Minutes from Fractor Meeting 7/13/09
By sswane. Filed in FractorMeta_09 |Tags: notes
MIke_v: The Minutemen are playing over at the concert stage.
MIke_v: Covers only though.
MIke_v: what is making that weird bouncing noise?
oly: the ball
strobe: hey there – just popped into sl and you guys were still there
oly: if it gets near someone it makes noise
MIke_v: um, yeah, duh. that would make sense.
oly: yeah i am doing double duty
MIke_v: I’m now Oscar Lowbeam in second life.
strobe: if you guys need any help with second life let me know – we spent a lot of time in my last class in there
ElleMcCarthy: hey guys- sorry if i’m in and out of this convo- following along from work still
strobe: should we start?
oly: that weird object is following you
MIke_v: Officially, sure.
oly: i’ll let the second lifers know
MIke_v: I’m gonna sit down first, all this waving side to side is making me crazy
oly: she is talking
Zmitm398: Hi guys
strobe: here is what JD posted for us to review – think everything you guys have been talking about is great with regards to incorporating cinematic/art interaction, though do keep in mind what the over-arching objectives are — how does it specifically relate to the delivery of news + social activism? In o
MIke_v: that cut off, but it was in the VLE group thing earlier.
oly: i think adding hte news feeds help with the objectives
strobe: In other words, news feeds will be coming in and will be matched up to social actions. How you guys want to envision that is up to you, and since the ideas are growing in leaps and bounds (which is great!) – I would re-focus on that objective: how will news come in (visually, through an avatar or ob
strobe: etc) and how will the matching social actions be presented? Once you’ve narrowed down that main objective, then you could focus on the surrounding interactions.
oly: i think a hard part is that fractor itself isn’t all that functional at the moment
strobe: totally agreed
Zmitm398: yes
MIke_v: I posted that there are going to be problems with actually aligning the two.
JonnyPancakes: hey everyone
oly: but the link someone sent today seems to cover some of the bases
oly: hey there!
MIke_v: hey…
oly: i like your 2nd life avatar
JonnyPancakes: i added the weather station on the bottom
oly: mike – the link you sent today helps some
JonnyPancakes: it might stick out too much though
MIke_v: oh. that link! ha.
oly: maybe a little walled in space?
JonnyPancakes: for the weather station?
oly: yep
JonnyPancakes: yeah, might be a good idea
MIke_v: walls are good, not the new ones here where I am…
oly: just to define the space
JonnyPancakes: ill add some walls then, thanks
JonnyPancakes: good idea
MIke_v: but yeah… sometimes hanging art on these walls isn’t so easy
strobe: great idea
MIke_v: it places the art behind them
oly: it’ll seem like an observation tower
MIke_v: the picture with the ? in iit works well though.
JonnyPancakes: i can raise the elevation too
JonnyPancakes: make a hill
oly: ah good idea
MIke_v: awesome.
JonnyPancakes: ok good
JonnyPancakes: ill do that
oly: i spent all day sunday rebuilding this world
JonnyPancakes: thanks
JonnyPancakes: haha i know… thanks
oly: it was nothing – some of us found it
Zmitm398: thanks
oly: i can’t figure out what happened
JonnyPancakes: so i guess we need to focus on what the assignment is
oly: absolutely
JonnyPancakes: but i thought we have been….
MIke_v: no idea, i was expecting to see all of metaplace messed up.
strobe: i think this world still has lots of glitches
JonnyPancakes: yeah, it’s definitely a work in progress
Naea: well i hope it doesn’t delte our world again
Naea: cause that really sucked
oly: that’d be a nightmare
JonnyPancakes: so what aren’t we doing that we need to be?
oly: it was literally shocking
Naea: i know
oly: i think we need to be more ofcused on the bones of the project
oly: rather than the decorations
MIke_v: we need to make this more interactive
JonnyPancakes: is it possible?
oly: and somehoe link action to news
MIke_v: slightly.
JonnyPancakes: with the functionality of metaplace?
oly: i know
oly: it is limited
JonnyPancakes: it seems like we can only link and stuff
Naea: i don’t see how we can do that
MIke_v: we need someone who actually plays games to play some games on metaplace
oly: i have played games
MIke_v: that way, with two golden eggs we can make our own game.
oly: on metaplace
MIke_v: did you win?
