ATHEMOO:

Visit the Cyber Conference Center

by Eric Armstrong

The blurb on your computer screen reads: "ATHEMOO is a professional community where people interested in theatre come to exchange information, have meetings and learn about MOO technology and its uses for classroom and other projects." No, you haven't entered the twilight zone, but a "virtual space" on the internet where you can meet with colleagues from around the world. ATHEMOO is a MOO - which stands for a "MUD, Object Oriented." If you're just as confused as before, let me clarify: a MUD is a (dated) expression for a "Multiple User Dimension, Dungeon, or Dialogue." First de- veloped for Dungeons-and-Dragons type gaming, these internet arenas have become meeting areas for people with a common interest.

Often a MOO will center around gaming, social interaction or an educational purpose, like learning a foreign language. After logging-on to a MOO, you move around in an imaginary locale, using text commands to go places ("go north"), talk to people ("say Hello!"), or manipulate objects ("read Welcome"). Though it sounds difficult, it is actually very easy.

ATHEMOO was designed by Juli Burk of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Its metaphor is that of a conference center for theatre educa-tors. It contains virtual theatres, lecture halls, offices, a few watering holes (the Dancer's Barre, for ex-ample), and even a Greek Amphi-theatre.

>>

http:/moo.hawaii.edu:9000/11

to browse through the site without interacting, or go to:

http://uhunix2.its.hawaii.edu:9000/

for a good description of all the possible ways you might be able to access ATHEMOO.

When you arrive at the welcome screen, you need to register. This is a feature of all MOO's: you must have a username and a password. When you visit for the first few times you can register as a guest (type "connect Guest") and then you can apply for a playername and password later. Once connected, you should go exploring a bit, seeing all the rooms in the place. You might also try the tutorial (type "@tutorial") to learn some of the commands to negotiate the MOO.

I have taken it upon myself to create a virtual studio for VASTA which you can visit by typing "@go vasta studio". It is just an example of the kind of object - in this case a room - that one can create. Why not check it out?

VASTA members could find it useful if we were to schedule regular get togethers in the MOO environment. Perhaps a time could be scheduled by the board, or a group of colleagues

>>

The real challenge to it is finding the time when all participants are avail-able - and remembering that some people may be in a different time zone! The great thing about it is that it happens in real time. The drawback is that you can only use text - it's like a limited conference call. For all those who "hunt & peck" at the keyboard, it can be very trying.

Some theatre educators are taking the idea a long way, creating virtual theatre, with costumes, scripts, props, and sets. But for Voice and Speech teachers it may seem more cumbersome than useful. What it allows you to do is respond immediately to one another, and also to gather a consensus on ideas and issues. You could pretend to explore an exercise together, or describe what works - demonstrating would mean a lot of typing, and no one would actually see what was going on, or hear the results. For colleagues with a shared vocabulary, perhaps a MOO would work well.

For more information on ATHEMOO, visit their website at:
http://moo.hawaii.edu/athemoo/
and keep your eyes open on VASTAVOX for invitations to tutorials with real live people there to help you through the process. If you want further information, you could also email Juli Burk at <burk@hawaii.edu>. And you can always try calling Eric at (781) 736-3348 or emailing him at: <armstrong@brandeis.edu> for tips and help.

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