AI Quick Summary
The meeting covered a wide range of topics related to virtual reality, including technical aspects, philosophical implications, and practical applications. Discussions touched on the importance of embodiment in cognition, the potential of XR spaces for information display and document structuring, and the challenges and opportunities of incorporating LaTeX into virtual environments. The participants also explored ideas for creating inclusive and creative discussion environments, shared personal experiences, and considered the future possibilities of writing and conceptualizing in XR spaces.
Next steps
- Fabien to implement a basic equation rendering feature using LaTeX to image conversion for the XR environment.
- Fabien to continue developing the speech-to-text functionality in the XR environment.
- Mark and Peter to provide input on how to make the XR authoring environment more practical and useful for academic writing.
- Fabien to explore ways to integrate LaTeX functionality into the XR environment without becoming a full LaTeX editor.
- Fabien to prepare a demo for the next meeting showcasing LaTeX integration in the XR environment.
- Dene to continue developing the “Principles of VR” concept for potential publication and performance piece.
- Fabien to consult with a medical specialist about his sinus issue related to freediving.
AI Summary
Virtual Object Tagging and Predictability
Dene and Fabien discussed their ongoing projects. Dene shared her work on principles of VR, emphasizing the importance of digital technologies in creating virtual objects and the need for sensory modalities in the virtual world. Fabien presented his latest work, a system to add tags to virtual objects, and discussed the potential of this system to enhance user experience. They also discussed the concept of predictability in the virtual world, with Fabien suggesting that predictability can be both beneficial and limiting, depending on the context.
Surrealism and Virtual Reality Discussion
Dene and Fabien discussed the concept of virtual reality and its relation to surrealism. Dene shared her thoughts on how surrealism could be seen as a visualization of a virtual world, and how it could be used as a performance piece. Fabien agreed, emphasizing the empowering aspect of virtual reality. They also discussed their upcoming meeting with Mark and Peter, but decided there was no urgent need to prepare for it. Dene shared a positive message she received from Peter, expressing his appreciation for the session and the focus on the task at hand.
Fostering Inclusivity in Moderated Discussions
Dene and Fabien discussed the importance of maintaining a positive and inclusive environment during their moderated discussions. They emphasized the need to protect diverse voices and opinions, even if they differ from their own, to foster creativity and avoid echo chambers. Dene also shared her belief in a feminism that values everyone’s voice, regardless of their background or political views. They agreed to continue this approach to keep the group moving forward in a positive manner.
Addressing LaTeX in Client-Side Functionality
Fabien and Dene discuss the upcoming Monday meeting and how to address the topic of file formats, particularly LaTeX. They agree to use LaTeX as an example during the discussion about client-side functionality, aiming to demonstrate the system’s flexibility without becoming LaTeX specialists. Dene suggests that even if the attempt is unsuccessful, it would still be a valuable learning experience. The conversation then shifts to philosophical musings about creating virtual objects without physical counterparts, drawing parallels to mythological concepts and discussing the potential evolution of digital entities.
Embodiment in Cognition and Robotics
Dene and Fabien discuss the importance of embodiment in cognition and robotics. They agree that a physical or virtual body is necessary for intelligence to develop and interact with its environment. Dene shares an anecdote about robotics research showing the importance of sensory input for progress. They also explore ideas about adding sound cues to their virtual environment project and discuss plans to incorporate floating contextual boxes with related imagery in the background. Dene mentions preparing something for the ELO Conference in July.
Freediving, Latex, and Writing Paper Demos
Fabien discussed his recent freediving class and the potential benefits of using static apnea for mental preparation. Dene shared her experiences with underwater activities and the sense of isolation they provide. Fabien also mentioned a deep pool in Brussels and the need to check a sinus issue. Mark attempted to use a JSON file in a demo but encountered issues, and Fabien suggested it might be better suited for another demo. Mark also shared his experiences with writing papers and managing references, and Peter expressed interest in Fabien’s upcoming discussion on Latex.
LaTeX Usage and Challenges Discussed
Peter discussed the use of LaTeX in various disciplines, noting its prevalence in physical sciences and its compatibility with other packages. He also mentioned the challenges of working with LaTeX packages, which are load order sensitive, and the benefits of using the knowledge package for managing undefined terms. Peter suggested that newer work is moving towards Lua LaTeX, which offers more flexibility. He emphasized the importance of hiding the complexities of LaTeX for users and the potential for creating custom notation sets.
LaTeX Usage and Challenges Discussed
Peter discussed the two main user groups for LaTeX: those who use it for its formatting capabilities and those who use it for its high-level abstractions. He noted that the former group often spends a lot of time upfront figuring out how to represent their abstractions on the final printed page, while the latter group is content to work at a high level with a very tiny subset of commands. Peter also mentioned that LaTeX is particularly useful for linguistics and computational linguistics, as it allows for interlinear glosses and parallel text handling. Mark added that LaTeX is often used in publishing and academia, but its referencing system can be problematic, especially for non-traditional sources. Peter also highlighted the challenges of programmatically dealing with LaTeX code due to its lack of balance tags and implicit closures.
Exploring Xr’s Potential in LaTeX Integration
Peter discussed his experience with a new tool that made his work easier once he understood it. Fabien shared his vision for the Sloan project, aiming to create a simple and feasible way to incorporate LaTeX code, without going too deep into specific packages. He emphasized the importance of inspiring people to build upon this foundation. Mark agreed, highlighting the potential of XR spaces in displaying and structuring information, and the importance of understanding the audience’s needs. He suggested that XR’s plasticity could offer a unique advantage in tasks like structuring papers from different disciplines.
3D LaTeX Command Manipulation
Peter proposes a 3D representation of LaTeX commands in XR, using virtual index cards with parameters on the back and argument slots on the front. Mark questions the practical value of this for non-LaTeX experts. Peter suggests that this system could allow for direct manipulation and easier command building, potentially hiding complexity from casual users while allowing deeper access when needed. The discussion explores how this might work for document sections, with options like numbering accessible by flipping the virtual card.
Exploring XR Writing for Complex Papers
The group discusses the potential benefits and challenges of writing in XR environments, particularly for complex academic papers. Mark questions whether XR writing would be more convenient than current methods, expressing doubts about its practicality. Peter suggests implementing a text entry system in XR using a Bluetooth keyboard, while Fabien mentions existing speech-to-text capabilities. The conversation touches on the importance of capturing ideas quickly in XR and the potential for using LaTeX for equation formatting. The group concludes by considering the use of XR for high-level conceptual sketching of documents, which could later be refined in conventional environments.