MIke_v: you have to win.
JonnyPancakes: haha
oly: i wasn’t interested enough
JonnyPancakes: winning makes it a bit harder
MIke_v: seriously.
JonnyPancakes: ok
JonnyPancakes: well that’s annoying
oly: they aren’t all that fun really
MIke_v: i asked in metacentral or whatver.
MIke_v: I know.
JonnyPancakes: and a huge pitfall for developing a site like ours
MIke_v: yeah. for sure.
oly: i can play games
Zmitm398: Can’t we just link all the items out to sites that promote social awareness and movement?
oly: i will me a martyr
JonnyPancakes: so… assuming we dont win any of these golden eggs
JonnyPancakes: is there a way to make this more interactive?
oly: i put on videos
MIke_v: what we really need to do is figure out a way to make the rss feeds link up
oly: and news feeds
MIke_v: activism to news
oly: they do
JonnyPancakes: link up to what?
Zmitm398: I’m not sure how we can construct games and such like some were suggesting
strobe: just link the hell out of the place – we can link games
JonnyPancakes: they do link
MIke_v: which requires coding.
JonnyPancakes: yeah
MIke_v: even to event i mean
JonnyPancakes: ive linked games and rss
JonnyPancakes: ahhh
MIke_v: event to event
JonnyPancakes: to live events?
JonnyPancakes: ok
Zmitm398: I agree. Link the hell out of this place
JonnyPancakes: that’s a good idea
MIke_v: recent i mean
oly: like what
Zmitm398: thats what we left with last week
JonnyPancakes: and a way to keep it automatically linked to new events?
MIke_v: well, Take Cheney’s link to the CIA…
oly: and how does that appeal to a middle schooler
JonnyPancakes: i guess we need to find the proper RSS feed
MIke_v: sorry.. tthat won’t work.
MIke_v: um
oly: i like that though
JonnyPancakes: to link to recent events
JonnyPancakes: ive added as many interactive things to the weather station as i could think of
JonnyPancakes: and a few games
MIke_v: weather is great.
JonnyPancakes: but i didnt see a way to really develop anything
oly: media shift is looking for editors, marketing and correspondents
oly: fresh off the rss
Naea: lol
JonnyPancakes: ok
MIke_v: gotta go then… see you.
MIke_v: ha
oly: LOL
JonnyPancakes: do we just need to find better RSS feeds?
oly: yep
strobe: i think so
JonnyPancakes: for current events/disasters/social issues?
JonnyPancakes: it seems so
MIke_v: no, but if there was a tsunami, we’d automatically have it set up to link to aid orgs in that area.
strobe: and world events
JonnyPancakes: i bet josephine knows a few good ons
oly: i looked for kid friendly ones and there aren;t a whole lot
JonnyPancakes: we should ask her
JonnyPancakes: yeah
JonnyPancakes: that’s a big issue too
JonnyPancakes: keeping it PG-13ish
MIke_v: did some of you just meet with her on second life?
strobe: exactly
oly: she wasn’t there
JonnyPancakes: with the TA
JonnyPancakes: cool place to meet, btw
Zmitm398: was there a scheduled meeting?
MIke_v: oh… wasn’t that just a geet to know second life thing?
JonnyPancakes: yeah basically
oly: maybe we could ask for a meetinf with her
Naea: yea at 7:15
MIke_v: we should for sure.
oly: then she could give us hints
MIke_v: she is the client after all.
oly: and helpful advice
JonnyPancakes: ok… so we need better RSS feeds
Naea: true
MIke_v: we should start looking at this in that way.
JonnyPancakes: if possible
MIke_v: she owns fractor
JonnyPancakes: can we get any closer to the assignment than we are now?
strobe: i think its a great idea to meet with her in SL
MIke_v: we are building it’s media presenece for her
oly: i had a bunch linking up to kid rss but like i said they weren’t all that great
oly: b4 the disaster
Naea: 
MIke_v: kids don’t care about current events.
oly: more like current trnds
MIke_v: the goal is to get them to…
Naea: i guess thats what we’re trying to change?
strobe: what about more current event video?
MIke_v: barely that.
JonnyPancakes: the idea is to make them though
JonnyPancakes: to make them care
oly: did you all see the videos i have put up
MIke_v: well, yes, but we can’t even put videos embedded here.
