Vue Regional Planning Authority (VRPA) Meeting 4 - 25-Sep-2007 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Attendees: ---------- Aghlab Al-Attili (Edinburgh Stanford Link & Entrepreneurship MSc) Sian Bayne (E-Learning, Higher & Community Education) Mike Clouser (Edinburgh Stanford Link & Entrepreneurship MSc) Ian Graham (Management School) Fiona Littleton (E-Learning, Higher & Community Education) Naomi Nunn (Development & Alumni) Jessie Paterson (Divinity) David Richardson (Informatics) James Stewart (Research Centre for Social Sciences) Austin Tate (Informatics & AIAI) Apologies: ---------- Hamish Macleod (Centre for Teaching, Learning & Assessment, Education) Morag Watson (Information Services) Minutes of meeting on 6-Jul-2007 -------------------------------- Available at http://vue.ed.ac.uk/sl/vrpa/vrpa-meeting-2007-07-06-minutes.txt Approved. New member of VRPA ------------------ Jessie Paterson, to represent Divinity interests, was welcomed as a new member of the VRPA. Current Status -------------- The current regional plan as adopted at the meeting on 6-Jul-2007 is available at: http://vue.ed.ac.uk/sl/plan/vue-2007-07-06-region-plan.jpg The renaming of Vue East to Edinburgh University was done. All islands in this plan have now been ordered and delivered. Each has funding commitments for 3 years, i.e. to April 2010 through September 2010. Shared University islands have been provided by a number of funders: Vue was paid for by Information Services Edinburgh University by Development & Alumni Edinburgh Uplands and four open space regions (Vue North, Vue South, Edinburgh North and Edinburgh East) by Informatics In addition for their own School uses: School of Management has funded Vue NW (B2) Informatics has funded Informatics (D4) Plans for Edinburgh University and Edinburgh Uplands ---------------------------------------------------- A paper outlining the development for Edinburgh University and Edinburgh Uplands regions was presented by Naomi Nunn: http://vue.ed.ac.uk/sl/vrpa/Edinburgh-University-on-Second-Life-Brief-2007-09-20.pdf The concept of the 45 degree angle "High Street" and buildings suggestive of Edinburgh and University landmarks, while still being of practical use in Second Life was welcomed. A version of the design sketch at a higher resolution is at: http://vue.ed.ac.uk/sl/plan/vue-high-street-sketch-a-2007-09-16.jpg The next step is for Naomi Nunn to provide the brief to a range of possible developers to get quotes, and thus to seek the project finance. The brief will go to: a) Edinburgh architects involved with the University, possibly the Informatics Forum designers. b) Semi-professional in-world Second life designers or builders. c) Departments or Schools who might have students who could be interested in getting involved. Plans for Contextual Theology Island ------------------------------------- Marcella Althaus-Reid had ascked to place an island for the University's Centre for Contextual Theology close to Vue, and a preference had been expressed for it to go close to areas already in use by the School of Education. Square B4 was approved for use, and the adjacent region owners (Fiona Littleton and Austin Tate) will arrange for the Linden Lab support tickets to be raised to approve this on behalf of the VRPA when asked to do so. The VRPA agreed that there was no reason to limit to name of square B4 to "Vue SW". The Centre for Contextual Theology should suggest the name they wish to use to the VRPA for comment prior to island order. Austin Tate noted that depending on the space required for this project, there was plenty of space currently on Edinburgh University island for experimenation and initial setup if that was helpful. Marcella Althaus-Reid was asked to confirm that the commitment will be for 3 years in the initial instance for maintaining the island, and that if the island is not then requied it will be offered to Vue members at no capital cost if they can take over the maintenance. Terraforming, height and plant type controls -------------------------------------------- As suggested and prototyped by Ian Graham, a standard set of terrain textures has been adopted for use across Vue micro-continent. This gives a greener middle level and avoids the mottled scorched earth look of the default textures. The scheme also allows for variation of heights in a consistent way across regions to allow for beach effects or not. The highest level one can be change without impact on neighbouring regions, or discontinuities of colour on region boundaries. Terrain Textures -> Beach Sand Terrain Textures -> Default Set -> Default Set Grass Terrain Textures -> NW Coastal -> NW Coastal Grass Clumpy Terrain Textures -> Default Set -> Default Set -> Default Mountain Rock The highest level should be able to be set to anything for each island. All are 512x512 textures. The default heights are low 8, high 40, but they can be varied so long as all the meeting corners are set to be the same. Names of Regions close to Vue and Edinburgh University ------------------------------------------------------ Currently only the following square has predetermined naming: B3 to be Vue West Other region names should be discussed with the VRPA before being used. Vue Sandbox ----------- It was agreed to create a Sandbox area in the SE corner of Edinburgh East. Next Steps ---------- Terraform Edinburgh East Sandbox island - Ian Graham Terraform Edinburgh Uplands when available - Austin Tate and Ian Graham Improve planting and garden areas. Initially in Vue Pond area on Vue/Edinburgh University boundary - Fiona Littleton Vue region map, reference grid overlay and label text layer to be created in Photoshop - David Richardson Initial High Street buildings to be created by VRPA members or their students: Old College (50mx50m) and adjacent U-shaped annex (50mx30m) - James Stewart and Ian Graham Potential home to galleries, collections, library, Vue Store (see below) McEwan Hall (30mx30m round) - David Richardson Great Hall @ Castle Rock - Ian Graham Textures - George Square Cobbles already provided by James Stewart. Others requested include Castle/Calton Tower style rough stone with small square windows, and Georgian style wall and windows as in Old College - James Stewart Vue Store - Create a space where Vue resources and freebies can be made available to builders and the public - David Richardson. Arrange meeting of whole Vue mailing list interest group - proposed for early December - Sian Bayne and Fiona Littleton. Arrange a photo shoot of Vue related avatars on Vue to get publicity shots - James Stewart. Date of Next Meeting -------------------- To be arranged by e-mail in late November or early December.