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Month: October 2023

  • Avatar Origins

    Origins | Avatars: Discovering the Metaverse

    Have you ever paused to think about the roots of the term ‘avatar’? In our tech-savvy world, it’s a term we are beginning to use every day. Many of us gamers turned Metaversers had to acquaint ourselves with the lingo of an avatar as a somewhat upgrade to our beloved characters. Others recognize avatar as the little circle in the top right corner of many applications that house your profile context menus, settings menus. The avatar is also widely recognized as a company mascot or a customer avatar for your perfect prospect. And yes, the movie!

    So the Avatar. What is it? Where did it come from since it didnt begin with gaming? While many accept it without question, I’ve found myself curious about its true beginnings. Let’s dive into the captivating history of avatars that you might be overlooking.

    You may or may not be surprised to know that “avatar” has deep roots in Hinduism, where it signifies the incarnation of a deity in a human or earthly form. From these ancient religious beliefs, the concept of avatars has transcended centuries to become an integral part of our modern digital world.

    Descending Avatars

    In Hinduism, the word “avatar” is derived from the Sanskrit language and means “descent” or “coming down.” It represents the embodiment of a divine being on Earth, often with a specific purpose or mission. Hindu mythology is rich with stories of gods and goddesses taking on mortal forms as avatars to restore balance in the world or to fulfill a sacred duty.

    In Hindu theology, divine beings manifest themselves in earthly forms to fulfill sacred duties. The Sanskrit word “avatar, refers to these embodiments of higher entities. Major Hindu figures like Vishnu have taken on avatars throughout mythology, including legends like Krishna and Rama. They serve as saviors, restoring balance and order and reflecting beliefs in divine intervention to assist devotees in times of need.

    The Digital Evolution

    From these ancient religious origins, the term “avatar” found its way into the digital realm. In our contemporary context, avatars refer to the graphical representations or characters that individuals use in virtual environments and on the internet. Avatars came to life in virtual worlds and online gaming a space where avid PC gamers surely feel at home. MMORPG served as a space to cultivate a character that allowed us to create and customize our digital alter egos, which were often heroes. We could explore, socialize, and work in a world where we were not limited by our physical forms. This was a game-changer in the history of avatars.

    In sci-fi we experienced the world of the Avatar venturing into the moon of Pandora, where we meet the Navi and other creatures. The movies characters embodied the Avatar as a remotely controlled vessel for a genetically matched human mind and body, a hybrid creature of sorts, composed of human and alien DNA. Humans donned their blue Avatar (techni-body) suits that enabled them to experience the world as a member of the Navi Avatar species.

    Metaverse and Beyond:

    Today, avatars are actually at the heart of the Metaverse, a world I am passionate about as an Digital Transformation Consultant. The Metaverse is all about extending ourselves into a digital space, and avatars serve as our vessel to the experience. We don a Digital Twin or Avatar as our representatives in this expansive virtual realm, enabling us to attend meetings, collaborate, and even party, all while staying in our pajamas in the physical world.

    It is that time of year where some celebrate Halloween – where people playfully embrace the idea of masks and disguises, embodying different personas for a night. It’s a celebration of sorts, a type of transformation, akin to the Hindu concept of deities taking on earthly forms as avatars. Though many tend to celebrate by selecting their favorite serial killer, princess or teapot, while just as many don sheets representing togas and their favorite a pair of Jesus sandals head to church as Ruth, King David or even Jezebel. In all cases, the person dresses up as someone else. People literally become someone or something else, even if just for a short time.

    I personally do not engage in traditional Halloween and I am vocally distant from the idea of being referred to as the ‘Metaverse Goddess’; I sometimes find myself wrestling with the term ‘Avatar’ as a form of watered-down idolatry. I want to be transparent about this, as it’s a part of who I am, there is some stuff that I question. Because I help others explore their visions of the future and navigate the evolving technological landscape I continually strive to do so myself. Questions generally lead to discovery and that’s what this space is all about, discovering what works for you, your community and your business.