MIke_v: or pictures even
JonnyPancakes: we can
JonnyPancakes: youtube embedds
MIke_v: it pops a second window
oly: maybe not the best but for kids
MIke_v: yeah.
strobe: i watched the youtube videos on our page today
oly: click on the pool
JonnyPancakes: yeah youtube works well
MIke_v: i know… i had a bunch of art links, but that’s not what i mean.
oly: it is an animation made by a high schooler
MIke_v: yeah, it’s awesome
JonnyPancakes: we need to make this more “live” and current
MIke_v: but it pops up a second window.
JonnyPancakes: so that we can link it to current issues of social activism
strobe: what is wrong with with a popup?
JonnyPancakes: based on what i think the site can do
JonnyPancakes: rss feeds might be the best bet
MIke_v: like the slideviewre over tnear the miniramp… it’s another that works that way.
JonnyPancakes: we need things that automatically update
MIke_v: kids don’t have the patience… but we work with what we have i uess.
oly: oh
oly: yes
oly: is that possible besides rss
oly: ?
JonnyPancakes: news matched with activism
JonnyPancakes: we need something live
JonnyPancakes: this needs to be a liason between the news and social issus
JonnyPancakes: where people can connect the two
oly: is there such a thing on video?
Naea: we’re missing the activism part
JonnyPancakes: yes
oly: well isn’t that the point of fractor.org
MIke_v: is there any other way we can do it without personally doing it ourseves?
JonnyPancakes: or a connection to activism
JonnyPancakes: it’s informative
MIke_v: like reading the news and then putting in a link that we ourselves find?
Zmitm398: I’m not so sure an rss feed will promote activism at all
JonnyPancakes: but not driving people to act, or telling them HOW they can act
JonnyPancakes: which is the most important part
JonnyPancakes: that’s true
JonnyPancakes: so we need new ideas
oly: hmm
MIke_v: hold on… grand scheme idea/
oly: we need to debrief with josephine
JonnyPancakes: probably
Zmitm398: I really feel like we should be linking these items to non-profit site, where people can learn about groups in their area that they can get involved with
MIke_v: here:
JonnyPancakes: ok
Zmitm398: such as united way or american cancer society
JonnyPancakes: so more non-profit links
JonnyPancakes: that’s good
JonnyPancakes: ok
oly: uh huh
JonnyPancakes: so how about this
Naea: doesn’t that take the place of Fractor?
oly: did anyone click on the bike?
JonnyPancakes: each area of interest should link to two non-profit sites
Naea: isn’t the point to drive peple to their site?
strobe: sure
oly: one links to a non profit
oly: i mean a video about a non profit
JonnyPancakes: so they can see the issues, and then see how to make a difference
MIke_v: Can i make a suggestion ?
JonnyPancakes: of course
Zmitm398: sure
MIke_v: Ok… we already have certain areas here.
MIke_v: We have a newstand with the most current events
oly: nea i am in agreement with you
MIke_v: We have a weather station
MIke_v: We have a playground .
oly: sorry naea
oly: is how you spell
Naea: no worries 
oly: sorry mike
MIke_v: all of these places can have feeds and more specif items.
MIke_v: to their specific areas.
MIke_v: but then we have a central place where there is the “issue of the day”
oly: and how to help?
MIke_v: that issue we can have as a link to several articles about theat topic.
JonnyPancakes: how will it get updatd though?
brooklynmg: sorry i’m late!
JonnyPancakes: an RSS?
oly: or links to non profits
brooklynmg: i’m here
MIke_v: and several oportunities for helping.
oly: maybe it will get updated thru fractor
JonnyPancakes: ok
MIke_v: we will have to do it ourselves for now.
JonnyPancakes: i think that’s a big issue
MIke_v: and then the fractorites will do it then.
JonnyPancakes: we need to bring this back to fractor
MIke_v: we can easily break it up for one of us per day.
JonnyPancakes: we need to brand this a bit
JonnyPancakes: ture
JonnyPancakes: true
oly: because this is supposed to be a beginning
MIke_v: Fractor isn’t a brand yet!
oly: i know
JonnyPancakes: ha i know
JonnyPancakes: we’re making it a brand
MIke_v: theyhaven’t updated their blog since april
oly: we keep running into this problem
Naea: good point
MIke_v: but my point is we dont’ have to reinvent what we have done.
oly: if they were functioning it’d be easy
JonnyPancakes: i agree with that
oly: i agree totally
MIke_v: maybe a little more.
