#Virtual physics experiments

[virtualphysicsexperiments]

Virtual Physics Experiments: Learn Everything About Digital Experiments

Physics is a fascinating subject that deals with nature’s basic laws. One of the best ways to learn physics is by doing experiments. Traditionally, students performed these experiments in a physical laboratory setting. This is where virtual physics experiments come in. Virtual physics experiments are computer simulations of real-world physics experiments.

In this blog, we will explore the world of virtual physics experiments. We will also delve into the benefits of using advanced digital physics simulations in the learning process.

Challenges and problems faced by students in physics laboratory

Before delving into virtual experiments, it is essential to understand the challenges that students often face in physical physics laboratories:

Limited Equipment Availability: Many schools and colleges have limited resources, resulting in inadequate equipment for conducting experiments. This scarcity often forces students to share equipment, limiting their hands-on experience.

Time Constraints: Physical labs often have strict time constraints. Students may have only a limited time to complete experiments, which can lead to rushed or incomplete observations.

Safety Concerns: Physics experiments can involve dangerous elements, such as high voltages or chemicals. Ensuring the safety of students in a physical lab is a constant concern for instructors.

Inadequate Supervision: In a crowded lab with limited instructors, it is challenging for each student to receive personalized guidance and supervision. This can hinder their understanding and ability to perform experiments correctly.

Equipment Malfunction: Mechanical and electrical equipment can malfunction, disrupting experiments and causing frustration for students.

Resource Constraints: Many schools struggle to maintain and upgrade their lab equipment due to budget constraints, leading to outdated or non-functional apparatus.

Benefits of advanced digital physics simulations

Now, let’s explore how advanced digital physics simulations address these challenges while offering numerous benefits:

Accessibility: Virtual experiments eliminate the constraints of physical laboratories, making them accessible to students regardless of their geographical location. This is especially beneficial for students in remote areas or those with limited access to laboratory facilities.

Safety: Dangerous experiments involving high voltages or hazardous materials can be simulated safely in a digital environment, reducing the risk to students and instructors.

Unlimited Resources: Virtual simulations provide an almost limitless array of resources and equipment, allowing students to perform experiments with various parameters and conditions, enhancing their understanding of underlying concepts.

Instant Feedback: In virtual experiments, students receive immediate feedback, enabling them to rectify mistakes and gain a deeper understanding of the experimental process.

Cost-Efficiency: Setting up and maintaining a physical laboratory can be expensive. Virtual experiments reduce costs associated with equipment, maintenance, and consumables.

Time Efficiency: Digital simulations save valuable class time that would otherwise be spent setting up and conducting experiments, allowing educators to cover more content.

Enhanced Visualization: Virtual experiments often come with advanced graphics and animations, making it easier for students to visualize complex physical phenomena.

Customization: Students can repeat experiments multiple times with different parameters, reinforcing their learning and experimentation skills.

How are these virtual physics experiments developed?

Ever wondered how these experiments are created? Creating digital and virtual physics experiments involves the application of various scientific principles and technologies to simulate physical phenomena and interactions in a computerized environment. Let’s know the science and development process behind digital and virtual physics experiments.

Understanding the Physics: Developers must have a deep understanding of the physics principles they want to simulate.

Mathematical Modelling: Physics simulations often begin with mathematical models that describe the behaviour of physical systems. These models use equations, such as Newton’s laws of motion or Maxwell’s equations for electromagnetism, to represent the underlying physics.

Programming Languages: Virtual physics experiments are implemented through computer programming using languages like C++, Python, or Java. These languages are chosen based on factors such as efficiency, platform compatibility, and ease of development.

Simulation Engines: Developers often use specialized simulation engines or libraries that provide tools and functions for modelling and solving physics problems efficiently. Examples include Unity for game-based simulations and libraries like OpenFOAM for fluid dynamics simulations.

