<<October 21, 2008>>
Archived distributions can be retrieved at;
<
http://preview.tinyurl.com/35zedj>
This archive includes a html version of this list distribution and its MS/WORD version with its filename as Òmonth-date-year.doc.Ó  You can also access all of its attachments, if any.

Thomas Daly <tdaly@poly.edu>

Prof. Carl Skelton <cskelton@poly.edu>

Professor Harold P. Sjursen, PhD <hsjursen@poly.edu>

Sunil Kumar, Ph.D. <skumar@poly.edu>


References:

(a) Polytechnic Institute of NYU
Games for Learning: NYU-Poly joins Microsoft Research, NYU and consortium to create 1st scientific-based game research alliance
October 14, 2008
http://www.poly.edu/news/fullNews.php?id=1372

(b) Microsoft Pledges $1.5M for Games Research
By Darryl K. Taft
2008-10-07
http://tinyurl.com/47yyz6

(c) New York University, Office of Public Affairs;
Microsoft Research, NYU, and Consortium of University Partners Create First Scientific-Based Game Research Alliance to Transform Learning
Tuesday, Oct 07, 2008
http://www.nyu.edu/public.affairs/releases/detail/2287



Dear Tom:

(1) Many thanks for your msg (ATTACHMENT I
).

Dear Carl:

(2) I am very delighted to read those press releases of the Reference (a) to (c) above, with great interest.

My wholehearted congratulations for your creation of the Games for Learning Institute (G4LI) with funds from Microsoft and your consortium university members.

(3) As said to you before, I hope our following projects would fit well to yours;

(a) "Globally Collaborative Environmental Peace Gaming (GCEPG)"
http://tinyurl.com/k2c7a

(b) Quantitative Policy Analysis of Global Socio-Economic-Energy-Environment Development (GSEEED) Project
http://tinyurl.com/6fb8bb


BTW, both are the same.  In the latter, I avoided the use of the word ÒGAMINGÓ and indicated more specifics.  This is because I encountered many difficulties and misunderstanding with it since I initiated GCEPG at the 1971 Summer Computer Simulation Conference (SCSC) in Boston and the First International Conference on Computer Communication in October, 1972 in Washington, D.C.

For example, pls visit the following list;

(07/26/08) "Peace Gaming on the Scale of Pentagon War Games" by Sarah Lum
http://tinyurl.com/5gwepu


As said in it, people often construed the word ÒGamingÓ with arcade-type entertainment, and ÒPeaceÓ with violence (e.g., waging war).

(4) Our projects have the following two-tier system;

(a) One for training young would-be decision makers for understanding interwoven world phenomena with rational analysis and critical thinking, and then in crisis management, conflict resolution, and negotiation techniques basing on "facts and figures" and

(b) The other for helping decision makers constructing a globally distributed decision-support system for positive sum/win-win alternatives to conflict and war.


I would think that the former would suit well with your project — particularly when we foresee the future with fierce conflicts of various environmental issues in the coming decades.  The decision-makers of those future days are the youngsters in 10s and 20s nowadays.  It is a vital necessity to prepare them well today!!

(5) Gaming/simulation is the best tool we have for understanding the world's problems and the solutions we propose for them. The understanding gained with
scientific and rational analysis and critical thinking would be the basis of world peace, and hence ought to provide the basic principle of global education for peace.

I would say that System Dynamic methodology with its cause-and-effect diagram would be the best way for understanding the intricacies of inter-relatedness of various world phenomena;


<http://tinyurl.com/6r9wob>

Obviously, if you can further go into teaching of its programming, it would be much better;


<http://tinyurl.com/6dbh9l>


<http://tinyurl.com/55bcok>


(6) The essence of ÒgamingÓ is ÒInteraction,Ó i.e.;

(a) Interaction between man and machine, e.g., flight simulator,
(b) Interaction among game players, e.g, Buckminster FullerÕs World Gaming, <http://www.bfi.org/>,
(c) Interaction among game players through Internet, e.g., ICONS of the University of Maryland, <http://www.icons.umd.edu/>.