Naea: hmm
brooklynmg: are we discussing the rss feeds?
JonnyPancakes: kind of
oly: soryy!
oly: sorry!
JonnyPancakes: we need a way to keep this current
JonnyPancakes: is the issue
oly: we are trying to figure out the point of this place
MIke_v: it needs to be hand done
brooklynmg: gotcha
MIke_v: daily
oly: that’s not so hard really
MIke_v: we actually have to read the news and find an aid org.
oly: and as i have mentioned b4 you can embed this site into a website
JonnyPancakes: yes
Naea: there’s no way to make it automated?
MIke_v: your day you analyze the news and pick a story that would apply to a 12 year old and give them something to do about it.
MIke_v: not easily.
oly: maybe pick a news item in the rss feed and find an org to match
MIke_v: Sure.
JonnyPancakes: i like that
brooklynmg: that’s a good idea
strobe: thats great
oly: easier anyway
JonnyPancakes: maybe we can all do it for each area of interest
JonnyPancakes: for food issues, weather issues, etc.
MIke_v: then we stilll have all the rsss and aid stuff that everyone here has done already
JonnyPancakes: keep us on task
oly: but how does fractor plan to use this in the future?
brooklynmg: right
brooklynmg: that seems like alot of work for them
MIke_v: nope
oly: are we laying the foundation?
MIke_v: i did it for an alternative power magazine i started.
MIke_v: in 2001
oly: did what?
MIke_v: and for a telephony mag.
oly: exactly
MIke_v: newsletters
oly: ?
MIke_v: read through all the pertainent news for my subject area.
MIke_v: then chose which artcles were best.
MIke_v: we could probably use twitter to update even
oly: but my point is that fractor as a site is supposed to link current events and match to social action
oly: so what is metaplace fractor
MIke_v: a fun place to do it.
oly: so we are making fractor.org ourselves?
MIke_v: ON metaplace…
Naea: ok but it doesn’t seem like we need to re-create fractor
oly: exactly
MIke_v: you mean CREATE?
Zmitm398: exactly
Naea: lol yea
Naea: rue
oly: ibut it isn’t our assignement to create fractor is it?
MIke_v: it’s only one bit of news a day though, and fractor will be more robust it seems
MIke_v: that’s my point.
MIke_v: we aren’t
oly: i see isee
brooklynmg: so what do we need to do
Naea: ok
brooklynmg: to get from where we are
brooklynmg: to where we want to be
strobe: this seems to address her recent request – news feeds will be coming in and will be matched up to social actions.
brooklynmg: and what will be the “medium”
MIke_v: I’ll make a Kiosk and a first aid station
JonnyPancakes: but that sounds like RSS feeds
JonnyPancakes: which do it automatically
brooklynmg: how will they get the message?
JonnyPancakes: if we find good ones
MIke_v: the kiosk will have a new bit of news
JonnyPancakes: we’d be doing a manual RSS feed
MIke_v: and the first aid station will be the link
MIke_v: yeah.
MIke_v: not really RSS, manual linking
JonnyPancakes: linking to organizations?
MIke_v: I wish we could at least make signs.
JonnyPancakes: or articles?
MIke_v: first aid station: organization; kiosk: news article
brooklynmg: our food stand links to an organization/online game
JonnyPancakes: ok
MIke_v: awesome, when e. coli breaks out, that can be the first aid station too.
Naea: HAHA
MIke_v: seriously
JonnyPancakes: so… we’d be have one or two organization links,… and then articles that relate to each organization and issue?
oly: but again…how does this appeal to middle schoolers?
brooklynmg: right
JonnyPancakes: ok
oly: i know interaction but is it appropriate for their age group?
JonnyPancakes: so we need to get more organizations involved in our Wiorld
MIke_v: it’s in the news you choose.
MIke_v: that’s a great idea
oly: organizations that are kid friendly?
MIke_v: has anyone spent much time around metaplace elsewhere, though?
oly: i have explored
MIke_v: it’s kinda weird.
oly: i agree
brooklynmg: it is
JonnyPancakes: so i guess moving ahead, we all need to find more otganizations to attach to each area of interest
strobe: yes but its not very kid oriented
Zmitm398: ok
oly: i agree
JonnyPancakes: so that the information in each station will have something to connect to
MIke_v: we need to choose a day that each of us will update the news kiosk.
