Witnessing History

The next best thing to being there is when the visual and sounds become immersive. The unique thing about virtual 3D environments is the extra-sensory involvement that is possible. But there is something quite different here, even from an IMAX film and that is the relationship of observer to image. Suddenly it feels more like being transported to a place where one is viewing the experience from the inside out, meaning that one immediately gets the sense of being a visitor walking around inside the 'movie' in a spacial perspective. One can even interact with it and of course with others in a group it all becomes quite convincing.

Here we see some of the possibilities this genre of computer simulation can present in terms of immediacy, a virtual field trip to a Royal British Airfield around the time of World War One.

Arrange a virtual field trip here: http://miniatureworld.com/nw_field_trips.php

Minutia opens doors to school and group Virtual Field Trips

When one looks around the web for bonified virtual field trips, it is easy to see that the idea is stretched rather thinly to include panoramic photographs, video walk-throughs and automated camera views. The Isle of Minutia presents a far more authentic interactive environment where groups and classrooms can login together and enjoy the comraderie of fellow members and classmates as they hike around the landscape discovering all this little online isle has to offer. And there is a lot here to see as each theme area has been developed to represent everything from a historic depiction of Calgary in the 1890s to a full-blwn science fictional asteroidal mining base out by Jupiter.

Notably this is the 'virtual field trip' we always expected from our computers, it simply took awhile for processors and high speed internet connections to catch up with our imaginations and expectations. This highly technological genre continues to evolve and the Isle of Minutia is an excellent, safe, non-violent environment to introduce young people to 3D interactive worlds in spaces they can share together under the same sky.

Schools and groups can book a field trip by going to the Miniature World website and selecting "Field Trips" where they will find that for a low flat rate, up to 30 computers/students can arrange a morning or afternoon online class field trip quite easily with as little as 48 hours advanced notice. Once a virtual field trip is arranged the teacher or instructor is sent a copy of the software to test their systems (Windows-based desktops or laptops only), a short online meeting within the virtual world is set up and any customization is made to prepare for the sojourn.

If your school is local to Victoria BC be sure to check out the real field trips to downtown Victoria, BC as well because Miniature World itself has been entertaining groups and classes for over 40 years with exciting Field Trips to see their over 100 displays and dioramas.

Minutia Population still growing...

Statistically speaking our Minutia population is still relatively small and as it turns out our first major Challenge was put on hold by our sponsor Miniature World in order to give us more time to grow our citizenship so that we can get a greater percentage of participants competing.

Our recent attempt to launch a challenging Treasure Hunt worth $1000 indicated that there are not quite enough citizens wanting to participate and so our immediate goal is to continue growing our population.

We are hoping that our current citizenry can help us out by 'liking' us on our Facebook page and more importantly telling at least one friend about our miniature online world. The fact is that virtual worlds are a lot more fun when you invite friends to join you you at the same to meet and explore around, go for a horseback ride or kayak through the various waterways. Send a friend to http://minutia.ca/passports to sign up and thanks you.

With a Minutia day passing every two hours the lighting and ambient atmospherics creates a beautiful array of sky changes and soundscapes as the sun rises and sets throughout the Isle of Minutia.

Those of you with pre-citizenships should remember that you can easily upgrade to a Full Annual Citizenship by finding and claiming by clicking any 10 individual Passport Stamps placed in relatively open view within each theme area. With full citizenship you will be able to customize your avatarm create friends list and be ready to participant in challenges when we do launch them.

Be sure to check out our Minutia link page here http://minutia.ca/update/links.php

The Game is Afoot... watch for email announcement soon!

Hardly out of the gates of 2013 and the Isle of Minutia is about to present one of its first major challenges! To all Annual and Founding Citizens who are eligible to participate keep an eye out for an important email which will explain the nature of this little virtual Treasure Hunt. There just may be real gold in them thar hills!

To all pre-citizens who may only need to find a couple more passport stamps to gain a full citizenship you can always go to the Trading Post in the Land of Gulliver to fill out your Annual Passport. Of course you can also simply purchase your Annual Passport Citizenship here http://minutia.ca/passports

Watch for a major announcement in the next coming days, it gonna be fun.

Latest Snapshot: Aerial Perspective the Thesuvius D-Zone