Vonnegut, Vega and Public Radio in Second Life
Second Life resident Quirky McArdle, who in real life is executive producer of The Infinite Mind, a popular public radio show on health and science, sends along news that the show will soon open a virtual headquarters and broadcast facility in Second Life, where its episodes will be broadcast, including live guest appearances. Launching August 3, a series of live tapings are scheduled to be broadcast in-world, hosted by John Hockenberry, including a visit from Suzanne Vega, who will be the first major recording artist to perform live in SL avatar form, according to the press release; an interview with novelist Kurt Vonnegut (who is notoriously interview-shy); and a chat with cool futurist Howard Rheingold. The interviews will be broadcast nationally starting August 9 in a two-part series on virtual communities.
The Infinite Mind’s sim will open August 3, and include listening and screening rooms, a broadcast studio with glassed in viewing gallery, a lecture facility and theater (equipped to accomodate audio, video and PowerPoint presentations) and more, including “a one-of-a-kind interactive kinetic sculpture.” The sim is being built out by yet another virtual world services company, Infinite Visions Media, this one owned by New York City Web developer Drew Stein — aka Second Life resident Boliver Oddfellow.
It will be great to have a show like The Infinite Mind being broadcast into Second Life on a regular basis. (Archived programs will also be available on the sim.) Hopefully, shows will be produced from within SL on a regular basis going forward, rather than ending with the series on virtual communities. This actually seems like a really excellent use of 3pointD technology, bringing media to life in 3D in a way that can’t be done on the Web. I look forward to listening. And to watching, interacting and walking around.
Feeds
I hope she sings the DNA remix of “Tom’s Diner”! SUCH a classic.
At last somebody seems to have figured out what these SL parcels can be used for: storing media, and retrieving them, to make an environment where you can interact with others. It’s curious that it was a long time coming. It’s likely that it will be buggy and crashy but that’s ok, the point is to get started.
So this is the first 3-d radio show (yes, I realize one of those public stations had come in before and done some panel on virtual worlds). So a 3-d radio show is…television? No…it’s…radiovision? no. Hmmm.
What do you call it? It’s not a podcast, if it is attempting to make the storage and presence inworld, and not out on the Internet somewhere without avatars and interaction, like Second Cast does.
I can’t help thinking that the French or somebody will call it radiovirtuelle or something…Walker what are *you* calling this thingie?
Radio 3pointD, baby!
heheh ok don’t touch that dial! keep it on Radio 3.D!
how do i track live broadcasts in SL? Is there an aggregator of events? I missed the HR derby broadcast which sounded fun.
What technology is being used to stream these broadcasts?
There will be 5 shows running from 8/3 - 8/7 inclusive. each will consist of an interview hosted by well known journalist John Hockenberry, and in the case of Suzanne vega will also include a live vocal performance! The SL public will be invited in to watch and participate, as these notables will be here live in avatar form and the Sl resiedents will be able to ask questions, as this is after all a town hall style event. And, its all being taped for broadcast on terrestrial radio. This is the first instance of a national show doing regular broadcasts that start in world and then go out to the RL. All times and dates will be announced in both event listings, forums and full page ads in M2. This will not be a one time thing, but in fact will be the start of what we hope will be many broadcasts that orginate from inside of SL on a regular basis. All of which, will allow SL residents participatory access to some of the brightest minds out there. We hope all you all come and enjoy the shows now, and many times in the future. “The Infinite Mind” is commited to a regular and on going p-resence in SL as only here can they truly go “beyond broadcasting
I’m crazy excited about this! I’ve been a Suzanne Vega fan since her first album and am thrilled about being at her first virtual performance. Obviously not as good as the real thing, but killer nonetheless.
Thanks so much for making this happen!
rikomatic / SL: Rik Riel