MIke_v: and the first aid station.
strobe: can we add links to other world in metaplace?
oly: i think so
MIke_v: and continue to fine tune our own areas.
oly: teleports
MIke_v: yeah.
oly: to other worlds
MIke_v: the bench in front of the miniramp used to link to my art gallery world
JonnyPancakes: ok is there a central news kiosk?
oly: in metaplace?
MIke_v: I’ll build it, they will come
MIke_v: I’ll find something that works like that.
MIke_v: I’m sure there’s something.
MIke_v: I mean, i found a miniramp
oly: it is almost like we need organizastions looking for people who want to help
oly: from our site
oly: or at least offer info
oly: on how to help
brooklynmg: well…i think eventually the non-profits who pair with fractor will go in here
MIke_v: add that to the job of the day?
oly: hah
MIke_v: yeah. for sure.
JonnyPancakes: yeah… that’s the idea
brooklynmg: on the site, they mention that
oly: yep but are there organizations?
MIke_v: is it our job to make those relationships?
JonnyPancakes: we can find them
oly: so i think we need ameeting with josephine
JonnyPancakes: i dont think so
JonnyPancakes: yes
MIke_v: very much so
strobe: i think we need to comb through the site and find links
oly: can we schedile
JonnyPancakes: i think we need to touch base with her’
oly: she may have some orgs ready
JonnyPancakes: let’s see exactly what she wants
brooklynmg: i agree…we don’t have much time life
brooklynmg: left
JonnyPancakes: and we wont have to speculate
JonnyPancakes: yes
oly: so let’s write her and schedule
JonnyPancakes: 2 weeks
Naea: i think so
JonnyPancakes: ok that’s a good idea
oly: sometime this weel
oly: week
oly: on 2nd life
MIke_v: Lets put questions in here and then post them to the blog and email them to her.
MIke_v: or in the VLE group2 feed.
JonnyPancakes: ok good
brooklynmg: and can someone please post this whole convo?
strobe: ok
brooklynmg: so i can catch up on what i missed
MIke_v: So questions:
MIke_v: Go ahead!
oly: i’d really like to meet where we can actually discuss
brooklynmg: mine is less of a question…i just want to get some feedback on what we have
brooklynmg: to make sure she’s happy with it
JonnyPancakes: yes
JonnyPancakes: feedback
MIke_v: But if we give her questions ahead of time she can prepare
JonnyPancakes: a trajectory
brooklynmg: and that we’re going in the right direction
oly: or what the expectations are of a working site?
brooklynmg: yes
brooklynmg: good
JonnyPancakes: agreed
oly: good idea
oly: sorry
MIke_v: Good.
MIke_v: What is the role that the Metaplace page will play in the Fractor organization?
MIke_v: Is it to send traffic to the site?
oly: are there existing organizations that would like a presence on the metaplace site?
MIke_v: Is it to echo the work of Fractor in a 3dWorld?
brooklynmg: does she mind which organizations we link to?
brooklynmg: or as long as they’re ok for middle school
oly: age group, specifically?
brooklynmg: if this is “game like” enough
MIke_v: she was ok with middle or HS
MIke_v: which is where I think we stand so far.
brooklynmg: or if we need to do something else
oly: well, that is a huge range really
JonnyPancakes: what are the expectations in terms of keeping this site a live resource to link to social issues and activism
MIke_v: look at edutopia.
strobe: i copied the notes thus far
JonnyPancakes: ok
JonnyPancakes: then i think we’re good…. let’s try and schedule a “meeting” with Joesphine
MIke_v: wide range of abilities and interests and media saaviness, but it’ll work
MIke_v: I’ll send her the questions.
Naea: ok thanks
oly: let’s do it soon
brooklynmg: yeah
oly: this week hopefully
brooklynmg: hopefully we can discuss another night this week
MIke_v: yeah… later at night too, so it’ll be morning here.
oly: that’s okay with me
brooklynmg: i’m also available during lunch time EST
oly: i’m not htis week
JonnyPancakes: I’ll send an email to the group to schedule something with her if possible
MIke_v: since its 3.30am
oly: but evenings
strobe: im only free after work since my computer is locked
brooklynmg: ok
Naea: same
JonnyPancakes: ok
JonnyPancakes: so let’s coordinate a meeting with Josephine
brooklynmg: can someone also post these questions on seesmic?
