Linda Stone - Microsoft - Virtual Worlds on the Web Written Bill Peay Photos by: Nick Galante Digital cameras provided by Kodak Digital Science

KALAPAKI BAY, KAUAI, HAWAII,1 p.m. HST, Friday, April 27

Linda Stone, Director of Microsoft's Virtual Worlds Group tossed out a challenging concept for consideration to digital storytellers with her discussion of the Multi-User Dimension, or MUD environment. "We have two places where we live - home and work," stated Ms. Stone. "In Europe there are neighborhood cafes where people go to unwind. We don't really have that here," she said. Then she admitted to the group, "Oh my god, my own third place is on-line! That's where I regularly make contact with my friends and family and whatever."

Stone said, "When the Microsoft Network, or MSN, was being created, we asked ourselves, 'What are people doing on-line?' The Internet was rich in content with information, shopping, and games, yet the experience was somewhat empty. Now something deeper is going on. People are craving communicating with each other - they want a place where they can meet people."

Utilizing MSN, Microsoft is now offering subscribers a variety of multi-user virtual worlds which are being distributed on-line where people can interact in a number of ways. When you go into one of MSN's MUDs you create a character from a head and a body that represents you and your persona. You travel through rooms or spaces and encounter characters that have standard responses, and others that are actual representations of other people visiting the same MUD at the same time.

Stone pointed out: "Several of the presentations at this conference, so far, have dealt with storytelling for an environment where one person is choosing different options or endings to a story. What about storytelling within a MUD where there are multiple users engaging each other interactively?"

What can technology do to support people to people connection and communication - and how does 'story' relate to all of this?" she asked. According to Stone, "Sociology and cultural anthropology play a big role in the development of virtual worlds." She relayed an interesting story about a gang of on-line veterans who watch for a "newbie" to enter their particular MSN MUD environment.

The newbie, who has just chosen a body and head, enters the cyber world where one or more of the gang sweet talk the newbie to loan them her head, "just to try on for size." The newbie, not realizing that all is not fair in this virtual world, appreciates the kindness and complies with the request At that point the gang - known affectionately by everyone on the virtual world as "the headhunters" - runs off with the newbie's head for their collection. "Now when you connect to this virtual world you will find a lot of headless newbies running around trying to figure out how to acquire a new head or to get their original one back." This has evolved into a story which is told and told again on-line. Cyber-reality suddenly has a history, a past, a story to tell.

Another virtual world, created by Microsoft to serve the Gay and Lesbian community, is called "Planet Out". Stone admitted: "The central theme of this world is sex," and some members who frequent this area have found ways to utilize the movements and gestures of their digital characters to have more than conversation."

Stone said the virtual worlds of Microsoft are currently limited to PC Window's users only.