Enoch

Here’s my drawing of sketches from the exercise we have to complete for the first week of Integrative Practices aka CTEC500.  In response to the first question:  In what ways did this exercise assist in seeing things you may have not have noticed before? I noticed that the larger the space I drew I tried to fit it into the same sized shape. I noticed also that, once again if I was dedicated again if I could really be bothered with doing realism, I really could, but the tedium is not necessary for the message to be conveyed in a difficult form, but it is mainly because I am lazy and dont want to spend forever thinking about detail. I want to create and get the message across. 

I guess this is why I never finish writing my stories unless they’re short stories, and then again even that is difficult because the amount of detail is fluid, the potential depths of it coming into being, is not up for me to decide and that is what frustrates me but im not, wait, am I not interested in being a “good” artist? Well, in theory, no, but I admire the detail that a month worth of painting takes on a single piece. What am I doing here in this world? Am I really painting how I want to paint..? Or am I still painting? Well, no Im typing, my favourite way of sharing my quintessence. No I am painting the way I want to, just not when i’d like to. I should just paint a masterpiece. Im going to start planning it now.

I just want to have a smoke, lay here and drink my water. See that? I’m gone. Not here. I’m in another plane altogether. I’m not even reading or seeing the words, or the screen. I’m dreaming again. 

I’ve been thinking about building that treehouse in the cabins, with the woodfire burning out by our stairwell, and the evening light is still bringing warmth through the glaze of the glades and the river as brilliant as a mirror, reflecting what it sees of the sun. Im wearing a swandri, red, and I have my beard and long hair in a bun, and I’m near the end of my life, and I know you’re not far from home, that’s why it is set up the way it is. I wait here for you everyday so you get home and you’re alright. I dont know who’s in that window, but it may be our daughter. She’s waiting for you too. And the pine needles that are around the fire are always so much more orange and drier than what piles in heaps from gravity and pressure pockets in the sky.

oh yeah 50 words or less, right.

Second question:  How might you use or adapt this method in future for your work?

Okay. Well I dont want to waste all my 50 words, on how the last question isnt the same as this question, but it’s really all relative. Okay well, if I get to start with my 50 words or less, again, from here: I’ll definitely take more action to get a reference if I want to make the art I really envision for myself to make.

Its been a while since I’ve posted in here. Honestly University is something I know I need to continue with, but it’s not the forefront of my life. I am currently in Christchurch, and the team creating one of the zaniest immersive experiences I have ever been involved in. 

I’m a full time live-in-artist-in-residence at Exchange Christchurch, which is a huge showcase, creator/maker space, with amazing food, vibes and events that push the boundaries of creativity, the arts, and social networking like what we’re seeing in larger cities across the world like Berlin, Shanghai and Blackrock.

I’m still very interested in all that BCT has to offer me, hence why I am still here, and working remotely. I feel like being caged to Auckland is not my calling. I can study, be fluid and adaptable and able to fit in a lot in every single day, including spending time with those who matter to me the most, and trust me, there’s a lot of people. 

I want to entertain the notion that the course called Integrative Practices or trans-disciplinary practices or the culmination of experience, to be called Mindfulness, under different names. To be mindful, we can see all aspects of ourselves arise, and it doesn’t necessarily mean we have to be in a calm or meditative state to practice being aware of the various faculties of our organism, but being calm and still is a perfect way to practice watching all your thoughts and feelings, so that in the situation where we need to be interdisciplinary, we are calm, aware and open to connection otherwise would be previously irrelevant or unheard of. 

I know a lot of my writing, is psuedo-scientific. Which means that although it’s not in a scientific journal, choreographed and tested against others, I have my beliefs, thoughts and feelings, which of course, are attached to my sense of self and allows me to navigate this universe much like the fish does in its own world.

“Hey kids, how’s the water?” said the Adult fish to the young fish.

“What the hell is water?” replies the juvenile fish.

The facts may be present in a million unstructured documents from centuries of studies, and struggles and some others may choose not to believe my truth, or the countless other agents who have testified throughout history of their truth, but whether you believe it or not, I do, this is my reality, and if you can not wrap your mind around the fact that I can not fully wrap my mind around yours, you’ll start to see that in matter of fact, all these differences we have in opinions, or truths, or facts, is that you believe in something, thats your science, your truth. You have an absolute sense of rightness about you. But is it right? Is it good, or evil? Or God’s handiwork? 

What is real? Love isn’t real. Oh wait, it is, isn’t it? You’ve felt it in a tearjerker movie, that pulled you into another reality. The past few months I have been exploring love, and trust, and truth, and awareness within my relationships with friends and family, and the most valuable thing in life is that which I know won’t last forever. Nothing will. That’s why its so valuable. The sensation of the skin on their knee, the fabric of their clothes, how it holds the form of a human so well in such a cacophony of ways. The fear of being seen for who I am. Afraid of being seen by those who I have invested my heart and soul into. Literally. Love is an investment that when it is real, it grows. If it is loyalty, it’s out of fear. Love is stronger than gravity. Love is painful. But pain is our greatest teacher because we change and live and grow through experience.