Visualization

Rendering and Graphics: The visual representation of the virtual experiment is crucial. Developers use computer graphics techniques to render 2D or 3D simulations, including the use of shaders, textures, and lighting to create realistic visuals.

User Interface (UI): A user-friendly interface is designed to allow users to interact with and control the simulation. This includes features like menus, buttons, sliders, and data visualization tools.

User Input: Users interact with virtual physics experiments through input devices like a keyboard, mouse, or touchscreen. These inputs are translated into actions within the simulation, such as applying forces, changing parameters, or adjusting settings.

Real-Time Computation: Physics simulations must run in real-time, providing instantaneous feedback to users as they interact with the virtual experiment. Achieving real-time performance often requires optimizing code and using parallel computing techniques.

Accessibility and Educational Goals: Digital and virtual physics experiments are often developed with specific educational goals in mind. Developers must consider the target audience and design experiments that align with educational objectives

Integration with Hardware: In some cases, virtual physics experiments can be integrated with hardware devices like sensors, haptic feedback devices, or virtual reality (VR) headsets to enhance the user experience and provide more realistic interactions.

Experiments in the physics curriculum

Different state boards mandate a set of physics experiments for students. These experiments cover a wide range of topics, including mechanics, electricity, optics, and modern physics. There are many different virtual physics experiments available online. With virtual physics experiments, students can now access a vast repository of experiments that closely mimic real-world scenarios. Some of the most well-known are:

Simple Pendulum Experiment: This experiment allows students to study the period and frequency of a simple pendulum.

Ohm’s Law Experiment: By virtually connecting resistors, ammeters, and voltmeters, students can explore Ohm’s law and understand the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance.

Focal Length of Concave and Convex Mirror: Digital simulations allow students to adjust the object’s position and observe the corresponding image formed by the mirror, helping them understand the concepts of focal length and mirror behaviour.

Characteristics of a PN Junction Diode: Virtual experiments allow students to alter diode properties by adjusting the voltage and monitoring how it affects the flow of current, which aids in the understanding of semiconductor physics.

These are just a few examples of the many virtual physics experiments that are available. One of the most effective virtual science labs available in the market is SimuLab.

The most effective virtual experiment simulations and virtual lab – SimuLab

SimuLab is a 3D virtual scientific laboratory that enables students to study and conduct experiments – anytime, anywhere. It has the most advanced simulations of K-12 science subjects. SimuLab is an excellent tool for anyone who wants to experience real experiments or learn more about science. It is a cutting-edge learning tool created by IITians using modern technologies such as AI, AR, and VR.

Overview:

Easily access the science laboratory with convenience and without any difficulties.

Acquire a simplified and engaging method to learn scientific experiments.

Receive comprehensive, step-by-step instructions for conducting experiments.

Foster the development of scientific reasoning and a strong conceptual grasp of the subject.

Practice experiments an unlimited number of times.

Retain a deep understanding of scientific concepts over an extended period.

Achieve improved academic performance and excel in competitive exams such as IIT/NEET.

Access the platform effortlessly across various devices, including smartphone, desktop, and tablet.

About virtual simulations:

Abundant resources are available to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of each science experiment.

Aim: Establishes a clear focus on the experiment’s purpose and objectives.

Objective: Outlines what will be taught, how it will be learned, and what outcomes can be expected from the experiment.

Safety Precautions: Provides safety guidelines specific to each experiment to ensure a secure laboratory environment.

Theory: Offers simplified theoretical explanations to aid learners in grasping fundamental concepts.

Story: Incorporates real-life scenarios related to the subject to enhance engagement in the learning process.

Simulation: Grants access to an advanced virtual platform for conducting science experiments.

Quizzes: Includes multiple quiz questions to facilitate better preparation for competitive exams like IIT/NEET.

Analytics: Allows users to assess their progress and monitor overall progress using a performance dashboard.

