The concept of strong and weak virtual reality

We approach the virtual reality phenomenon by studying its relationship to set theory, and we investigate the case where this is done using the wellfoundedness property of sets. Our hypothesis is that non-wellfounded sets (hypersets) give rise to a different quality of virtual reality than do familiar wellfounded sets. We initially provide an alternative approach to virtual reality based on Sommerhoff's idea of first and second order self-awareness; both categories of self-awareness are considered as necessary conditions for consciousness in terms of higher cognitive functions. We then introduce a representation of first and second order self-awareness through sets, and assume that these sets, which we call events, originally form a collection of wellfounded sets. Strong virtual reality characterizes virtual reality environments which have the limited capacity to create only events associated with wellfounded sets. In contrast, the more general concept of weak virtual reality characterizes collections of virtual reality mediated events altogether forming an entirety larger than any collection of wellfounded sets. By giving reference to Aczel's hyperset theory we indicate that this definition is not empty, because hypersets encompass wellfounded sets already. Moreover, we argue that weak virtual reality could be realized in human history through continued progress in computer technology. Finally, we reformulate our characterization into a more general framework, and use Baltag's Structural Theory of Sets (STS) to show that within this general hyperset theory Sommerhoff's first and second order self-awareness as well as both concepts of virtual reality admit a consistent mathematical representation.Comment: 17 pages; several edits in v

Substitution Reactions of (C5Ph5)Cr(CO)3: Structural, Electrochemical, and Spectroscopic Characterization of (C5Ph5)Cr(CO)2L, L = PMe3, PMe2Ph, P(OMe)3

The radical complex (C5Ph5)Cr(CO)3 reacts with small, neutral, monodentate Lewis bases (PMe3, PMe2Ph, P(OMe)3) in THF at −78 °C (PMe2Ph reacts at ambient temperature) to yield the monomeric substitution products (C5Ph5)Cr(CO)2L·THF as thermally stable solids. Electrochemical and spectroscopic data are provided. An X-ray crystal structure of the hemisolvate (C5Ph5)Cr(CO)2PMe3·0.5THF was obtained. Frozen-solution ESR spectra of (C5Ph5)Cr(CO)2L in toluene are comparable to those of other low-spin d5 “piano-stool” complexes. Rotation of the Cr(CO)2L moiety relative to the C5Ph5 ring is rapid on the ESR time scale in low-temperature liquid solutions and leads to axial powderlike spectra. Analysis of this effect leads to significant insights into the electronic structure

Designing multiplayer games to facilitate emergent social behaviours online

This paper discusses an exploratory case study of the design of games that facilitate spontaneous social interaction and group behaviours among distributed individuals, based largely on symbolic presence 'state' changes. We present the principles guiding the design of our game environment: presence as a symbolic phenomenon, the importance of good visualization and the potential for spontaneous self-organization among groups of people. Our game environment, comprising a family of multiplayer 'bumper-car' style games, is described, followed by a discussion of lessons learned from observing users of the environment. Finally, we reconsider and extend our design principles in light of our observations

Synthesis, Characterization, and Molecular Structure of Bis(tetraphenylcyclopentdienyl)rhodium(II)⊗

A 5 day diglyme reflux of Rh(acac)3 and K(C5HPh4), followed by treatment with aqueous HPF6, produces orange-yellow [(C5HPh4)2Rh]PF66 in 40 - 50% yield. Reduction of [(C5HPh4)2Rh]PF6 with sodium amalgam in THF yields olive green (C5HPh4)2Rh in 70% yield. (C5HPh4)2Rh crystallizes in the triclinic [Error : unloaded OLE object or mail attachment]space group with unit-cell parameters of a = 8.622 (3) Å, b = 10.778 (4) Å, c = 12.894 (5) Å, a = 65.58 (3)°, b = 72.66 (3)°, g = 83.52 (3)°, and Z = 1. The least squares data refined to RF = 7.63% and RwF = 10.12% for the 2479 independent observed reflections with Fo \u3e 5s(Fo ). The metal-centroid distance is 1.904 Å and all other bond lengths and angles are similar to known octaphenylmetallocenes. ESR spectra of (C5HPh4)2Rh in low-temperature glasses display a rhombic g-tensor with resolution of Rh hyperfine splitting on one-g-component. Analysis of the spectral parameters is consistent with a d7 configuration derived from a nearly degenerate dxz, dyz ground state. Voltammetry and coulometry establish the electron-transfer series (C5HPh4)2Rh1+/0/1- with E° values of -1.44 V and -2.13 V vs ferrocene. The heterogeneous charge transfer rate of the second reduction is about three orders of magnitude lower than that of the first

