From: barry@chezmoto.ai.mit.edu (Barry Kort) Subject: MicroMemo to KidsNet Date: 24 Nov 91 18:16:05 GMT Organization: MicroMuse ======================================================================== M I C R O M U S E at M I T ======================================================================== Fall 1991 MicroMemo to KidsNet ======================================================================== Sometime in the 24th Century --------------------------------------------------------------------- High above the earth, a glinting flash of light arcs across the pale sky. Just as quickly, the light winks out as it disappears under the horizon. Those on earth barely note the event.. it happens several times each day. They are used to it. And, high above the earth, the inhabitants of the orbiting cylinder known as Cyberion City go about their daily lives, the hazy green-blue ball of earth whirling by below them. Of course, daily life in Cyberion City could hardly be described as ordinary.. --------------------------------------------------------------------- This is not the beginning of a new Sci Fi story. This is the description of a time and place that actually exists, on the InterNet. You don't have to wait until the 24th century to visit Cyberion City. You can shuttle there via your modem in the time it takes to connect to the InterNet. Cyberion City orbits in a virtual reality, within a game world called MicroMuse. On MicroMuse, we invent the future. We also bring with us the things we like most from the past.. -------------------- You have shuttled successfully to MicroMuse, and stepped through the Airlock onto the sliding walkway. You see a sign pointing Spinward --> This way to Oz. You decide to check it out.. You pass through fields of corn and wheat. A Farmhouse in Kansas This is the Parlor of Aunty Em and Uncle Henry's Farm House. No one is here at the moment. Everyone must be out working on the farm. Obvious exits: Bedroom Out You enter the bedroom of a young girl. Dorothy's Bedroom This is a small bedroom with a big window. A small dog lies asleep on the floor. Contents: Toto Window Obvious exits: Parlor Toto wakes up from his nap and yips at your feet. It seems he wants you to pick him up. You see a witch riding a broom across a dark sky with a full moon. You see a frisky little dog. He jumps at your feet. Maybe he wants to be picked up. Toto jumps into your arms, licks your face, and scampers back to his toys on the floor. Suddenly, an ominous Tornado sweeps in from the west. The whole house is picked up and tossed wildy into the air. Eventually, the house comes crashing back to the earth. Where Dorothy's House Landed The house is sitting at a rakish angle on the ground, and under it is the Wicked Witch of the East. You see a pair of Ruby Red Slippers on her red and white stockinged feet. The house is surrounded by a milling crowd of Munchkins, all dressed in blue. Toto is here, too. The Munchkins are singing "Follow the Yellow Brick Road, Follow the Yellow Brick Road..." Contents: Ruby Red Slippers Munchkins Obvious exits: Yellow Brick Road -------------------- The Land of Oz was created as one of the attractions in the Entertainment Section of the orbiting Cyberion City by 8-year-old Reid, who accesses MicroMuse from Arlington, Massachusetts. Reid says "I think MicroMuse is great. It's easy to learn how to use the Muse but there's a lot to learn so it's always interesting and fun. "Moulton and I created (re-created) Oz together this summer. We worked on it in person and over the Muse. It is just as easy to work over the Muse as it is in person. "I also like the Muse because other people can create things and/or places that I can then explore. I like to explore them because they are exciting and I can learn more about what can be done. "When something is especially neat I try to figure out how they did it. I have an Inventing Room where I make new things. "I like getting to know the people on the Muse. When I know a person really well I like having conversations with them. "I have met two people in person so far, besides Moulton. I met Koosh in California while I was there on vacation this summer and Aslan last weekend at the Museum of Science. " Calvin, a nine-year-old from Boulder, Colorado, has built a 24th Century version of Yellowstone Park within the spinning cylinder. When asked why he likes visiting and creating at MicroMuse, he replied, "I think that MicroMuse is a fun blend of craziness (my favorite), sensitivity, and pure niceness. One advantage to MicroMuse is that it helps kids judge others by their actuall self, not the physical-impression. "I also see people going around and having kids being kind to them and them being kind to kids. It fits together. "It is a place where everyone is equal, like an age 7 is equal to a age 42. People respect you as if you were an adult. "It is also kind of fun to play with messages like 'John flies across the room squealing.' "It is such joy to see that you can get up to being very important. It is pleasing to get such knowledge." -------------------- You are on the slow-moving slidewalk, traveling Port-wards, thinking you might visit the Gift Shop at the Science Museum.. maybe buy yourself a robot puppy.. suddenly you are joined on the slidewalk by Mr_Wizard.. Mr_Wizard approaches from the Anti-spinward slidewalk. Mr_Wizard has arrived. >> Mr_Wizard >> A 6"2" man wearing a Hypercolor T-shirt, a baseball cap that says "Science Is Fun!', a backpack with several science books, a joke book, and a test tube of gook from his lab. >> Contents: >> Transmitter >> Frood Food >> Fickle Foam >> Argon Whistle >> Do this >> Mr_Wizard's Ruby Red Slippers >> Argon Remote Controller >> Alien Space Ball >> Score Sheet >> Mr_Wizard smiles