Final words

Virtual physics experiments have transformed the way students learn and understand physics concepts. For students, these simulations offer a comprehensive and efficient way to conduct experiments while addressing the challenges faced in physical laboratories. Embracing virtual physics experiments not only keeps students engaged but also prepares them for a world where technology plays an ever-increasing role in scientific research and experimentation.

Writer – Girish Hedau

Scientific Content Writer – Physics

[immersivevision]

Virtual Physics Experiments: Learn Everything About Digital Experiments

Physics is a fascinating subject that deals with nature’s basic laws. One of the best ways to learn physics is by doing experiments. Traditionally, students performed these experiments in a physical laboratory setting. This is where virtual physics experiments come in. Virtual physics experiments are computer simulations of real-world physics experiments.

In this blog, we will explore the world of virtual physics experiments. We will also delve into the benefits of using advanced digital physics simulations in the learning process.

Challenges and problems faced by students in physics laboratory

Before delving into virtual experiments, it is essential to understand the challenges that students often face in physical physics laboratories:

Limited Equipment Availability: Many schools and colleges have limited resources, resulting in inadequate equipment for conducting experiments. This scarcity often forces students to share equipment, limiting their hands-on experience.

Time Constraints: Physical labs often have strict time constraints. Students may have only a limited time to complete experiments, which can lead to rushed or incomplete observations.

Safety Concerns: Physics experiments can involve dangerous elements, such as high voltages or chemicals. Ensuring the safety of students in a physical lab is a constant concern for instructors.

Inadequate Supervision: In a crowded lab with limited instructors, it is challenging for each student to receive personalized guidance and supervision. This can hinder their understanding and ability to perform experiments correctly.

Equipment Malfunction: Mechanical and electrical equipment can malfunction, disrupting experiments and causing frustration for students.

Resource Constraints: Many schools struggle to maintain and upgrade their lab equipment due to budget constraints, leading to outdated or non-functional apparatus.

Benefits of advanced digital physics simulations

Now, let’s explore how advanced digital physics simulations address these challenges while offering numerous benefits:

Accessibility: Virtual experiments eliminate the constraints of physical laboratories, making them accessible to students regardless of their geographical location. This is especially beneficial for students in remote areas or those with limited access to laboratory facilities.

Safety: Dangerous experiments involving high voltages or hazardous materials can be simulated safely in a digital environment, reducing the risk to students and instructors.

Unlimited Resources: Virtual simulations provide an almost limitless array of resources and equipment, allowing students to perform experiments with various parameters and conditions, enhancing their understanding of underlying concepts.

Instant Feedback: In virtual experiments, students receive immediate feedback, enabling them to rectify mistakes and gain a deeper understanding of the experimental process.

Cost-Efficiency: Setting up and maintaining a physical laboratory can be expensive. Virtual experiments reduce costs associated with equipment, maintenance, and consumables.

Time Efficiency: Digital simulations save valuable class time that would otherwise be spent setting up and conducting experiments, allowing educators to cover more content.

Enhanced Visualization: Virtual experiments often come with advanced graphics and animations, making it easier for students to visualize complex physical phenomena.

Customization: Students can repeat experiments multiple times with different parameters, reinforcing their learning and experimentation skills.

How are these virtual physics experiments developed?

Ever wondered how these experiments are created? Creating digital and virtual physics experiments involves the application of various scientific principles and technologies to simulate physical phenomena and interactions in a computerized environment. Let’s know the science and development process behind digital and virtual physics experiments.

Understanding the Physics: Developers must have a deep understanding of the physics principles they want to simulate.

Mathematical Modelling: Physics simulations often begin with mathematical models that describe the behaviour of physical systems. These models use equations, such as Newton’s laws of motion or Maxwell’s equations for electromagnetism, to represent the underlying physics.

Programming Languages: Virtual physics experiments are implemented through computer programming using languages like C++, Python, or Java. These languages are chosen based on factors such as efficiency, platform compatibility, and ease of development.