The (b) and (c) are the so-called Ònormative gaming,Ó -- our GCEPG/GSEEED projects are to combine it with Òquantitative gamingÓ with distributed computer simulation models which will be interconnected through broadband Internet as forming a global scale super-computer — for rigorous discussions basing on Òfacts and figuresÓ for fostering rational analysis and critical thinking.

(7) We will have then each game players autonomously constructing their own simulation models to meet with the Iron-Rule #1 of simulation, i.e., ÒMake simulation close to simuland as much as possible.Ó  This necessitates the distributed mode of simulation with the so-called GRID technology — which concept I initiated in early 1970s;


<http://tinyurl.com/6x34gg>


Keep in touch.

Best, Tak


ATTACHMENT I

 

From: Thomas Daly <tdaly@poly.edu>
Date:
Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:59:43 -0400
To:
Thomas Daly <tdaly@poly.edu>
Subject:
Polytechnic Institute Fall 2008

 

Dear Alumni and Friends,

While domestically we are challenged with economic disruption -- and the impending election has everyone talking -- Polytechnic is moving forward with new programs and continues to be recognized in the press with prestigious ratings.  Check out the news briefs on our website, including articles on the following:

Games for Learning Institute
New Ratings
High School teacher training in mechatronics
A Cyber Crime fight
Black Swan author is a new distinguished professor in risk engineering

and more!

NYU Poly aims to be a player in the new economy, solving problems, creating jobs, developing students and leaders.  Our goal is to be a home for innovation, invention and entrepreneurship.  We are doing this with faculty research, curricula revision, student workshops and our incubator space.

Your continued support on our behalf gives us the means to do this and more.

Please keep in touch,

Tom

www.poly.edu <http://www.poly.edu>


List of Distribution


Thomas Daly
Director, Development Operations and Planned Giving, Development
Polytechnic Institute of NYU
Six MetroTech Center
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-260-3364
Home fax: 718-260-3449
tdaly@poly.edu
http://www.poly.edu
http://web1.poly.edu/ePoly_Briefs/Alum404.htm

Prof. Carl Skelton
Director, Integrated Digital Media Institute
c/o Humanities and Social Sciences
Six MetroTech Center, RH 701
Polytechnic Institute of NYU
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-260-4018
(917) 361-5459
cskelton@poly.edu
idmi.poly.edu

Professor Harold P. Sjursen, PhD
Philosophy of Technology & Global Ethics
UNESCO International Center for Engineering Education
Polytechnic Institute
New York University
5 Metrotech Center
Brooklyn, New York 11201
USA
Tel: 718-260-3597
Fax: 718-788-4268
Cel: 917-743-2390
QQ: 674697426
hsjursen@duke.poly.edu
hsjursen@poly.edu
hsjursen@gmail.com
http://www.poly.edu/

Sunil Kumar, Ph.D.
Dean of Graduate School
Associate Provost
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Polytechnic Institute of New York University
Six MetroTech Center, Rm. RH-102
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Tel: (718) 260-3180
Fax: (718) 260-3532
skumar@poly.edu


*******************************************************************************
* Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D., P.E., Chairman, GLOSAS/USA                           *
* (GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A.)          *
* Laureate of Lord Perry Award for Excellence in Distance Education           *
* Founder and V.P. for Technology and Coordination of                         *
*   Global University System (GUS)                                            *
* 43-23 Colden Street, Flushing, NY 11355-5913, U.S.A.                        *
* Tel: 718-939-0928; Email: utsumi@columbia.edu                               *
* http://www.itu.int/wsis/goldenbook/search/display.asp?Quest=8032562&lang=en *
* http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/                                     *
* U.S. Federal Tax Exempt ID: 11-2999676 <http://tinyurl.com/534gxc>          *
* New York State Tax Exempt ID: 217837 <http://tinyurl.com/47wqbo>            *
*******************************************************************************