Actor-Based Simulation + Linda = Virtual Environments

Abstract

While it may be called different names — virtual reality, cyberspace, or virtual environments — the expectations are similar. We desire a way to interact completely and seamlessly with other entities, whether those entities be other individuals, synthetic individuals, or just raw information and data. Unfortunately, there is a huge gap between our dreams for virtual environments and the current state-of-the-art. This chapter explores some of the reasons for this situation, and brings together ideas from diverse fields, including object-oriented programming, parallel computation, policy management, and even computer music, in an attempt to take a fresh look at how to build the reality of our dreams.