Simulation Engines: Developers often use specialized simulation engines or libraries that provide tools and functions for modelling and solving physics problems efficiently. Examples include Unity for game-based simulations and libraries like OpenFOAM for fluid dynamics simulations.

Visualization

Rendering and Graphics: The visual representation of the virtual experiment is crucial. Developers use computer graphics techniques to render 2D or 3D simulations, including the use of shaders, textures, and lighting to create realistic visuals.

User Interface (UI): A user-friendly interface is designed to allow users to interact with and control the simulation. This includes features like menus, buttons, sliders, and data visualization tools.

User Input: Users interact with virtual physics experiments through input devices like a keyboard, mouse, or touchscreen. These inputs are translated into actions within the simulation, such as applying forces, changing parameters, or adjusting settings.

Real-Time Computation: Physics simulations must run in real-time, providing instantaneous feedback to users as they interact with the virtual experiment. Achieving real-time performance often requires optimizing code and using parallel computing techniques.

Accessibility and Educational Goals: Digital and virtual physics experiments are often developed with specific educational goals in mind. Developers must consider the target audience and design experiments that align with educational objectives

Integration with Hardware: In some cases, virtual physics experiments can be integrated with hardware devices like sensors, haptic feedback devices, or virtual reality (VR) headsets to enhance the user experience and provide more realistic interactions.

Experiments in the physics curriculum

Different state boards mandate a set of physics experiments for students. These experiments cover a wide range of topics, including mechanics, electricity, optics, and modern physics. There are many different virtual physics experiments available online. With virtual physics experiments, students can now access a vast repository of experiments that closely mimic real-world scenarios. Some of the most well-known are:

Simple Pendulum Experiment: This experiment allows students to study the period and frequency of a simple pendulum.

Ohm’s Law Experiment: By virtually connecting resistors, ammeters, and voltmeters, students can explore Ohm’s law and understand the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance.

Focal Length of Concave and Convex Mirror: Digital simulations allow students to adjust the object’s position and observe the corresponding image formed by the mirror, helping them understand the concepts of focal length and mirror behaviour.

Characteristics of a PN Junction Diode: Virtual experiments allow students to alter diode properties by adjusting the voltage and monitoring how it affects the flow of current, which aids in the understanding of semiconductor physics.

These are just a few examples of the many virtual physics experiments that are available. One of the most effective virtual science labs available in the market is SimuLab.

The most effective virtual experiment simulations and virtual lab – SimuLab

SimuLab is a 3D virtual scientific laboratory that enables students to study and conduct experiments – anytime, anywhere. It has the most advanced simulations of K-12 science subjects. SimuLab is an excellent tool for anyone who wants to experience real experiments or learn more about science. It is a cutting-edge learning tool created by IITians using modern technologies such as AI, AR, and VR.

Overview:

Easily access the science laboratory with convenience and without any difficulties.

Acquire a simplified and engaging method to learn scientific experiments.

Receive comprehensive, step-by-step instructions for conducting experiments.

Foster the development of scientific reasoning and a strong conceptual grasp of the subject.

Practice experiments an unlimited number of times.

Retain a deep understanding of scientific concepts over an extended period.

Achieve improved academic performance and excel in competitive exams such as IIT/NEET.

Access the platform effortlessly across various devices, including smartphone, desktop, and tablet.

About virtual simulations:

Abundant resources are available to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of each science experiment.

Aim: Establishes a clear focus on the experiment’s purpose and objectives.

Objective: Outlines what will be taught, how it will be learned, and what outcomes can be expected from the experiment.

Safety Precautions: Provides safety guidelines specific to each experiment to ensure a secure laboratory environment.

Theory: Offers simplified theoretical explanations to aid learners in grasping fundamental concepts.

Story: Incorporates real-life scenarios related to the subject to enhance engagement in the learning process.

Simulation: Grants access to an advanced virtual platform for conducting science experiments.