I am going to go draw the place where I live and work, The Exchange. For this first week of Integrative Practices blog. I know that because I dont want to do it, I know I should do it, just to prove to myself that I want to. I guess I have a question with authority. You have to do that. It’s not a choice. But I know I will have to live with humans, so long as I live on this planet, in this skinsuit.

** What is your Idea? **

My idea's name is "**Zer0S**" pronounced "Zeroes".

**What is Zer0S?** Zer0S is an immersive and interactive mudbox application which is a completely cloud-based, multi-platform, live-streaming, (XR) mixed media and reality virtualization interface that affords the user the interpretation and manipulation of massively-multi-sourced online digital media via cloud(s) that can remotely render objects or instances. All of the software and processing is cloud-based, the majority of processing being done at remote facilities or by applications on remote virtual servers. All essential files are remotely installed or accessed, and the only necessary technical interface needed is for the user to install the client through the Zer0S Cloud initially and thereafter the Zer0S autonomous patching client will remain connected and update your device(s) with web access and cloud content. If you have a mobile service or carrier associated with your device, that allows for remote accessibility. Access to wifi with the highest speed connection as well as a device with optimized hardware for XR is desirable but not at all required.

Zer0S gained its name by zero meaning no quantity or nothing, yet this also implies it has infinite scalability, and that the intangible is the basis of everything. The '0S' in the name implies it is an operating system, which it is not, however it is fully capable of streaming a virtual OS.

**So why Zer0S?** Why now? Our time in COVID-19 lockdown has incubated us and developed our technophilia, so far as necessitating assimilation to an online and digitized version of life as we know it. Our everyday routines, types of recreation, operations in our workplaces, and local production has been redefined. This online lifestyle of work and recreation we have adopted just to stay 'more connected' can be enhanced by the affordability of currently emerging technologies. Examples such as Microsoft Azure and their most recent Hololens proves that there is the possibility for this type of deeply intuitive, connected and open-source interface that the world has barely explored **6, 12**

Who is Zer0S for? Humans have shown resiliency to hardship, and the ability to adapt, especially when they're backed in a corner or when we collaborate in numbers via the unseen paradigm of online social interconnectedness and exceptional technological ingenuity, which is founded by the innate virtue of empathy. Using the current and emerging technologies that are available, we are developing them to be in the hands of every potential user, mainly as a tool for productivity and ingenuity, or a virtual workspace. It could also be used as an immersive teaching or studio space, or a virtual daycare to keep the kids occupied while everyone is under one roof. Everyday user-friendly applications in mixed reality - this is where I see Zer0S being used.

**The Heart of Zer0S** How Zer0S is different Zer0S is based on and designed to be a multiplatform cloud-based virtualization program or application of Microsoft Azure, and Microsoft Hololens Emulation software. The virtualization of the software is done remotely and streamed to the user's devices in real-time. It is endeavored to be able to run on all currently available PCs, laptops, consoles and mobile devices with serviceable hardware (and a high-speed internet connection).

Zer0S is predominantly being developed to be used in virtual reality headset applications, however, that is because the UI's functionality is very similar to current VR clients such as Oculus or SteamVR. Controllers for Zer0S will aim to be hand, eye, face and/or body-based tracking, (such as being implemented in Oculus Quest and Microsoft Hololens2), a low cost solution is using a common mobile smart phone to serve as a HMD (Head mounted display), in an appropriate cardboard template housing.With additional hardware such as other controllers, including USB, Bluetooth or wifi-connected devices will also be functional if your devices have the capabilities.

**Zer0S is 'Life in the Clouds' Communication, Humanity and Interconnectivity are the founding principles behind Zer0S. **Zer0S is intended to connect the user to an intuitive and immersive mixed reality user interface that offers the virtue of freedom and interactivity with other users in a virtual or augmented environment.**  **12**

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**Staying in-sync**

Any applications or augmented layers executed within the programs remain active and interactable as long as you are connected to a/the Zer0S Cloud. As soon as you are disconnected from the cloud, all of your virtual local environment will have been saved and remain active online as an object with a geolocation cache, or it can be locally attached to reappear near you when reconnecting to the cloud.

Users with Zer0S installed can offer the processing power of their devices to the processing of the cloud information. We will have our own service through the Zer0S cloud that will allow the servers to distribute loads, and build states across a stable and interconnected cloud of devices and servers. **11**

While the device is disconnected, the program generally does simple administrative or diagnostic tasks but it requires the online connectivity to update the client with the most recent public or developer interactivity so that upon wanting to use the Zer0S UI and functionality the user's device is able to interact with a clean naturally patched, seamless and streaming online environment.

As long as the internet connection is stable and the client is not impeded by external processes will determine how seamless and endless your user experience with Zer0S will be. In other words, how fast information can be sent or received and rendered by the client in a window or object in the Zer0S UI. The user's device and internet connection speed is the limit to the user experience as the OS software has many levels of complexity, including hardware diagnostics, and calibrating optimal operation based on the usage of a device, which is constantly monitored against server-wide Zer0S cloud users and their experiences.