hello. -------------------- Thirteen year-old Mr_Wizard connects to MicroMuse from Lexington, Mass., "I really like MicroMuse because it is fun to learn through it. I'm here mostly to have fun, and learn at the same time. Also I've made lots of new friends, and have told friends about it. The only problem for me is that many things are late at night because many people from different coasts are logged in. I have a really great time, and keep coming back. I learn some- thing new every time. In short, I recommend it for anyone who can use a computer." MicroMuse is a whole new concept of "classroom". Its walls are the limits of your imagination, its windows open onto landscapes created by you, and you may come and go at will amongst a population of characters who would make Star Wars and Alice in Wonderland look ordinary by comparison. Want to pilot your own spaceship? Ride a unicorn through the shopping mall? Own a teleportation ring that *really* works? Or maybe you would just like to build a medieval castle surrounded by a moat of chocolate syrup.. and then swim in it. If you would like to explore MicroMuse, you may connect as follows from your local host computer: telnet michael.ai.mit.edu [18.43.0.177] login: guest [no password required] tt [TinyTalk client program] connect guest [Connect to MicroMuse] news [general news command] help [online help command] /quit [exit MicroMuse] exit [end your telnet session] You will then be shuttled to the Cyberion City Transport Receiving Station, where you will be given further information to assist you in your exploration. Please feel free to contact any Official, Administrator, or Director who may be logged on, for any help you may need. There is a message call box located in the arrival area, plus you may "page" a message by typing: page =. Type: WHO (all caps) to see which Officials are currently online. By the way, for those of you interested in 24th Century journalism, MicroMuse is looking for a staff for the Cyberion City ENews (the Electronic Newstaper). Positions are open for Assistant Editors, Feature writers, columnists, and reporters. Contact Calliope, Editor, or Moulton online if you are interesting in joining the staff. Come join us as we spin through time, and the spaces of the mind.. --------------------------------------------------------------------- The sky above the western hemisphere of Earth turns the slow colors of sunset, and fades into the pale purples of twilight.. the first star winks quickly, just above the horizon.. or is it a star? High above the earth, the metal skin of the orbiting cylinder glows with a bright flash as it dives into another dawn. ====================================================================== >From KIDSNET@vms.cis.pitt.edu Sun Nov 24 11:59 EST 1991 Received: from vm1.cis.pitt.edu by michael.ai.mit.edu with SMTP (15.11/15.6) id AA24818; Sun, 24 Nov 91 11:59:01 est Return-Path: Date: Sun, 24 Nov 91 11:22 EDT From: KIDSNET MAILING LIST Subject: MicroMemo to KidsNet To: kids-l@vms.cis.pitt.edu Message-Id: X-Envelope-To: barry@michael.ai.mit.EDU X-Vms-To: IN%"kids-l" Status: RO Date: Fri, 22 Nov 91 22:57:00 EST From: Barry Kort Subject: MicroMemo to KidsNet ======================================================================== M I C R O M U S E at M I T ======================================================================== Fall 1991 MicroMemo to KidsNet ======================================================================== Sometime in the 24th Century --------------------------------------------------------------------- High above the earth, a glinting flash of light arcs across the pale sky. Just as quickly, the light winks out as it disappears under the horizon. Those on earth barely note the event.. it happens several times each day. They are used to it. And, high above the earth, the inhabitants of the orbiting cylinder known as Cyberion City go about their daily lives, the hazy green-blue ball of earth whirling by below them. Of course, daily life in Cyberion City could hardly be described as ordinary.. --------------------------------------------------------------------- This is not the beginning of a new Sci Fi story. This is the description of a time and place that actually exists, on the InterNet. You don't have to wait until the 24th century to visit Cyberion City. You can shuttle there via your modem in the time it takes to connect to the InterNet. Cyberion City orbits in a virtual reality, within a game world called MicroMuse. On MicroMuse, we invent the future. We also bring with us the things we like most from the past.. -------------------- You have shuttled successfully to MicroMuse, and stepped through the Airlock onto the sliding walkway. You see a sign pointing Spinward --> This way to Oz. You decide to check it out.. You pass through fields of corn and wheat. A Farmhouse in Kansas This is the Parlor of Aunty Em and Uncle Henry's Farm House. No one is here at the moment. Everyone must be out working on the farm. Obvious exits: Bedroom Out You enter the bedroom of a young girl. Dorothy's Bedroom This is a small bedroom with a big window. A small dog lies asleep on the floor. Contents: Toto Window Obvious exits: Parlor Toto wakes up from his nap and yips at your feet. It seems he wants you to pick him up. You see a witch riding a broom across a dark sky with a full moon. You see a frisky little dog. He jumps at your feet. Maybe he wants to be picked up. Toto jumps into your arms, licks your face, and scampers back to his toys on the floor. Suddenly, an ominous Tornado sweeps in from the west. The whole house is picked up and tossed wildy into the air. Eventually, the house comes crashing back to the earth. Where Dorothy's House Landed The house is sitting at a rakish angle on the