June 22, 2004

I am still smiling a big huge smile

... having attended Robin's Reviewers' sign up to experience

virtual collaboration space like you have not experienced it before

(end of quote) I am sitting here, trying to write down what I just experienced 1h ago. However, written words will fail me, even if I had time to tell you in person, even if you were to listen to me a whole evening...

What you would see, though, is a face lit up with excitement and a big huge smile. Let me take you back into cyberspace...

The setting: a spacious, modern conference room. A good looking fellow in red and Gillian casually dressed in brown. 9 chairs and 3 people, whom I do not know, a u-shaped conference table. Jón is standing at a presentation table aside of the whiteboard. I have been late entering, so I better sit down quickly…

I put on some bright bluecolored business suit but am soon to regret this boasted appearance, since everybody else turned up in smart casuals.

Curiosity gets the better of me: I get up, sit down on one side, get up again, and sit down on the other side of the table and I am rewarded. From this angle I now see the beautiful green inner court through panes of glass covering an entire side of the room. Soon I learn to move my head in different directions. The conference room is spacious, luxurious and elegantly furbished.

Jón: "Let me lower the blinds" the room darkens, the presentation board seems to brighten up "oh, sorry is this too dark for everybody, let me switch on a lamp" a table lamp appears out of cyberspace, the room lights up.

The presentation board is filled one-by-one with movies, website, spreadsheets and a whiteboard on which we soon start scribbling. A zoom in, a zoom out, it feels like stretching and pulling the mouse cable to get to it.

Soon, everybody gets itchy and of suddenly everyone is on the move. I am trying to navigate around the table, hoops, too fast, knocked my nose on the wall. My viewing angle changes in all direction. My head seems to twist into painful positions. Of suddenly I am looking down on me, from the ceiling. Much nicer than to see my chin.

"Let's go into the hallway, I have to show you something" Robin starts walking towards the door.

Help - they hopefully they don’t walk off without me, my first steps are still clumsy and slow.

The hallway is wide and long, the walls are decorated with beautiful (and all too familiar) Michelangelo paintings and I am looking with envy at a set of clocks, displaying international times.

Across the corridor, there is a lounge. Lush airport chairs are grouped; a chessboard pulls me like a magnet. I try to get to it, but Gillian beats me to it. She must have seen my determined face and the directed steps because she graciously gets up and lets me sit down. I love playing chess, Robin has already done his first move and now it is my turn. The ceiling view is my angle of choice.

No time for lengthy chess games, soon we carry on, there is no rush, just natural exploration.

Robin takes us along to another smaller conference room. Movements are smoother and faster and soon 4 of us are inside. A whiteboard, a rectangular table and 6 chairs. Cheeky Robin, he wants to see, whether those two still out in the hallway would find the bell if he closed the door. Yes they did, the ringing sound is nerve wrecking and will not stop, we let them in.

Back in the hallway, a natural discussion ensues. Casually we are standing in a group. Gillian’s questions to Jóns are straight to the point: who are you, Jón, and what made you develop this virtual space, why use Avatars? Jón’s Avatar seems to be his spitting image. A photo in the profile shows a really nice match.

Jón starts opening up and emerges into details when they started and what they are up to. We listen intently whilst holding some imaginary cups of coffee.

A quick turn around, turning and admiring this fascinating surroundings.

To my amazement Jón’s voice starts fading as soon as I turn my ear away from him. Another 180° angle and I can hear it getting louder. Soon I stop my pirouttes and start concentrating on his fascinating story.

Surely, if you had looked straight into my face at this very moment, you would have seen my stylish eyes open wide in disbelieve.

Posted on June 22, 2004 at 09:36 PM

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Michaela FENCLOVA

This Is How We Will Meet: SmartMeeting

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