Rutgers Day, Huge Success!

Rutgers Day was a huge success. This was possible because of the hard work that everyone involved in the project did in Second Life and Real Life. Additionally, a community of encouragement, and support is needed recognize the value of good works. The Rutgers Community, the New Jersey communty, and the Second Life community did that. For all the hard work a giant personal heartfelt thank you to all of you!

To add some perspective to the success, here is a sampling of the public recognition we received:

Star Ledger: Rutgers Day draws thousands, gives glimpses into the future and past

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/04/rutgers_day_draws_thousands_gi.html

The hundreds of programs, exhibits, performances and food outlets that drew 75,000 people to Rutgers Day on campuses in New Brunswick and Piscataway today were meant to be seen, heard, touched and tasted, but one of the most popular demonstrations for the university’s popular day of show and tell was a virtual, futuristic experience.

A three-dimensional rendering of the future Livingston Campus in Piscataway offered visitors a virtual glimpse of the projected new buildings and grounds through the eyes of an avatar that flies to the different locations. The interactive program is part of Second Life, the largest user-created 3-D world community on the Internet.

"It’s definitely cool to see it all put together," said Joe Catalano, a senior Finance major at Rutgers. "It’s so modern looking. Now I want to see it in person."

The Daily Targum: Rutgers Day brings in thousands to campus-wide event

http://www.dailytargum.com/news/rutgers-day-brings-in-thousands-to-campus-wide-event-1.2240992

The day drew about 75,000 people into the more than 100 programs that looked into the University’s past, present and future. The program was free and open to the public. While only in its second year, this year’s Rutgers Day was differed from last year. Not only did it include Livingston campus, which was closed down for Rutgers Day last year due to construction, but it also gave visitors a sneak peek at the University’s future plans for the campus.

TEN Arquitectos design for Rutgers Business School prototyped in Second Life and OpenSim (machinima)
http://archvirtual.com/?p=2555

Rutgers Day: Visit a Virtual Rutgers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g9R7hLkbRo

Every year we have topped what was done the year before. I'm looking forward to doing that again next year. In the mean time we have generated the opportunity to reach more amazing heights.

Thank You All!

--Rick Anderson (Rk Jinn)

Count down to Rutgers Day

Rutgers Day is this Saturday. Five days an counting. People in Second Life have had the chance to watch the Livingston Campus buildings being built in the air. Land pop in and out of existence. Well, it's all snapping together for Rutgers Day. Feel free to visit us at the Livingston Student Center real life or in Second Life.

I'm very excited to announce that we've been featured at Rutgers Today. This article has gone out to all faculty and staff at the University. Here's a quick link to the interview:

The Rutgers Community will be visiting Rutgers University through our physical computing lab at the Livingston Student Center. We'll have several people on hand to help orient them to Second Life and get a chance to view the new Livingston Campus. Those visiting in SL can walk, and fly through the area and meet people from the Rutgers Community. We will have the ringing of the Rutgers Bell again in Second Life at the Old Queens building. There will be a real world installation with a touch screen where the Rutgers Community can come through and ring the bell. So the Rutgers Bell will ringing all day long for and in virtual Rutgers University.

--Rick Anderson (Rk Jinn)

Rutgers Day is coming April 24th

The big push to show the future of the Livingston Campus is under way. We're preparing to show the newest and most exciting parts of the Livingston Campus to the world. We will be located in the real life, (RL) Livingston Student Collaborative Learning area. There will be Second Life versions of the future campus shown on several over head projects, and have systems set up in an open lab style so people can walk, run, fly around the new areas, and explore virtual Rutgers University as a community.

The Old Queens Campus build represents the beautiful past, and tradition of Rutgers University. For a quick over view and history check out the Wikipedia article on Old Queens. For Rutgers Day we will have real life ringing of the virtual Old Queens Bell. This allows hundreds of people to get the experience without putting wear and tear on the real one. This ringing is an accurate reproduction of the sound inside and outside the real building. So what is heard in the virtual world is the same as you would hear in the real.

Rutgers Day for us is three events. We'll be in the Old Queens building directly across from the real bell. We'll be a the Livingston Student Center Collaborative Learning room, and of course we'll be in Second Life.

If you want to get started checking the campus out early. I recommend going to http://sl.rutgers.edu you can get started there the instructions there will get you to speed and get you to our virtual visitor center in Second Life. If you already have Second Life, I recommend going to this Slurl, http://slurl.com/secondlife/RUCE%202/13/11/30 will place you in the center of the Old Queens Campus. From there in addition to the bell I recommend wandering through the Kirkpatrick Chapel.

I'm always interested in your feedback so either comment here, or find me in Second Life as Rk Jinn. I'll will be posting updates as we get closer to Rutgers Day.

--Rick Anderson (Rk Jinn)