Ingame InfoNet Online.

During my time in SL, I have noticed an extreem lack of centralised places for the distribution of information. In RL we call these 'Public Libraries' or perhaps even 'News Agents'.

Public libraries store more than just fiction. You can look up tech manuals, get old news articles, and get access to free information of all sorts.

A FREE public service called the InfoNet is now online.

The service is still in it's infancy, and there is a call out for content.
From InfoNet terminals you can access LIVE ingame news, Free scripts, SL History, SL Fiction and a Services Directory somewhat like the Yellow Pages.

There are currently 8 InfoNet Terminals in SL, loacted in: Celadon, DarkWood, Durango, Kanaola, Keswick, Montara, Phobos and Sido.

I'm interested in what the community response from this service will be as a whole.
This service is entirely community driven and rely's both on those who are willing to set aside a small space on their land, and those who donate content.

instruction manuals for this or this product?

I had the pleasure of trying this out in Darkwood, and it has potential. I really enjoyed the feel of it. Keep up the good work~

Every newbie that I tested it on over the past two months of development didn't need a manual.

Just right click it, and select activate.

From there, it's simple enough..
Give it a try yourself at the Learning Center sandbox in Celadon (180, 170).

i mean storing manuals on it too lol

If you send me some manuals, I'll figure out a way of stuffing them in it..

This is so cool i have one on my newbie land Easy and fun to use.

Hey Squagmire, thanks for the news, I'm gonna be checking out this new version!

Squag,

Any chance this can also be used to supplement or offer an alternative to the events menu?

-Blueman

I'd be interested in hosting a terminal. Please PM or IM me with details. Thanks!

It is in theory possible to use it as an alternate events menu, but at current there is already an events menu provided by linden labs that works.

Creating something that already exists ingame seems like a waste of time. Between running classes and working on other projects in SL, I don't have that much time. Instead I'd rather work on improving and updating the existing services it offers.

If anyone has used the InfoNet terminals and has any other comments or suggestions, now's your prime opportunity.

I tried InfoNet out, and this is great. One of the things that complicates SL use is the lack of easily accessible information in-world. Or, to put it positively, making information more accessible in-world has the potential to improve the SL experience a lot.

I'm very interested in seeing, and developing, a wider range of in-game information resources. This reminds me of a feature I (and others) would like very much to see: some kind of in-world web browser... or at least something with some of the interactive features and content that the web provides.

I can think of a lot of things that might be possible with InfoNet or a related system. (Not all of these may fit with the basic theme of InfoNet itself - and maybe they are better suited for the web itself. But some kind of web-SL integration would be helpful for these.)
- It's true that there is already an events listing, but a system that allows people to vote on events or products (either on ones they have experience with, or ones they'd like to see) could be a helpful tool in providing feedback to those who build, design, or put on events, about what people think and about what people would like to see.
- Another type of directory/index that might be helpful is a job listing index, that includes the ability to list, browse, and apply for jobs - or list one's resume or interest and availability in finding work.
- Content that is not SL-specific in many cases would be helpful for people within SL. One example would be extended rules or strategy information for games that are playable within SL. Another would be information relevant to classes or study groups that might be put on in SL. Or public-domain books or encyclopedia content.
- What about syllabi or outlines of class or discussion events - especially ones that recur along a similar theme? Notes and feedback from past instances of the event could help sort out what to cover at future ones, or to recognize when two separate events are needed to meet the needs of different types of attendees.

All of these would be easier done in a web-based system that is accessible through SL, especially where huge amounts of data are involved. But limited implementations could be done in InfoNet, if that fits with its purpose.

So, I'm curious:
- how might these ideas might be integrated into InfoNet, or do they belong in a separate project?
- how might InfoNet relate to the development or functioning of an in-world web browser?
- in the absence of an in-world web browser, what are the practical limits of how much information might be made available through this sort of system? (I.e., how many documents, menus, kb, etc.)

Good luck with the project, in any case.

The InfoNet is almost infinite in potential.
All of your suggestions Alexis, show both possibility and potential to a part of the InfoNet. But weather or not they will make it to the active service list depends on time and workload.

At present, the InfoNet system is mostly static in function. That is, that each menu and every button, needs to be hard coded into the machine. Only the Live News is dynamic and ever changing, controlled by a central server located within SL.

The advantage to such a system, is that only officially registered changes occour. The system is fast and light to use, and dosn't use up much in terms of Linden Server usage to run such a device. But the majority of updates done to the terminals are effectively static in nature.

The internet isn't static, it's dynamic. And in it's ever changing nature, hard to control. At present, I am the only person able to update the static content of the InfoNet. All dynamic info passed through the server can be changed by any member of it's accompanying newsgroup.

Making a sort of ingame internet would still require some control as to what could and couldn't be published. If free for all publishing access was given to the residents to add content of the InfoNet, the results would be disasterous... I forsee pornography, advertisments and griefers abound flooding the terminals.

One feature that will be added to the InfoNet shortly is a delayed chat / forum feature.
The use of this service by the public will determine the option of a free for all publishing service, as a future possibility to the InfoNet.

I can't see the InfoNet turning into a SL internet / dynamic variant. But I do like your suggestions of a rateable events directory. As this dosn't exist currently in SL, it will be added to the possible future feature list.

One service already provided by the Learning Center is a jobs service, where people can post and apply for jobs. Integrating this into the InfoNet had never crossed my mind, But I will discuss this as a possibility with the relevant parties.

Product manuals, and hints and tips section... If I start receiving these in notecard form in the InfoNet DropBox, I will make a section and put them up. I like the idea, but I can't see it happening.

The InfoNet will become whatever the public demand pushes it to. If enough different people start dropping a similear item into the DropBox that dosn't currently have a place in the InfoNet, I will make a place for it. But keep it PG please.

Sounds kind of like that thing Water Rogers made some 18 months ago
I used to have one at the disco...

Squag, we have to talk.

Squagmire graciously provided me with a full tour of the learning center and the InfoNet resource/server areas, last night. I was and am very impressed and see major potential for a service like this one. I would very much encourage everyone to support Squagmire and the InfoNet project, and I have put my money where my mouth is by not only posting a business listing, but also by designating space on my parcel for an InfoNet terminal.

Excellent job, Squagmire!!!