OLDaily

Remembering VRML: The Metaverse of 1995
Benj Edwards, How-To Geek, 2022/01/17

For those thinking that Facebook somehow 'invented' virtual reality and the metaverse, it is useful to look at this retrospective on the Virtual Reality Markup Language (VRML), developed in the 90s. Here's an article about it from 1995. Needless to say, VRML didn't catch on. "CNET wrote about VRML’s failure to meet expectations, saying, 'Bandwidth constraints, hardware limitations, and, worst of all, lack of compelling applications may make the 3D technology more virtual than real for the time being.'" Even though bandwidth and hardware are much imporved, I'm still waiting for the compelling application in 2022. Just for fun, I've made a page containing all the coverage of VR in OLDaily since 1999. Enjoy.

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‘Don’t mess with my algorithm’: Exploring the relationship between listeners and automated curation and recommendation on music streaming services
Sophie Freeman, Martin Gibbs, Bjørn Nansen, First Monday, 2022/01/17

here's the main argument: "The increasing dependence on algorithms and automated curation to personalise experiences and discover music on behalf of listeners presents not only a deviation from the music industry and technologies of the past (characterised by traditional industry gatekeepers and personal collections, both digital and analogue), but presents a complex socio-technical dynamic, whereby algorithms in the context of music streaming services can be seen as active agents shaping the individual tastes, discoveries and listening experiences of users." The algorithms may be active agents, but so too are the listeners, which also represents a departure from previous models.

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Builders Compete for Best Earthquake-Proof Toothpick Tower
Jason Kottke, 2022/01/17

The builders are Japanese high school students, and the testing consists of putting increasing weights on the buildings and shaking the surface at various (and increasing) amplitude and frequency. It's great viewing, it looks like it was fun, and some surprising designs are surprisingly sturdy. And - of course - I'm a fan of hands-on problem solving like this, especially when it's combined with web streaming for all to enjoy.

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Barry Mehler: Video Rant Shows Ferris State Professor in Helmet
Jessica McBride, Heavy, 2022/01/17

Barry Mehler's video is some of the best viewing I've seen this week, and you should not draw any conclusions about this item until watching it in full (note: language warning). It's an introductory video to his class and while people have been commenting on the language and his very genuine concern about students as disease vectors posing genuine risk to 75-year old professors required to teach in class, what I see is someone still very much on his game, with some insightful and trenchant criticism of the current academic and media environment (illustrated with an extended application of Calvinist theory to his grading policy). Via Metafilter (note: even more of a language warning) which suggests he'll be fired, which would be a shame.

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Inside Higher Ed Acquired by Times Higher Education
Scott Jaschik, Doug Lederman, Inside Higher Ed, 2022/01/17

Not long after throwing up a paywall after years of providing open access, Inside Higher ed has been acquired by its longtime collaboration partner Times Higher Education. Note that if you've read too many IHE articles this month you might not be able to read this article due to the aforementioned paywall, but there's a press release with exactly the same content. It's nice to see Scott Jaschik and Doug Lederman cash in after spending 16 years on their project.

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Computing Outdoors
William Lau, Google Drive, 2022/01/17

It's a sign of a good resources when I wish it were longer, but that's the case here. This short booklet (available as docx or PDF) contains a series of outdoor activities for students to complete when 9say) the school is closed because of a pandemic (though with the -20 temperatures or snowstorm expected for today maybe try the one indoor activity). It doesn't have the students actually use computers outdoors (though it would be cool to have the activities conducted on a mobile phone or tablet) but rather to look at all the signs of computing we can find in our community. Via Terry Freedman.

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