00.000-07:002007-08-07T15:02:15.095-07:00

N Formation is well under way with the construction of the buildings and land on Wolverine Island. Most of our focus has been on laying out the core areas and seeing how it feels. So far, we are focusing on the geometry of the buildings, using generic textures and will add other textures, once we have blocked everything in. If you're really interested in our progress, you could even visit the

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-70613040920849578702007-07-14T09:41:00.000-07:002007-07-14T09:44:29.709-07:00

We've created a viewer so that you can see the BLUEprints easily.HERE>> VIEWER

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-91816408653114879422007-07-13T13:40:00.000-07:002007-07-13T13:58:03.226-07:00

There is one structure on Wolverine Island that could only be built in Second Life. It is a lot like a bouquet of flowers (hence the name).I have seen a lot of pods and pod-like things in second life. Often, they are a repetition of the same structure, again and again. Generally, I get lost in these spaces. So, I will build custom pods to hang on the main wire-frame structure. This will help to

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-86803275874089764422007-07-11T11:13:00.000-07:002007-07-11T11:19:19.710-07:00

These little lights will help warm-up the Amphitheater Complex a little.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-45841879633646035662007-07-11T10:18:00.000-07:002007-07-11T11:12:50.768-07:00

Here are the newest "BLUEprints". I've updated the Library, colorized the Museum, and looked at the Amphitheater from the side.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-4742577745127527532007-07-11T06:36:00.000-07:002007-07-11T07:07:38.710-07:00

I was recently gathering together a few links about education and medical communities in Second Life, and I thought I'd put them up here on the Wolverine Island blog. I think they provide some good reminders and examples of what to do and what not to do.-From the authority (wikipedia):Education in Second Life-Someone claims that these are the "Top 10: Virtual Medical Sites in Second Life". Just

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-78499232539838088692007-07-10T12:21:00.000-07:002007-07-10T12:27:59.135-07:00

While we are probably still thinking about the best ways to use kiosks, I have two main categories: Signs and Maps.Signs will be found near every major structure, telling what it is, just like on the real U of M campus. Maps will be found all over the island, some large, some small. By clicking on the name of a location, your avatar will be teleported to that actual location. You can see that I

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-84179170779521084942007-07-09T13:05:00.000-07:002007-07-09T13:13:48.425-07:00

Here are a few more plans to get us started in-world with things like bridges, railings, and lights. The few blueprints that we have to create yet are the info kiosks and the "Bouquet" (The Bouquet is the tree-like structure with gathering pods in the sky, which I think will be very difficult to make blueprints for. I will do a basic layout, but I will also need to figure a lot out in-world.). So

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-43297167657220059382007-07-07T16:57:00.000-07:002007-07-07T17:04:29.577-07:00

Blueprints take some time. Luckily, making a blueprint will speed-up the construction phase immensely. Here are a few that I have been working on:(The Bistro is like the Angelo's of Wolverine Island)

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-5265582958213095342007-07-05T15:39:00.000-07:002007-07-05T15:47:31.900-07:00

The Simulation Building, which will probably house the standard patient and operating room training simulations, will be a simple and subtle building. It will have an exterior facade (the curvey, dippy part), but the interior floors will be very flat to keep people from getting too lost inside. If these blueprints seem too confusing,please let us know.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-12032553450348371952007-07-05T14:29:00.000-07:002007-07-05T14:35:03.309-07:00

We created a quick wirefusion model of the new Library design. It really is the best way to view this structure. I'll be making blueprints for this, but the model does a much better job of conveying the form. See the link below.LIBRARY MODEL

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-9810814421696987402007-07-05T14:18:00.000-07:002007-07-05T14:28:52.354-07:00

I (My avatar Clement Greenberg, that is) went to play on Wolverine Island for a few minutes today. I built a few landmarks. I think Hank Rau (RL: Jamie Cope) was there too, setting up a telehub and doing some gardening. We are like giddy little kids right now.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-70487405167595604242007-07-03T16:15:00.000-07:002007-07-03T16:29:53.382-07:00

BeforeAftergo there now

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-10866830674597951552007-07-03T15:47:00.000-07:002007-07-03T15:52:04.222-07:00

So here is the first terraform iteration of Wolverine Island. I used Backhoe to preview it and to make this image. Jamie will upload it shortly.All of the little plugs and holes are for reference points.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-66129200998502955632007-07-02T13:26:00.000-07:002007-07-02T14:04:45.435-07:00

Over the weekend, as I tried to make a clearer image of what the new Library would look like, I made some realizations. First of all, the whole first floor was stairs! That seemed strange to me. And it seemed too symmetrical. Several factors relating to the stairs and the symmetry drove me towards this design. I believe it opens up the center area and looks more interesting. I like the new