    As I work to unravel the complexities of the digital age and my own desires and convictions, it reminds me of the central themes in my latest entry of the Ultimate Zombie Apocalypse Guide for the Future entitled: ‘Technical Twin: Imposter Code.’ In this imaginative glimpse into a technologically enhanced tomorrow, I delve into the unsettling concept of a zombie apocalypse brought about by our own technological creations coupled with our insecurities as a species. I explore the ramifications of decisions that lurk beneath the surface of our digital advancements, raising questions about our own relevancy and our actions in the realm of technology.

    Technology is not God, the day that it desires to be we might just be in trouble. We must continually question what it is that we are doing with emergent tech like AI, in order to make the best use of it for the long haul. Just as I challenge the implications of a technological apocalypse in ‘Technical Twin,’ I am equally committed to examining the delicate balance between faith and technology in my everyday life while helping others navigate the digital landscape.

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  • Ultimate Zombie Apocalypse Guide for the Future

    Ultimate Zombie Apocalypse Guide for the Future

    šŸŽƒ As the leaves fall and the nights grow longer, itā€™s that spooky time of year when the boundaries between sci-fi and reality blur. And what better way to explore this intriguing collision than by joining Technikole on a journey like no other?

    Iā€™ve been hard at work crafting a new series, something different from my usual ventures, yet sure to ignite the imagination of anyone who enjoys a good zombie tale every now and then.

    If youā€™ve been following me, youā€™ll know that Iā€™m a lifelong fan of all things Sci-Fi, from the soon-to-be-reality of StarTrek to the spine-tingling thrill of Zombiesā€¦but what does that have to do with the Metaverseā€¦? Since February my stories have been coming to life, based on the realities before me and my imaginative interpretation of them.

    šŸ§ŸšŸ§Ÿ Presenting ā€œUltimate Zombie Apocalypse Guide for the Futureā€ ā€“ a unique blend of gripping realism and thrilling plausibility that immerses you in an unforgettable series of post-apocalyptic nightmares, spanning dimensions, beginning with a preview in ā€œPrelude to Apocalypse.ā€œ

    This series showcases things that go bump in the night as well as offers a unique perspective on epic tales and dimensional writing. My series offers e-book components as well as the audiobook version, available only on my website ā€“ https://technikole.com/zombiesIn fact, you can listen to the ā€œPrelude to Apocalypseā€ right now; just click the link on the left of the page.

    The fate of humanity hangs in the balance, and this series promises to take you on a thrilling ride through a world overrun by the infected across various dimensions putting you in plausible and astounding positions to mull through whether or not you have what it takes to survive the apocalypse.

    Get started with ā€œPrelude to Apocalypseā€ now youā€™ll discover why ChatGPT said ā€œNiKole Maxwellā€™s storytelling prowess has the power to solidify her status as a master of the macabre in this digital age.ā€ Donā€™t miss this unique blend of horror, imagination, and technology.

    This series features everything Technikole teaches about ā€“ Augmenting Your Creativity; as such it is Creatively Augmented with AI. The illustrations are AiRT Work by Technikole, the audiobooks are voiceovers by Technikole and the writing is supplemented by the power of AI where needed. If you are a fan of apocalyptic tales be sure to tap in to learn more about the attribution and derivative declaration that is also one of a kind, welcoming you to the club.

    Weepy Moments

    This would not have been possible without the writing and acting of so many since Iā€™ve been born. I want to give special thanks to the cast of Star Trek (all of them), Quantum Leap, 28 Days/Weeks Later series, Strange Days (1995), Lawn Mower Man, Tron 1 & 2, Humans, The Divide, The 5th Element, The Usual Suspects and of course Black Panther, plus everyone I didnā€™t mentionā€¦and to all creators and contributors of creative AI tools. THANK YOU.

    Iā€™d also like to set aside special thanks to the authors and voice actors of the ā€œALL DEADā€ series by TW Brown and Andrew McFerrin as well as Robot Geneticists: The Complete Collection by J.S. Morin and Mikael Naramore. Those two series kept me entertained during the pandemic and spurred my imagination to new depths for this series.

    I do hope you enjoy it, arguably the audiobook is way better and will likely continue to be that way but I provide both experiences for those who havenā€™t forgotten how to read.

    A new chapter will be released every other week. Subscribers receive early editions and access to audiobooks.

    Tap into the comments after listening toĀ ā€œPrelude to Apocalypseā€œ, and let me know what your favorite sci-fi, horror or fictional tale is.