02532    a2200289   4500001001100000005001700011008003900028020001800067037003600085040000700121041000800128072001600136072001500152072001400167072001300181072002100194072002100215072002100236072001900257100002200276245003700298250000600335260002400341300001000365520184500375700002202220113478332920250317111645.0250312042018xx                   eng    a9781134783328  bTaylor & FranciscGBP 81.99fBB  a01  aeng7 aTBDG2thema7 aTBC2thema7 aTBDG2bic7 aTBC2bic7 aCOM0790102bisac7 aPSY0000002bisac7 aTEC0090602bisac7 a004.0192bisac1 aKenneth W. Kisiel10aWorking Through Synthetic Worlds  a1  bCRC Pressc20180417  a446 p  bVirtual environments (VE) are human-computer interfaces in which the computer creates a sensory-immersing environment that interactively responds to and is controlled by the behaviour of the user.  Since these technologies will continue to become more reliable, more resolute and more affordable, it's important to consider the advantages that VEs may offer to support business processes.    The term 'synthetic world' refers to a subset of VEs, having a large virtual landscape and a set of rules that govern the interactions among participants.  Currently, the primary motivators for participation in these synthetic worlds appear to be fun and novelty.  As the novelty wears off, synthetic worlds will need to demonstrate a favourable value proposition if they are to survive.  In particular, non-game-oriented worlds will need to facilitate business processes to a degree that exceeds their substantial costs for development and maintenance.    Working Through Synthetic Worlds explores a variety of different tasks that might benefit by being performed within a synthetic world.  The editors use a distinctive format for the book, consisting of a set of chapters composed of three parts:  ¢ a story or vignette that describes work conducted within a synthetic world based loosely on the question, 'what will work be like in the year 2025?', founded on the expert authors' expectations of plausible future technologies ¢ a scholarly review of the technologies described by the stories and the current theories related to those technologies ¢ a prescription for future research required to bridge the current state-of-the-art with the notional worlds described in the stories.  The book will appeal to undergraduate and graduate students, professors, scientists and engineers, managers in high-tech industries and software developers.1 aC.A.P. Smith4B01