Quizzes: Includes multiple quiz questions to facilitate better preparation for competitive exams like IIT/NEET.

Analytics: Allows users to assess their progress and monitor overall progress using a performance dashboard.

Final words

Virtual physics experiments have transformed the way students learn and understand physics concepts. For students, these simulations offer a comprehensive and efficient way to conduct experiments while addressing the challenges faced in physical laboratories. Embracing virtual physics experiments not only keeps students engaged but also prepares them for a world where technology plays an ever-increasing role in scientific research and experimentation.

Writer – Girish Hedau

Scientific Content Writer – Physics

[cosmicportal]

“reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.”

~Albert Einstein

[philodendrongirl]

2 weeks on buproprion tomorrow ... feeling normal .. suspicious. Going down on my lexapro as well. I do feel a bit different from that lol but its very subtle i feel. Not rlly gonna be noticing much until its a few months in

[lemememeringue]

last therapy session for a bit

[visdiefje]

AJR was right. It really doesn't seem like there's anyone for me

[fogaminghub]

🎊 Dive into the excitement with Super Mario Party Jamboree—available now! 🎮 With 22 characters and over 110 hilarious minigames, this is the biggest party game in the Mario series! 🥳 Whether you’re gaming with friends locally or online, every party will be unforgettable!

And here's a bonus: Pre-order or buy before March 31, 2025, for a 3-month Nintendo Switch Online membership! 💌

Unleash the party spirit today!

[praxilabsvirtualsimulations]

Are traditional labs holding back your physics teaching and classroom progress?

PraxiLabs Virtual Labs offers a game-changing solution: ✔️Elevate your Physics Curriculum ✔️Overcome Lab Limitations ✔️Enhance Student Learning

Discover how to overcome the obstacles of the Free Fall experiment in physics.

[adeelseo]

Real_b

[sanctus-ingenium]

Camera & Action in their own original concept sketches. these were on my other blog but since ppl seem to enjoy the designs i thought i'd have them here as well

ppl may already know that pascal is no longer in the canon of inver, i decided to make a new story :)

so it's about these pseudo-AI assistant/virtual creatures called imimata (singular: imimaton). In the context of the story it's specifically about celebrity culture, virtual pop stars/TV presenters, and labour relations

[copy-pasted explanation from the other blog lol but i have a tag for it here too with a lot more posts!!]

Think of a completely formless seed that, for a fleeting moment, has the potential to become an artificial intelligence, but always changing, with endless permutations and no permanent state of being. when kept within a resonance chamber (the ‘container’ that may be analogue or digital etc), it is fixed into place long enough for it to be able to become. the chamber holds it and allows it to develop instead of dissipate away instantly. the process of development led by external forces - intentional or unintentional - is called 'encoding’. professional encoders will essentially use this shapeless state of being to encode commands, personality prompts, and rules, essentially moulding the thing in the resonance chamber into a form dictated by them. when i say unintentional, i also mean that exposure to any stimulus will always be a learning experience, and the thing will grow and develop no matter what if it first gets fixed in one place. but it’s only referred to as an imimaton once it has been encoded - no longer raw matter, but hammered into shape.

encoding is basically the socialisation of an impressionable thing into a biddable and useful form. in the early Hertzian era (when this technology took off, 1830s ish - crucially, before the commercial application of imimata, when they were curious playthings for idle Great Thinkers), encoding was a process of conversation lasting many years, often for purely philosophical purposes, literally talking at something until it talked back. prior to this, natural magnets could be used to fix a proto-imimaton, and people would think of them as similar to homunculi. in today's digital era, encoding takes the form of inserting storage media into the chamber, essentially running a program in a computer that reduced the encoding process to a few seconds and the flip of a switch. Pascal is an example of a Hertzian imimaton, composed of information stored in radio waves rather than a digital storage medium (basically - he's analogue)

outside of encoding, clauses may be placed upon the chamber itself and these are less socialisation, they do not form the building blocks of an imimaton, they are purely strict rules and routines which it is bound to follow. one such clause could involve the censorship of certain words (so that an imimaton cannot say fuck even if they would otherwise have been able to), or strict boundaries on what information an imimaton is allowed to learn. a common clause also boils down to making it impossible for one to attempt to manifest physically.