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-60152265702168649272007-06-29T13:54:00.000-07:002007-06-29T13:57:54.541-07:00

I thought a good name for the Student/Faculty Lounge could be "Aurora Borealis". This is mostly inspired by the shape and other imagined features (and because it's Michigan). Here is the begin of the blueprints for it.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-28137754928228696782007-06-28T09:10:00.000-07:002007-06-28T09:13:38.440-07:00

It's nice to see some really solid geometry. I think they will be that much better once we add the textures.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-82368805690666082252007-06-27T09:07:00.001-07:002007-06-27T09:16:11.897-07:00

I've begun making blueprints. This does not mean that anything is set in stone. If anything, it might inspire some greater understanding that will lead to critique and evolution. The Library is especially tentative, because I haven't heard from Jane yet about the new look. Here's a peak:The Medical History Museum and Public Library

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-20592175388684234512007-06-26T07:08:00.000-07:002007-07-02T15:57:43.812-07:00

It is one of my main goals to create a campus that fosters interconnectedness and creativity. Here are some of the ways that I'm trying to do that.Mixed-Use Urban Planning: By keeping spaces that have different uses within proximixy to one another, we can help bolster the vitality of the overall experience. The mixed-use approach is straight from Jane Jacobs' "Death and Life of Great American

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-68021926064690178822007-06-25T15:48:00.000-07:002007-06-25T15:53:15.619-07:00

I'm not trying to mimic the Egyptians, really. :)I just think obelisks will give a clearer view from the ground where the Amphitheater is located. I'm still working on the positioning, though. Lights at the top could possibly indicate whether a lecture was underway.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-43874445981371587142007-06-25T14:48:00.000-07:002007-06-25T15:28:24.053-07:00

When I designed the Library buildings I was thinking of very open structures that had permeable membranes. In a recent visit with Jane Blumenthal, we found that she has a desire to open up the structures even further than this. She even talked about having the Library in the woods or on a grassy plain. I thought this was so fantastic, because these are spaces that I'm taking inspiration

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-37152801183782205422007-06-25T14:42:00.000-07:002007-06-25T15:55:37.076-07:00

I've made some changes to the Flash map of the island to reflect the small changes that were made in the larger drawings. There are even a few other little things that I started playing with, such as pillars near the amphitheater and new Library ideas. This map is my anchor for making the blueprints, so I thought I'd update it.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-31309786244676040922007-06-25T06:49:00.000-07:002007-06-25T06:58:02.271-07:00

Article from Library Journal:"In Philadelphia, Drexel University's College of Information Science and Technology landed two hefty awards. A $613,478 grant with a $667,618 match will, in collaboration with the University of Michigan, Florida State University, and the University of Pittsburgh, 'transform the Internet Public Library (IPL) into a fully featured virtual learning laboratory for digital

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-11835585045610608802007-06-22T13:29:00.000-07:002007-06-22T13:34:02.191-07:00

I've started working out some of the issues related to the interiors of our buildings. Here's the start:

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-25744897475662995902007-06-10T20:53:00.000-07:002007-06-10T20:57:58.134-07:00

I think we're pretty close now. I can see the light up ahead. Over the next week, I'll be traveling, so I'm going to work on interiors and some sculpture drawings. Let me know what you think of the new designs.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-49069607736841767492007-06-08T15:23:00.000-07:002007-06-08T15:27:34.689-07:00

I've gone into a little more detail here than with the others. I would like to go further. I know the detail is still all speculative. But I think it is this speculation that will help people to envision what they could do on Wolverine Island. I also discover things I hadn't thought about before when I'm doing these little details.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-69274996031111100842007-06-08T11:09:00.000-07:002007-06-08T11:14:16.287-07:00

I was doing my little doodles in the Simulation Building, and I began to see some glimmers of ideas of what it would or could be used for. Imagined simulating hospitals in the third world, new machines, and just the medical environment in general (colors and shapes etc). There are so many possibilities here.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-19568808022306151302007-06-04T16:01:00.000-07:002007-06-04T16:04:14.926-07:00

Here's Public. Just like the Arb, this isn't the finished version. After I do this level of work to all sections I'll go back and pull them all together.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-75126492827883239242007-05-26T06:35:00.000-07:002007-06-08T15:41:39.279-07:00

New tools are being introduced to Second Life. They are really exciting. One is sculpties, which uses an image map's colors as the coordinates for a mesh (I'm in love). The other is Voice, which allows people to talk to each other in Second Life, if they have a headset. Jamie and I tried it, and it is a completely different experience than the usual. Some people are suspicious of these new

