Connecting Virtual and Real Worlds (based on Google Trends) for www.dryesha.com

After almost 2 years with an old tag line... and following some discussion with other people I ahve a new Tag Line: "Connecting Virtual and Real Worlds". Key points:

• Shorter.
• Follow Nokia's Connecting People (see reference).
• Usage of the word "Worlds."
• Gone the term "Metaverse" -- which I like very much and keep it for research.

The rationale for this can be found in the following picture taken from Google trends:
1. Virtual Reality -- was and is strong in search but going down.
2. Virtual Worlds -- going up. Even better in "News."
3. Augmented reality -- there ... but low usage.
4. Metaverse -- almost no usage. Well a bit in San Francisco.

TimeOut Magazine Had a Nice Article About Virtual Worlds

TimeOut Magzine in Israel had an article about Virtual worlds in Hebrew by Dana Shoapi.
You can see the entire article in Hebrew in their web site. (follow the link, a special viewer will pop -- go to page 49). Cool pictures too.

Yesha to join Software Engineering in Shenkar College of Engineering and Design

As of Feb 1, 2008 I have joined the department of Software Engineering in Shenkar. Few words about Shenkar: (see also Shenkar site in Hebrew)

The Shenkar College of Engineering and Design was established in 1970 in order to serve Israeli industry in all that relates to academic qualifications for engineers and designers for modern industries. Today there are 2,500 students at Shenkar in two faculties - the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Design - each faculty has six departments. There is close cooperation between the two faculties and the different departments. This has created a dynamic dialogue of joint specializations and projects combining development of original and creative design, a profound understanding of materials and production processes, and advanced management and marketing methods.

This is going to be an exciting journey for me and my work in the Metaverse. Shenkar has both academic work relate to the core of the Metaverse (in software engineering) and the various design, use, and visual sides of the Metaverse (in the design departments) :-)

Making Money in Second Life: Article about book in Haaretz

Photo Credit: Tomer Applebum

Under the popular title of "making money" a short article in Hebrew came out today in Haaretz news paper (in Hebrew). There are some nice pictures... a a short description of how to get into second life, and a list of things that allow you to make money.

Yesha's Address

English:

Dr Yesha Sivan
Shenkar College of Engineering and Design
Software Engineering
12 Anna Frank St.
Ramat-Gan 52526
Israel

email : yesha AT shenkar DOT ac DOT il
fax:+972 (3)-552-1141

עברית
ד"ר ישע סיון
שנקר - בי"ס גבוה להנדסה ולעיצוב
רח' אנה פרנק 12
רמת-גן 52526
ישראל

דואל
yesha AT shenkar DOT ac DOT il

פקס

+972 (3)-552-1141

Yesha's Bio (English)

For those who need a bio:

Dr. Yesha Sivan is a senior lecturer at the Department of Software Engineering. Shenkar College of Engineering and Design. He is also the founder of Metaverse Labs (MVL) - a leading think tank focusing on linking virtual and real worlds. Dr. Sivan is a pioneer and leader of technologies for knowledge infrastructures. His professional experience in the development of innovative workplaces for corporate, hi-tech, government, military and defense environments (see for example: the Harvard 9-Keys for Knowledge Infrastructure). Dr. Sivan received his doctorate from Harvard University, and is a research affiliate in Harvard's Program on Information Resources Policy; he was the entrepreneur-in-residence (EIR) in JVP Venture Fund Studio. He is teaching Metaverse related courses in Afeka College of engineering, Tel Aviv University School of Computer Sciences, and Bar-Ilan University Executive MBA Program. His alter person is Dera Kit, and his blog is http://www.dryesha.com. He published numerous papers in the areas of knowledge, virtual worlds, and standards. His latest book about Virtual Worlds is called “Your Next World: Second Life as an introduction to the Metaverse.”

More Info About Yesha

More links about Yesha:

Internal Links:

• My Bio
• My Talks, Lectures, and speeches.
• My Key Publications. Including (9 keys for knowledge, standards framework, Intro to Virtual worlds book - your next life).
• My Address
  

External Links:

• My Amazon Store -- with books I like. See also Books I recommend.
  
• My Name in Google Books -- nice usage of Google Books.
• My Papers in Google Scholar -- nice usage of Google Scholar.
• My Facebook page.
• My Linkedin Page.

What I think about:

• Google
• Microsoft
• IBM
• World of Warcraft
• Second Life (Linden Labs)
• Facebook
  

"Your Next Life" Second Life as an intro to the Metaverse -- Book details

*smile* My book -- in Hebrew is ready (2008 Q1.) Lots of fun.

For those who asked you can order it directly from the publisher Modan (in israel in Hebrew) הזמנות מודן - 08-91800002 מירב (Merav - from Modan Orders).

Or order directly from:

• Steimatzky Web Store.
• Tzomet Sfarim Web Book Store.

See a short description of the book in Hebrew Haaretz.

Click on each picture to view a larger version of it; At the end text of the Table of Content (in Hebrew).

הקדמה

1. המטא-וורס: בידור, חיים או שניהם?

