Subject: Educational MUD Biblio. (fwd) This isn't formatted. All the ' got replaced with either R or S. Description of Some Educational MUDs (use telnet or a mud client to access; note port numbers in most addresses). Augustinian MOO (not available yet) A planned MOO for Augustinian studies and scholars (by Prof. James OÕDonnell, Univ. of Penn.). AstroVR (currently restricted to a group of professional astronomers) A virtual reality, based on MOO, for astronomers to facilitate communication between geographically isolated scientists. Users can work with both text and graphics. Facilitates collaboration by providing shared access to data, images, and tools for online research and conferencing. Astronomers at NASA, Caltech and in Italy are using AstroVR to share data and notes during ongoing observations of a quasar. Data are taken robotically by satellite observatories and uploaded to AstroVR for study. It may eventually have real-world instruments interfaced (e.g. a telescope!) to create a ÒcollaboratoryÓ. Designers envision: shared visualization of data with conversation via an audio channel, small group meetings with multimedia display of data and text, and shared use of ÒwhiteboardsÓ for calculations and sketching ideas. BioMOO (bioinfo.weizmann.ac.il 8888) A MOO community for professional biology researchers. Created by the Bioinformatics Unit of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Jerusalem. A place to meet colleagues in biology and brainstorm, hold colloquia and conferences, and to explore the serious side of this new network communications medium. Currently text-based but will soon have graphics. BioMOO users can send gene sequence data (which they can store in their BioMOO lab or office) to major sequence databases to search for matches. There are tools for collaboratively working online on joint papers, virtual mice that can be anesthetized, dissected, inspected, and sutured, and demonstrations of current research projects. The idea is to create Òpermanent electronic poster sessionsÓ with working models as well as descriptions (e.g. interactive walk-in model of the Epstein-Barr virus, hands-on demonstration of DNA replication, etc.). One member described BioMOO as Ò..a refuge for the serious biologist on the InternetÓ. Diversity University (moo.du.org 8888) Developed by scientists intrigued by the educational potential of MOOs. Diversity University is a Òvirtual institute for innovative educationÓ. Diversity UniversityÕs mission is to broaden the variety of educational experiences available on the NET. Using a college campus metaphor, the DU-MOO has interactive classrooms, a student commons (where you can take a study break and peek into a multilevel fishtank), a school newspaper, bulletin boards, etc. Populated by an international group of educators and collaborators eager to establish reputable live classes and conferences. EcoMOO (not available yet) A planned MOO devoted to ecology and for professional ecologists FurryMUCK (sncils.snc.edu 8888) The first anthropomorphic MUD. Players are animals and engage in strange behaviour sometimes. Jupiter Project (not open to public?) The Ònext generation of MOOÓ. Began in the summer of 1992 at Xerox PARC home of Pavel CurtisÕ Lambda MOO experiment. A multimedia (full color graphics, audio, video, windows), intercontinental MUD, meant to be a working tool for designers of virtual workplaces of the future. LambdaMOO (lambda.parc.xerox.com 8888) A complete online, virtual world, with buildings, gardens, parks, rooftops, and people (sometimes described in remarkable detail). You can walk from room to room (indoors and outdoors), chat with interesting people, pickup objects, fly a helicopter over Brazil, etc. Developed 3 years ago by Pavel Curtis at XeroxÕs Palo Alto Research Center. An offshoot of MOO. Added more functionality, many new features, and a great deal more stability in a general rewrite of the code. It started as an experiment and ÒdevelopedÓ a real community. MariMUSE (pc2.pc.maricopa.edu 4228) Developed as a constructive learning environment for college students. Local primary school students were also able to connect to it. Underachievers got very involved, developed friendships, increased school participation, learned how to program, etc. Generally, MariMUSE has helped some kids become better students. EON is the successor. MediaMOO (purple-crayon.media.mit.edu 8888) A virtual version of MITÕs Media Laboratory. Announced in 1993 (with an Òinaugural ballÓ on 1/20/93). A MUD devoted to media research and populated by media researchers studying computer communications strategies. A thriving research center for professionals to get in contact with other people with similar research interests and to socialize and communicate with each other. The developers deliberately chose not to build the entire Media Lab - just the public areas; itÕs up to the community of users to create the rest. MicroMUSE/Cyberion City (chezmoto.ai.mit.edu 4201) A complex computer simulation of an immense self-contained space city orbiting the Earth in the 24th century. Over 1,400 people have visited and the database includes almost 50,000 individual objects. Cyberion City grants ÒbuilderÓ privileges to all citizens. The purpose of MicroMUSE is for: 1) education, 2) recreation, 3) vision, and 4) communication & transfer of ideas. Neurosurgery MOO (not available yet) A planned MOO for neurosurgeons. Directories: Gopher: actlab.rtf.utexas.edu /10. Virtual Environments WWW: http://www2.ncsu.edu/unity/users/a/asdamick/www/moo.html Barry Brown 3/95 ============================================================================ Barry N. Brown, Assoc.Prof., Science Librarian & Access Services Coordinator Mansfield Library, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812 Voice: 406-243-6811 FAX: 406-243-2060 Net: barry@selway.umt.edu "...The mountain communities were something that I needed to see. And botany and birding and the glimpses of animals, or the signs of them, are the best escape from one's own dreams and confusions and the general drama of human life...." Diana Kappel-Smith, Desert Time ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ftp://ftp.game.org/pub/mud FTP.GAME.ORG http://www.game.org/ftpsite/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This document came from FTP.GAME.ORG, the ultimate source for MUD resources. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------