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** A Walk-ThrUI **

The UI of Zer0S is quite simple. Upon opening the interface you'll have bold, customizable and interactive blue or gold bars around the window's boundaries that allow you to add or edit layers, environments or filters. Create, edit or spawn instances or transform your virtualized objects. Instances are virtual rooms, and virtualized objects are data being rendered in an intuitive form to interact within the UI. If you have a touchscreen interface you may interact this way, or, if you have your hands free, you can use your hands for an intuitive tactile interface. The cloud offers maximum functionality relative to your hardware although the UI for the client and 'home' menu will be rendered in a 3 or 4-dimensional environment that users will be able to interact with. Zer0S is optimized to be used in virtual reality headsets, but Zer0S encourages using the hardware you have available and Zer0S will give you the best user experience it can offer.

Software developers will have the opportunity to adapt or reimagine their applications to operate to the fullest potential in Zer0S's UI (user interface). Desktop Virtualization of other current OS's, applications and programs are encouraged and available to be accessed from shared Zer0S servers from the Zer0S UI to engage users, offer functionality and endless accessibility. With this cross-platform-cloud-accessibility, it is easy to exchange and share data over to the Zer0S framework, applications, databases and resources, to really 'bridge-the-gap' in our evolving socially online lives. ____________________________________________________________

Zer0S is hardly revolutionary; as an idea, it has been around since antiquity, however as a concept that has the likelihood of being implemented, all the elements of Zer0S comprise of technology we already have had at our disposal for a number of years. A web search will reveal how common this universal technology is except for a practical and seamless interface and is a popular UI for users without needing access to mixed reality equipment to gain the benefits of mixed reality.

These technologies (examples) include but are not limited to: Cross-platform development (PC to XBOX), (PC to MAC); **1** VR, AR (Tendar)**2**, XR (SteamVR), **3** face or body recognition (Instagram), real-time motion and 3D tracking (Xbox Kinect 2.0 or Instagram), **4** GPS tracking (Google Maps), **5** depth of field and non-physical UI interfaces (Microsoft Hololens), **6** cloud-sharing (OneDrive, Azure or Adobe Creative Cloud), **7** wearable digital displays (Nintendo Labo or GoogleCardboard), **8** Designing for the future, Social Critical Design **9** AI voice-assistant engines (Siri, Cortana, Alexa), **10**

SEE REFERENCES: **1. ** All cross-platform games (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC) https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/all-cross-platform-games/

**2. **Tendar by TenderClaws "A virtual pet that feeds on laughter, surprise and tears." https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.TenderClaws.Tendar.home

**3.** What is Mixed Reality? by Bernard Marr on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_I873tL3jw and Occulus Quest Space Station Home on Youtube https://youtu.be/otLEHpmNB4I

**4. **Facial Recognition: What you need to know... by CNET on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgTBLLMtpUA

**5.** Google Maps Live View (AR Maps) https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/8/20776247/google-maps-live-view-ar-walking-directions-ios-android-feature

**6. **HoloLens 2 AR Headset: On Stage Live Demonstration https://youtu.be/uIHPPtPBgHk

**7.** Microsoft Azure Remote Rendering https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/services/remote-rendering/#product-overview

**8** Nintendo brings VR to Switch with new Labo kit by Cass Marshall https://www.polygon.com/2019/3/6/18254014/nintendo-switch-vr-labo-kit-release-date

** 9. ** Chapter 2 - A Map of Unreality - Speculative Everything by Anthony Dunne, Fiona Raby https://muse.jhu.edu/chapter/1057617

**10. **Best AI Apps in 2020 https://www.devteam.space/blog/10-best-ai-apps/

**11** Donate processing power https://www.networkworld.com/article/2247149/data-center-12-cool-ways-to-donate-your-pc-s-spare-processing-power.html

**12** Seniors try VR for the first time by VRScout on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvUkcw63bAs

Extra references to imageboard will be found here:

Say for example: You want to imagine what it would look like to wear your own wedding cake, which normally would require a bit of photoshop work. You call up the Zer0S A.I assistant by either pressing the glowing golden bar at the bottom of the screen, or you can vocally ask "Hey Zero, listen up" (or another chosen voice activation protocol) or you can make a hand symbol which the program understands is a Zer0S A.I activation protocol. 

You ask Zer0S to open up a photo editing application e.g Photoshop; and for it to make a new scene with a picture of your wedding cake floating in space on a transparent background. You tell it where to find the file of the wedding cake in your cloud drive or local storage. Zer0S will make this event you have asked for occur, unless you cancel its train of action or thought. 

For it to fully execute the thought it will go through the process of making such event happen, such as to make sure Photoshop, or an alternative is installed or able to be accessed remotely through virtualization of software, to open the software, in an augmented environment and then perform the task within the application. You can teach the program how to do this if the Zer0S A.I has difficulty connecting the dots, or getting permissions.

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I made a video about my progress. I have been thinking a lot today. I was also trying to sort out my tax from the Australian government and that was not simple, to be frank.