Once this was perfected, imimata entered the workforce at the turn of the 20th century.

[...]

When Pascal made his TV debut in 1969, it was hyped up for months with ads which depicted him on set and in more realistic ways (almost appearing to be photographs - some even were!), while public reaction was carefully monitored. This was highly experimental and it still was not known whether the concept of a virtual TV presenter worked, so although they did hype it up, there was a level of caution too so as not to invite negative press.

The first series did not involve public audience members but people from the broadcasting studio standing in for them (this was not made known at the time). They used a combination of camera tricks and graphics to make it feel like he was physically standing in a room with these people (bearing in mind he was strictly contained and had no manifestation outside the broadcast - he was within a container at the base of the mast tower, with a recording device which could cast his image live, so viewers at home were seeing cuts of the Pascal feed and cuts of the physical studio and audience stitched together to appear continuous)

That was part of the gimmick - it was commonly felt that an imimaton should never be permitted to manifest/should have no manifestation, so the fact that he supposedly was manifesting but friendly and contained was a draw. the ads leaned into it quite a lot - marketing copy implying that you could touch him, go on dates with him, etc but always with a cheeky wink, a "not really", the audience at home were in on the secret of it not being real. but it worked really well and was super effective to generate hype and it sparked an entire golden era of imimata and manufactured celebrities (but Pascal remained notorious for being one of the only ones that could believably interact with a studio audience in an unscripted manner, due to his 'maturity' as an imimaton, having been brought up in the 19th century conversational era of encoding, raised on a diet of talking to philosophers)

The second season of the show came out quickly and to much anticipation, and with members of the public actually participating for the first time. The broadcasters set up a wall of CRTs in the studio which would display him to people on-set, and wired up each audience member with a microphone so he could hear them too (he appeared to see them well enough through the camera equipment). he was excited to interact with them and they liked him too, but he always had this slightly mean streak which his broadcaster tried hard to soften. but the meanness worked really well in the reality/game show format where half the entertainment is watching audience members get dunked on sometimes

Episodes could be produced at a rapid pace by taping multiple at once - three identical sets were built for season 3 allowing for three episodes to be filmed at once because he could of course interact with everyone freely and essentially be in multiple places at once. this was also where the first issues showed up on-set - he began to miss his timing cues, arriving just a bit too late to the stage, or taking slightly too long to finish his nightly sign-off. this was not apparent publicly as the episodes were not shown live and could be edited, but any member of the public who was on the show was often hounded after by superfans, so some stories did come out about Pascal's 'odd' behaviour on set. there was a behind-the-scenes documentary made about the entire producing process in season 3 as well, which included some interviews with Pascal himself, but mostly consisted of his handlers and technicians excitedly explaining the broadcast apparatus and containment devices and so on.

Following The Incident, the rare copies of this film became highly sought-after by collectors.

[hannyoontify]

seventeen '95 line as things that have made my heart flutter

warnings | none?

notes | source? erm possibly my own... experiences from the past..... ;;; i actually wanted to do all 13 before publishing but i js couldn't wait LMFAO i'm still writing the rest there's a good chance that i might upload all 4 lines in one day not proofread

p.s. i recommend reading these as situationships/pre-relationships

95 line | 96 line | 97 line | maknae line

seungcheol - calling you in the morning with his morning voice

you’re brushing your teeth, staring off into space and thinking that it’s too early for you to be awake when you hear your phone buzz on the marble counter. reaching over, you answer the call once you recognized the caller ID. 

“hello?”

