Jam with your PC?

Researchers at the University of Indiana in Bloomington USA are experimenting with software that can “listen” to a player and adjust accordingly – computers improvising with musicians?

This software can follow a soloist's lead, and recognize beat, rhythm, melody, harmony, tempo, and other musical elements. A soloist can now practice accompanied by virtual musicians representing other musicians.

See original article at:

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070421/bob8.asp

Virtual Worlds: The future of gaming?

Virtual Worlds 2007, the first conference devoted to understanding the future of marketing and media, kicked off March 28 – 29 in New York City. The sold-out event brought together about 600 futurists, journalists, metaverse and marketing consultants, platform and content developers, as well as representatives of Fortune 500 companies.

The environment was similar to the first Serious Games Summit, D.C., a mixture of confusion and wonder. Those inexperienced with 3D social environments like Second Life struggled to learn about the potential in virtual worlds while others heralded its future impact, noting that the millennium generation had effortlessly transitioned into digital avatars.

Read the full article here at Gamasutra

Reinventing Public Diplomacy Through Games

Thanks to Lisa Galarneau at socialstudygames.com for this info. which I've fleshed out.

"Public Diplomacy" is essentially the art of winning hearts and minds to your side in international relations.

In May 2006, The USC Center for Public Diplomacy sent out a list of projects undertaken by finalists in their 'Reinventing Public Diplomacy Through Games' awards.

PeaceMaker took First Place in the First Games and Public Diplomacy Contest!
All four finalists demonstrated their games for the esteemed panelists and in house audience at the awards ceremony. The event was simulcast in Second Life, where the attendance on Annenberg Island exceeded that at USC's Davidson Center!

The awards live at Annenberg Island on Second Life.










The finalists were:

Exchanging Cultures Exchanging Cultures, a diplomatic game built inside Second Life,was created to facilitate the creating virtual communities and relationships based on the exchange of cultural items like: dances, art crafts, food receipts, architectural models, clothing, cultural routes and images of real original places for travelers and explorers.

Global Kids Island: Fostering Public Diplomacy Through Second Life Global Kids, Inc. envisioned a Public Diplomacy program within Second Life where the youth in the after-school program will spend the month learning about a global issue, experience an interactive and experiential workshop designed to educate about the issue. Their demonstration will be shown at the awards ceremony. For more information on the organization:

Hydro Hijinks Hydro Hyjinks is a class project designed to promote discussion about international water issues and to educate players from around the world about sources of international conflict over water rights. Watch the video tour of the game at: .

Peacemaker PeaceMaker is a cross-cultural political video game simulation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which can be used to promote a peaceful resolution among Israelis, Palestinians and young adults worldwide. More information, please visit their website:


Also See:
Article "Promoting Peace – Virtually Speaking"
Video games foster cross-cultural understanding among the participants in an award ceremony held both online and in the real world.
Public Diplomacy and Virtual Worlds Project
Serious Games Initiative