ground, and under it is the Wicked Witch of the East. You see a pair of Ruby Red Slippers on her red and white stockinged feet. The house is surrounded by a milling crowd of Munchkins, all dressed in blue. Toto is here, too. The Munchkins are singing "Follow the Yellow Brick Road, Follow the Yellow Brick Road..." Contents: Ruby Red Slippers Munchkins Obvious exits: Yellow Brick Road -------------------- The Land of Oz was created as one of the attractions in the Entertainment Section of the orbiting Cyberion City by 8-year-old Reid, who accesses MicroMuse from Arlington, Massachusetts. Reid says "I think MicroMuse is great. It's easy to learn how to use the Muse but there's a lot to learn so it's always interesting and fun. "Moulton and I created (re-created) Oz together this summer. We worked on it in person and over the Muse. It is just as easy to work over the Muse as it is in person. "I also like the Muse because other people can create things and/or places that I can then explore. I like to explore them because they are exciting and I can learn more about what can be done. "When something is especially neat I try to figure out how they did it. I have an Inventing Room where I make new things. "I like getting to know the people on the Muse. When I know a person really well I like having conversations with them. "I have met two people in person so far, besides Moulton. I met Koosh in California while I was there on vacation this summer and Aslan last weekend at the Museum of Science. " Calvin, a nine-year-old from Boulder, Colorado, has built a 24th Century version of Yellowstone Park within the spinning cylinder. When asked why he likes visiting and creating at MicroMuse, he replied, "I think that MicroMuse is a fun blend of craziness (my favorite), sensitivity, and pure niceness. One advantage to MicroMuse is that it helps kids judge others by their actuall self, not the physical-impression. "I also see people going around and having kids being kind to them and them being kind to kids. It fits together. "It is a place where everyone is equal, like an age 7 is equal to a age 42. People respect you as if you were an adult. "It is also kind of fun to play with messages like 'John flies across the room squealing.' "It is such joy to see that you can get up to being very important. It is pleasing to get such knowledge." -------------------- You are on the slow-moving slidewalk, traveling Port-wards, thinking you might visit the Gift Shop at the Science Museum.. maybe buy yourself a robot puppy.. suddenly you are joined on the slidewalk by Mr_Wizard.. Mr_Wizard approaches from the Anti-spinward slidewalk. Mr_Wizard has arrived. >> Mr_Wizard >> A 6"2" man wearing a Hypercolor T-shirt, a baseball cap that says "Science Is Fun!', a backpack with several science books, a joke book, and a test tube of gook from his lab. >> Contents: >> Transmitter >> Frood Food >> Fickle Foam >> Argon Whistle >> Do this >> Mr_Wizard's Ruby Red Slippers >> Argon Remote Controller >> Alien Space Ball >> Score Sheet >> Mr_Wizard smiles hello. -------------------- Thirteen year-old Mr_Wizard connects to MicroMuse from Lexington, Mass., "I really like MicroMuse because it is fun to learn through it. I'm here mostly to have fun, and learn at the same time. Also I've made lots of new friends, and have told friends about it. The only problem for me is that many things are late at night because many people from different coasts are logged in. I have a really great time, and keep coming back. I learn some- thing new every time. In short, I recommend it for anyone who can use a computer." MicroMuse is a whole new concept of "classroom". Its walls are the limits of your imagination, its windows open onto landscapes created by you, and you may come and go at will amongst a population of characters who would make Star Wars and Alice in Wonderland look ordinary by comparison. Want to pilot your own spaceship? Ride a unicorn through the shopping mall? Own a teleportation ring that *really* works? Or maybe you would just like to build a medieval castle surrounded by a moat of chocolate syrup.. and then swim in it. If you would like to explore MicroMuse, you may connect as follows from your local host computer: telnet michael.ai.mit.edu [18.43.0.177] login: guest [no password required] tt [TinyTalk client program] connect guest [Connect to MicroMuse] news [general news command] help [online help command] /quit [exit MicroMuse] exit [end your telnet session] You will then be shuttled to the Cyberion City Transport Receiving Station, where you will be given further information to assist you in your exploration. Please feel free to contact any Official, Administrator, or Director who may be logged on, for any help you may need. There is a message call box located in the arrival area, plus you may "page" a message by typing: page =. Type: WHO (all caps) to see which Officials are currently online. By the way, for those of you interested in 24th Century journalism, MicroMuse is looking for a staff for the Cyberion City ENews (the Electronic Newstaper). Positions are open for Assistant Editors, Feature writers, columnists, and reporters. Contact Calliope, Editor, or Moulton online if you are interesting in joining the staff. Come join us as we spin through time, and the spaces of the mind.. --------------------------------------------------------------------- The sky above the western hemisphere of Earth turns the slow colors of sunset, and fades into the pale purples of twilight.. the first star winks quickly, just above the horizon.. or is it a star? High above the earth, the metal skin of the orbiting cylinder glows with a bright flash as it dives into another dawn. ======================================================================