Social media use and impact during the holiday travel planning process

Through an empirical study among holiday travellers, residing in the Former Soviet Union Republics, this paper presents a comprehensive view of role and impact of social media on the whole holiday travel planning process: Before, during and after the trip, providing insights on usage levels, scope of use, level of influence and trust. Findings suggest that social media are predominantly used after holidays for experience sharing. It is also shown that there is a strong correlation between perceived level of influence from social media and changes made in holiday plans prior to final decisions. Moreover, it is revealed that user-generated content is perceived as more trustworthy when compared to official tourism websites, travel agents and mass media advertising

Eigenvector localization as a tool to study small communities in online social networks

We present and discuss a mathematical procedure for identification of small "communities" or segments within large bipartite networks. The procedure is based on spectral analysis of the matrix encoding network structure. The principal tool here is localization of eigenvectors of the matrix, by means of which the relevant network segments become visible. We exemplified our approach by analyzing the data related to product reviewing on Amazon.com. We found several segments, a kind of hybrid communities of densely interlinked reviewers and products, which we were able to meaningfully interpret in terms of the type and thematic categorization of reviewed items. The method provides a complementary approach to other ways of community detection, typically aiming at identification of large network modules

Posthumanist Education

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Methyl and T-Butyl Group Reorientation in Planar Aromatic Solids: Low-Frequency Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry and X-Ray Diffraction

We have synthesized 3-t-butylchrysene and measured the Larmor frequency omega/2pi (= 8.50, 22.5, and 53.0 MHz) and temperature T (110-310 K) dependence of the proton spin-lattice relaxation rate R in the polycrystalline solid [low-frequency solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry]. We have also determined the molecular and crystal structure in a single crystal of 3-t-butylchrysene using x-ray diffraction, which indicates the presence of a unique t-butyl group environment. The spin-1/2 protons relax as a result of the spin-spin dipolar interactions being modulated by the superimposed reorientation of the t-butyl groups and their constituent methyl groups. The reorientation is successfully modeled by the simplest motion; that of random hopping describable by Poisson statistics. The x-ray data indicate near mirror-plane symmetry that places one methyl group nearly in the aromatic plane and the other two almost equally above and below the plane. The NMR relaxometry data indicate that the nearly in-plane methyl group and the entire t-butyl group reorient with a barrier of 24.2 +/- 0.9 kJ mol(-1), and the two out-of-plane methyl groups reorient with a barrier of 14.2 +/- 0.6 kJ mol(-1). Following a brief review of methyl group rotation in simple ethyl-, and isopropyl-substituted one- and two-ring aromatic van der Waals molecular solids, the barriers for the out-of-plane methyl groups and the t-butyl group in 3-t-butylchrysene are compared with those barriers in three related molecular solids whose crystal structure is known: 4-methyl-2,6-di-t-butylphenol, 1,4-di-t-butylbenzene, and polymorph A of 2,6-di-t-butyl- naphthalene. A trend is observed in the reorientational barriers for the t-butyl and the out-of-plane methyl groups across this series of four compounds: as the t-butyl barriers decrease, the out-of-plane methyl barriers increase

Lo-Fi Matchmaking: A Study of Social Pairing for Backpackers

There is a new world emerging around mobile social networks and the technologies used to facilitate and mediate them. It is technically feasible for mobile social software such as pairing or matchmaking systems to introduce people to others and assist information exchange. However, little is known about the social structure of many mobile communities or why they would want pairing systems. When these systems are built, it is not clear what the social response by those communities will be or what the systems will be like to use in practice. While engaged in other work determining requirements for a mobile travel assistant we saw a potentially useful application for a pairing system to facilitate the exchange of travel information between backpackers. To explore this area, we designed two studies involving usage of a low-fidelity role prototype of a social pairing system for backpackers. Graphs of the resulting social pairings showed backpackers who were hubs in the network of travel information. It also demonstrated the effect of travel direction on information utility. Backpackers rated the utility of different pairing types, and provided feedback on the social implications of being paired based on travel histories. Practical usage of the social network pairing activity and the implications of broader societal usage are discussed

Measuring readiness-to-hand through differences in attention to the task vs. attention to the tool

New interaction techniques, like multi-touch, tangible inter-action, and mid-air gestures often promise to be more intuitive and natural; however, there is little work on how to measure these constructs. One way is to leverage the phenomenon of tool embodiment—when a tool becomes an extension of one’s body, attention shifts to the task at hand, rather than the tool itself. In this work, we constructed a framework to measure tool embodiment by incorporating philosophical and psychological concepts. We applied this framework to design and conduct a study that uses attention to measure readiness-to-hand with both a physical tool and a virtual tool. We introduce a novel task where participants use a tool to rotate an object, while simultaneously responding to visual stimuli both near their hand and near the task. Our results showed that participants paid more attention to the task than to both kinds of tool. We also discuss how this evaluation framework can be used to investigate whether novel interaction techniques allow for this kind of tool embodiment.Postprin