what inspires my builds at i live in science land

what inspires my builds

i have been build focused in OpenSim since i started in earnest back in march of 2010. that’s one reason i don’t mind being a hermit and it’s a radical change from Second Life where i was land focused and consumed with keeping as many parcels rented out as possible (at one point i had 101 parcels and had to average $100 USD, or L$26,000, a day to break even!). apart from being build focused now, i also have very little pressure to work on it every day or even every week – a huge change from the land business and being in-world as much as possible and doing LindeX exchanges from my old Blackberry several times a day

with the land business, there was always something to do daily and residents to visit with. however, being a hermit makes it easier to put something off till later it’s up to me what i want to build – there’s not really a to do list or urgent issues demanding my attention. some of what i build is in conjunction with subQuark and, as his book approaches, that collaboration becomes tighter. but until recently, i could just build anything that i thought would be interesting for middle school science students and subQuark would work an activity around it

there are several things that came easily to me because they are “big” topics – like solar panels, wind and water turbines, and hydro-electric power (seeing as many electric companies in Canada is simply referred to as “Hydro” (no, not hydro as sometimes pot is called in BC) =p

how about other builds, where do those ideas for Enclave Harbour come from?

like the flushing toilet activity which i totally love (thank goodness subQ does too), the underwater nuclear reactor, and even the freebie waste bins? where did those come from? certainly not from the cogs in my head, i’m not that original!

those ideas come from current events online and many come from a daily newsletter i get from SmartPlanet!

in fact here are a few i’d like to build in the next month to be included in subQ’s book:

smart bus stop
2,500 mph vacuum train (up to 4,000 mph according to ET3)
commercial scale rooftop produce

my inspirations need to be tied to science but there are millions of inspiring things to look at online

the next time you get stuck, just do a little Google surfing and you might be surprised with what you get excited to build next! =)

this screams out to be made in OpenSim! =)

written by Ener Hax

June 22nd, 2012 at 8:07 am

posted in OpenSim,virtual worlds

tagged with enclave harbour

You sort of remind me of a modern Miss Frizzle from The Magic Schoolbus :) I absolutely loved that show, and the games that came from it.

One of the biggest differences I’ve seen in travelling across Second Life grid and OpenSim grids is as you’ve noted- the harmony and coherence of builds are much higher in occurrence on the open grids since the need to subsidize the endeavor is reduced by far. I traveled the stargate system in SL for a bit and did some running around after logging off OSGrid and the hypergates, and was treated to sims split into miniature parcels where individuals did their best to board up the outside and make their builds look self-contained. In OpenSim this just isn’t an issue.

Rather, as I’ve found as I was building The Village with Linda, is that there’s more land than I know what to do with!

Raz Welles

22 Jun 12 at 12:57 pm

wow! that is a wonderful compliment, thank you very much =)

and nice observation on the diferrences in builds between SL and OpenSim – that’s the first time i have heard that but it makes a lot of sense in your explanation. thank you for that new perspective =)

Ener Hax

22 Jun 12 at 2:34 pm

How about Music?! I find that the music playing while I build can effect my ideas and colors. Especially if its something you have to start from nothing.

Its sorta funny – I can actually links some songs back to things I built years ago….Like

A restaurant/bar on JokaydiaGrid http://www.flickr.com/photos/azztech/4811072225/in/photostream
was made listening to the Jamiroquai album I just got on iTunes like http://youtu.be/KTx5mJtw9mU

and

My one shop in SL that sold futuristic – techy things http://www.flickr.com/photos/azztech/2115949949/in/photostream (looks better in the dark!) I was listening to songs like http://youtu.be/k50TX6EBZBI and http://youtu.be/CNPnZLYaGiw which spawned my idea for the shop

What do you listen to while you build Ener?

Azzura

22 Jun 12 at 3:33 pm

good question and you made me be introspective!

it’s funny, i don’t listen to anything when i build in-world or blog. i’m not sure why because i do listen to Grooveshark.com at my day job

i do have two iPod nanos (3rd & 4th gen) but don’t use them for music. the older 3rd gen one i use for video tutorials (how geeky is that! i once had all of Torley’s tus on it)

i know that part of the reason i do in-world silently is that i started inSL before it had voice and was heavily involved with the Deaf community for two years – i still don’t listen to any in-world sounds except to test the DJ radio in my two clubs

weird eh? but part of my virtual world escape is from the drone of life i suppose =)

22 Jun 12 at 5:14 pm

Try it this weekend once :)

I seem to forget to turn on music till its almost too late and its time to go to bed. On my home sim I do have a station set…usually.

I don’t listen at work…too much moving around and it rips the earbuds out of my ear…or people are talking to me, so can only have one bud in, kinda ruins the music if its not in stereo.

22 Jun 12 at 6:16 pm

The vacuum train looks like a fun thing to create. It could useful as transport across a mega region. I’m imagining it passing under a mountain then coming back to the surface at each end, traveling through a elevated transparent tube where you can see the scenery wiz by!

I’m usually listening to something while building. Sometimes music but more often audio books and short stories (when not scripting or writing). But in those special times when I’m fully absorbed in creating it ceases to matter. I’ll notice that its quiet and think, “I’ll put something new on in a minute.” An hour later…..”Oh! I meant to play such and such. I’ll just finish this thing first….” And so it goes.

But when working to a deadline I like having some stirring music. My current favorite for that is this from the Dr. Who soundtrack. It moves me along and inspires me to strive for awesomeness. :) http://youtu.be/Yw8fEApMEmE

Kimika Ying

23 Jun 12 at 8:17 am

that would be fun – big clear tubes! although i think a lot of people my get motion sickness that fast! like a giant hamster tube =)

i think i am the same way, i get so absorbed that i forget about everything else (especially the laundry on the weekends!) =)

23 Jun 12 at 10:25 am

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another real life vehicle weirder than a VW vehicle at i live in science land

4 Sep 12 at 2:16 pm

Yay!, This is fun! I love the SmartPlanet site, and the train. Oh and of course the Doctor Who music. Doctor Who has been part of my life and motivation starting in the 80ies, (and I’m a fella from the Southern Appalachian mountains). So thanks for the motivation links and music :).