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-65751240972560912112007-05-25T11:17:00.000-07:002007-05-25T11:22:02.211-07:00

This is so much fun. I've been doodling on these drawings for a while now and was beginning to get overwhelmed. Add a touch of color and it's so very fresh again. Just note that this image is not yet complete. I'll be doing the same to the other three.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-60197666524433569872007-05-23T14:11:00.000-07:002007-05-23T14:16:35.892-07:00

I'm getting lost inside of these drawings. Wolverine Island is becoming more immersive everyday.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-27931705034184962462007-05-23T07:54:00.000-07:002007-05-23T08:01:11.187-07:00

Just an idea for audio on Wolverine Island. Aside from localized sounds such as birds and insects in the Arb or bell sounds at the Tower, I thought we could link-up with live stations such as WCBN. Maybe WCBN would be best zoned to the Student Lounge area. Then, perhaps WHYY could stream in the Diag area. WDET at the Sandboxes?I'm not exactly sure how or if this would work, but even if it's not

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-13159783323863413992007-05-22T18:19:00.000-07:002007-05-23T08:02:08.350-07:00

Since this blog was started a little late, I'd like to send you (if "you" are new) to url that has some of the images and Flash layouts that came prior to the Quadrant drawings.IMAGES/FLASH

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-3974662858572916222007-05-22T08:52:00.001-07:002007-05-22T08:59:47.082-07:00

Here is that fourth Quadrant in a similar state of finish/unfinish. I need to look at the finer details on all 4 of the Quadrants, such as architectural finishes, lamp and kiosk positions, landscaping, and more people and furniture. Once I have the forms down, I'll rescan the drawings and move to working digitally. There, I will colorize the images.After that, I'd like to work on some fairly

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-87972999440816518552007-05-20T18:20:00.000-07:002007-05-22T09:02:30.304-07:00

I've worked on detailed drawings for three quadrants. Each needs a bit more work before it is colorized, but they are close.The last one is The Arb Quadrant.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-67795642374417360872007-05-09T20:27:00.000-07:002007-05-09T20:45:40.180-07:00

University of the Arts in Philadelphia has begun working on their SL presence. It seems quite different than our project, but it might lend us a few ideas.Here's the slurl.I visited it briefly. I wouldn't recommend going there. Too much crap all at once, and not very relevant.I would suggest visiting the blog, more than anything.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-81160700931869303792007-05-08T19:54:00.000-07:002007-05-08T20:07:36.425-07:00

This was an example file that came with a program called "Backhoe". It only works on macs (Sorry guys). Apparently you just draw and export, then upload to SL... Amazing! I don't know about the texture. I'm checking it out a bit more.I found it here at Penn State Virtual Worlds Blog. It send you to the SL site.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-31874102723079563472007-05-07T13:53:00.000-07:002007-05-07T13:57:42.367-07:00

I was stumped for a while on the student lounge. But I think I've come up with something fun on the bottom and sophisticated on top.Just note that the two larger views and the one 3D view don't include that bottom lounge area. I'll be making some 3D views of this soon.

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-50051564967637817302007-05-03T10:46:00.000-07:002007-05-03T10:56:20.186-07:00

We visited a Sandbox yesterday on the Beta grid to test the Voice Beta version of Second Life. We measured an approximate 25 meter threshold. But it was difficult to hear one another clearly unless we were at least within 15 meters. The reason that this is so important relates to the layout of the island. We don't have ot follow real life building codes but we do need pay attention to these kind

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-67071533934883772162007-05-02T12:25:00.000-07:002007-05-02T12:33:15.246-07:00

Sometimes I am tempted to create a model that will represent the structure I'm imagining more clearly. It's not always the fastest solution to draw something first. But I often avoid the model making (at least with wolverine island so far), because I know how wrapped up in it I will become.Please, if there is ever a structure that you don't understand, request a basic model. They are actuially

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-56619159652754631662007-05-02T12:14:00.002-07:002007-05-02T12:31:48.213-07:00

Much to my surprise, the sleek tower design that I thought was going to be too edgey turned out to not be edgey enough. Here is the initial design:As I understand it, the Tower needs to be more "Second-Life". This made me very happy. Most of my energy today has been devoted to this. I won't show you everything, because I drew a lot of ugly. But here is the idea that I think works best:You can

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2417467606255574361.post-74819394834450249032007-04-27T09:46:00.001-07:002007-04-27T09:46:51.423-07:00

My workspace

chrislandauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12726034628357552774noreply@blogger.com0