Virtual Realities, Avitars, Holograms, Interactive Programs

Virtual realities, avitars, holograms, and interactive computer programs have become a part of the landscape. For some teachers this is scary. Incorporating these innovations into the school day will not be easy. How is this going to be handled?

I plan to let my curiosity, steadfast determination and wholeheartedness do the job. Once activated these habits create a blur of activity from which progress and useful products emerge. Because the world regularly presents unsettling changes we have all developed methods of coping that have had plenty of time to improve. My coping mechanisms work well because they fit with my personality. By nature I am curious, obsessive and enthusiastic.

In the late 1970s I was a digitizer for a flight simulation company, Singer Link. Using data base software I made computer generated visual displays for flight simulators. I was graphing real world objects in a three dimensional coordinate system, x,y,z. It was simple algebra plus a little trigonometry. I digitized control towers, runways, jeeps, helicopters, terrain, farm houses, and other parts of the scene. Second Life, the avitar program, reminds me of this. The visuals look very much like those I helped create at Link. When the avitar in Second Life flies toward objects and the objects pop in, I think to myself, oh I guess the hardware or software couldn’t handle so many objects and that is why they pop in instead of appear in a realistic way. We had the same situation at Link. I am tremendously curious about the visual scenes used in SL. My curiosity makes it easy for me to familiarize myself with Second Life.

When it is difficult to explain some of the new computer innovations being used at school to the parents of my students, I will summon my resolve. With enough time and energy I know we can come to an understanding. My enthusiasm is always ready and waiting to help too. In fact at times enthusiasm is a problem. Very few people appreciate gushing eagerness. I will curb the passion as needed but still let it do its job.