MIke_v: that is one reason we should echo some of this in the blogs!!!
JonnyPancakes: ill send us all an email to schedule something
brooklynmg: i’m happy to once we have the questions list
oly: i can do the seesmic
MIke_v: I’ll email the questions
brooklynmg: ok, thanks
oly: mike email me the ?s
oly: and i’ll seesmic it
MIke_v: ok.
brooklynmg:
brooklynmg: thanks
oly: too
strobe: i will post the notes tonight
oly: sorry
oly: i am all wired out
brooklynmg: haha
MIke_v: also… should we do the daily sign ups for news/activism?
brooklynmg: when should it start?
MIke_v: I’ll do Tuesday’s
brooklynmg: the week the project is do?
brooklynmg: due
JonnyPancakes: ok
MIke_v: Tonight/tomorrow.I”ll build it up now.
JonnyPancakes: we
oly: let’s wait till we get more info from josephine to sign up
MIke_v: after our convo
oly: right?
brooklynmg: i think so
JonnyPancakes: i think so
strobe: cool
JonnyPancakes: ill send her an email now
brooklynmg: see if that’s something she’s looking for us to do
oly: b4 we do it
brooklynmg: right
oly: and have to undo
oly: or redo
JonnyPancakes: agreed
strobe: yep
JonnyPancakes: ok
oly: i willseesmic tonight the ?s
Naea: l agree
JonnyPancakes: ok
oly: if we want to do that
brooklynmg: yes
Naea: ok
brooklynmg: that would be great
brooklynmg: seesmic/email her
JonnyPancakes: yeah thanks
MIke_v: wait don’t email her now…
JonnyPancakes: ill email us
oly: both is better
brooklynmg: ok
oly: thanks
MIke_v: i need to get the questions together.
oly: thanks
JonnyPancakes: ok
MIke_v: i’ll email her when i edit them down.
oly: email them to the group
JonnyPancakes: il send one tomorrow then
JonnyPancakes: ok
MIke_v: i’m up for the day anyways
oly: so we all know and can add and not reask
JonnyPancakes: alright
MIke_v: right. ok.
JonnyPancakes: so we’ll stand by once we know when we can meet with Josephine
JonnyPancakes: or get answers to the questions
oly: so then i’ll seesmic tomorrow after mike emails the questions
JonnyPancakes: sounds good
oly: and we willtry to meet or get answers another way
MIke_v: and i’ll email her the qs
JonnyPancakes: ok sounds good
strobe: perfect
JonnyPancakes: thnks
oly: haha
oly: too much
JonnyPancakes: good meeting methinks
MIke_v: both oly and josephine
MIke_v: are we not going to do the manual news updates
MIke_v: ?
oly: we prob will but are waiting
Naea: i think we decided to wait
JonnyPancakes: let’s see what we know what we’re expected to do first
JonnyPancakes: yeah
brooklynmg: we want to see if that’s what josephine works
strobe: i agree
brooklynmg: wants
JonnyPancakes: yeah
oly: i just got message from mark who can’t see the chat
MIke_v: ok. i was copying questions. no problem
JonnyPancakes: so we need to touch base with prof
MIke_v: very much so.
strobe: i have the whole notes too
brooklynmg: and then after we meet with her
JonnyPancakes: that’s the verdict….
brooklynmg: it will be crunchtime!
JonnyPancakes: sound sgood
JonnyPancakes: we can do it
MIke_v: ok. cool! ha
oly: so mark and michelle were both unable to chat with us
brooklynmg: ok, well everyone have a good night/morning!
JonnyPancakes: ok guys
brooklynmg: i am here now
JonnyPancakes: thanks again
brooklynmg: i only missed a few minutes i think
oly: oh ok
oly: mark?
MIke_v: ?
JonnyPancakes: once Mike sends out the Q’s and the email we can see where we need to go from here
oly: all the names are confusing
brooklynmg: i’m michelle
JonnyPancakes: thanks again
brooklynmg: haha
oly: i thought i knew you!
brooklynmg: ok, guys