חלק ראשון: לִירוקי המטא-וורס

2. ממעוף הציפור

3. המושגים הבסיסיים

4. נכנסים לעולם

חלק שני: לאזרחי המטא-וורס

5. מקומות קלאסיים

6. התקשורת במטא-וורס

7. מטא-סקס ומטא-אהבה

חלק שלישי: לשחקני המטא-וורס

8. החיים הטובים

9. התמכרות: איך מתמודדים

10. תופעות במטא-וורס

אפילוג

11. המסע מתחיל

נספחים

מפתח הנושאים

מפתח המוצגים

הערות, הרחבות ומקורות

Video of the 3D3C metaverse Metanomics Talk

See the video here.Earlier I reported on my talk for the Metanomics TV program. This is part of the Metaversed series of talks about the Metaverse. This is a MP4 almost 1 hr video where Robert J. Bloomfield, Nicholas H. Noyes Professor of Management from Cornell Johnson Scool of Management asks me some difficult questions about the future.

This video can serve as a good intro to the long term value of the Metaverse.

See the video here.

2007-8 Fall Course: Etgaim (honors) course -- (Afeka)

In one of my classes (ETGARIM seminar) students (honors students in Afeka College) dealt with the ultimate task... Build an egg proctor from 20 wooden sticks.
In this 90 min session the students experience planning, development, and testing -- all packed into real engineering tasks. They study the environment, their tools, and the competitive landscape.

:-) All of the students are ok, and most of the eggs.

Interesting News re Yesha

S M I L E

I am not telling... but I have very exciting news re Yesha-Ware ... more later.

Meet me at the Second Life Community Conference

Looking forward to see many of my friends in Chicago.

This year, the 3rd Annual SLCC will be located in Chicago at the Hilton hotel. The convention has grown in size expecting upwards of 1000 attendees. This year the SLCC will be using a multi-track format to maximize on content and interaction. The four tracks are Education, Machinima, Business/Future of the Metaverse and Social/Entertainment. There will, of course, be overlapping topics from track to track, and a large, central ballroom for people who just want to mingle, meet friends, and perhaps catch SL musicians strumming away on their acoustics

Full site is http://slcc2007.wordpress.com/ and full program is visually here

TOP 10 IDF Rules; for CEOs, Parents, Kids, and others

I like to see what people are putting on their walls. Few days ago in a friend at Afeka I found these 10 rules from the IDF. Due to their secrecy I will not translate them to English. It is amazing how right they right. Usefull in day-to-day small to large scale tasks.
If you want to translate or comment let me know.

Thanks to Zohar Dvir.

Afeka Internet search champion 2007

I was happy to host few weeks ago the Afeka search competition.

The Internet Search Championship is the initiative of the Afeka Academic College of Engineering of Tel Aviv. In the course of the competition, held at Afeka for the third time this March, participants were required to answer questions in various fields with the help of free search engines. Hundreds of people participated in the 2007 competition which was open to the public. The four finalists achieved the best search results in the two preliminary stages of the competition.

The video is in Hebrew.

Yesha to Join JVP Studio as EIR

As you may know I have joined JVP Studio as an EIR (entrepreneur-in-residence). This is a neutral move (that came very quickly I must say). I have been working with JVP on various Metaverse ideas for few months and we felt that it is ripe to go forward. Here's a little about JVP Studio:

JVP Studio is the creative and financial home of exceptional seed stage companies focusing on enterprise and media-related software. The Studio’s mission is to provide a suite of critical services including seed financing, management guidance, infrastructure and strategic direction to outstanding entrepreneurs. JVP Studio offers a solid yet inventive framework for young companies seeking to make their mark in world markets.

JVP Studio is affiliated with JVP (Jerusalem Venture Partners) which has a strong focus on New Media. JVP has already invested in companies like Forttera, Emergent, Double Fusion, Funtactix, Gamearray. This is going to be hard work and fun :-).

I have joined Afeka College

Ok I have joined Afeka.... horay... back to academia...

Afeka College of Engineering was established in the 1996. Afeka was among the first non-university institutions accredited by the Israel Council for Higher Education to grant academic degrees in engineering. Combining an educational philosophy of instruction, aimed at broadening educational opportunity for students showing technological aptitude, with a curriculum that is responsive to the needs of industry, the College has become a unique presence in the field of higher education.

1,650 students studied engineering in the following departments:

• Electrical and Electronics Engineering


• Mechanical and Systems Engineering


• Software Engineering


• Industrial Engineering and Management --> this is my depatment.


• Medical Engineering has been opened.

MTM 1.0 Release: Paper Based Dragons & Dungeons

Around that time, I was sitting with my friend GP; enjoying the idea of Dragons & Dungeons. A Web 2.0 spirit of User Created content emerged -- so we decided to do our own game.
Mysteries of The Mysterious (MTM) [castle] was born. Four floors of rooms, tightly organized, potions, monsters, and even naked woman, we had it all. A TI-58 programmable calculator was used to manage the fights. Those were the days.