Today we take a look at the policy applications of a defense-themed virtual program.
The University of Maryland's Institute for Advanced Computer Studies has interesting ideas on the future uses of virtual worlds in combat. Find out just what the military has in store for the Metaverse.
There is valuable knowledge to be gained by understanding why militant groups - including American-based right-wing militias recently raided by the FBI - are turning to New Media outlets like Facebook, Twitter and free message boards in order to organize and promote their messages. But don't expect to find an Al Qaida fan page on Facebook - in many cases, the social networking of militant organizations is rudimentary and easily destroyed: The perfect cover in an age of increasing anti-terror surveillance.
Let's take a look at how global militant groups are falling in love with the message-amplifying power of virtual communities, and why some in the United States intelligence community are wary of the virtual world's potential to serve as an unwitting base for real-world radicals.
Back when Pixels and Policy was just starting out, I wrote a piece about the United States Army's ambitious Federal Virtual Worlds Challenge, a program designed to find new and innovative methods for military training and research built in virtual environments. Now the Army has announced its finalists, and the non-government winners are surprising.
As it turns out, the list of non-government finalists (conveniently provided by Virtual Worlds News) samples heavily from universities with robust virtual worlds and Second Life programs. As I've reported in the past, large-scale adoption of virtual world degree programs is significantly reshuffling the power structure in American colleges, and the Federal Virtual Worlds Challenge provides the best evidence yet that universities needn't be Ivy League to grab major kudos from Uncle Sam.
Let's take a look at what the Federal Virtual Worlds Challenge results mean for the future of virtual worlds both in higher education and the traditionally tech-phobic public sector.
You'd think after three successful decades working with the military, Jaque Davison would welcome retirement.
You'd think years watching the human cost of a professional Army would make anyone welcome a break.
As Pixels and Policy reports, Jaque Davison didn't retire from the Army to sit around. He built a virtual world to provide much-needed support to the families of men and women sent overseas.
Never before have individuals seeking entertainment had so many options.
As technology improves, gamers can engage in photorealistic and increasingly tactile simulations across a wide fantasy spectrum.
As a recently-released war simulator surpasses $300 million in sales, The Washington Examiner asks why millions of players are interested in virtual war and why the answer may have a wide impact on the future of combat.
Max formerly researched technology and foreign affairs issues as a Congressional Fellow for a Midwestern delegation. He holds a degree in International Affairs from George Mason University, and is a contributor to Asia Chronicle, Foreign Policy in Focus, and Young Professionals in Foreign Policy. His research has been cited in multiple academic studies on the social impact of virtual communication. He is currently concluding a Master's Degree in Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
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