“g’morning…” the voice on the other end sends a shiver down your spine and kickstarts a familiar feeling in the pit of your stomach. “dreamt of you last night.”

the fluttering, overwhelming feeling migrates from your stomach to your chest. your brain goes static as you try and get over the initial shock of how deep and husky seungcheol’s voice currently was.

“i-it’s 7 in the morning, cheol. why are you calling me so early?”

you could almost hear the shit-eating grin in his voice. “i missed you.”

a rush of heat hits your face and you’re suddenly thankful that this was a voice call. “wh- whatever… you’re going to be seeing me in an hour anyway.”

seungcheol hums over the line. “mmm… i’m not sure if i can wait until then.”

“i’m hanging up!” you say hurriedly. you could physically no longer handle that man’s flirting and that damn low voice of his. you needed to give him a stern talking to when you got to school.

jeonghan - touching your ear whenever he’s bored

“hannie…”

“hm?”

“are my ears that soft?” you squirm in your spot at the tickling feeling on your spot the couch as jeonghan’s fingers absentmindedly gave your ear light touches and tugs. he looks up from his phone and sheepishly pulled his hand away.

“sorry, i didn’t realize” before he fully retracts his hand, his finger skims your cheek and gives it a slight pinch before place his hand in his hoodie pocket. you contemplatively lick your lips before opening your mouth to talk again.

“i... never said i didn’t like it…” your voice is so quiet jeonghan almost didn’t hear you. almost. 

but jeonghan always hears you.

he gives you a sly grin before reaching out and giving your earlobe a gentle tug. “i didn’t realize i was doing it either. i know it started as a joke but… i think i made it a habit.”

jeonghan inches closer to you on the couch, his knee grazing yours. “you’re my little stress ball now.”

“are you stressed?” you furrow your brows in worry and jeonghan smiles.

“not when i’m with you.”

another gentle tug. except, this time, it's not on your ear.

spoiler alert: it's your heart.

joshua - humming and strumming the guitar in an empty room

the living room is bustling. you’re not sure what you were expecting when your friend seungkwan said he was having a small holiday get-together, but it definitely wasn’t this. you can’t even walk from the kitchen to the living room without stepping on someone’s foot, and you were pretty sure there was a DJ in the house somewhere.

desperate for a break from the crowd, you manage to squeeze through the countless bodies and go upstairs, where it’s virtually empty. the contrast between the loud and busy first floor and peaceful second floor felt borderline holy.

you’re wandering around the second floor, happy to escape the chaos of the first floor when you hear the quiet strum of a guitar reverberating through the hallways. 

you halt and listen keenly as you try and locate where the sound was coming from. following the sweet melody of the guitar, you soon hear a voice accompanying the instrument. the door in front of you is cracked open and you peek inside, trying to identify who the talented musician was.

inside the room was joshua, an acoustic guitar propped on his knee as he strums the instrument, his fingers skillfully moving against the frets with gentle hums. his eyes are closed as he fully immerses in the music.

you stand by the doorway, arms crossed against your chest as you watch him. your lips are tugging into a small smile and you felt a gentle fluttering in your stomach. the final note hangs in the air and you hold your breath as you feel your heart rate beginning to speed up at the sight of joshua’s small smile.

his eyes slowly open and your breath catches in your throat when your eyes meet his. joshua grins when he recognizes you.

“any song requests?”

reblogs and feedback is always appreciated ^-^

[immersivevision]

How is gamification impacting today’s modern education?

What is gamification?

Gamification in education is the process of incorporating game-like elements into the learning experience. The main goal of gamification is to make learning more engaging and enjoyable while promoting the development of key skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration. Gamification can take many forms, from simple educational games to complex, multi-player simulations. In this blog, we’ll explore the role of gamification in education and its potential benefits.

What are their benefits?

One of the main benefits of gamification in education is increased engagement. By making learning feel more like a game, students are more likely to be actively involved in the learning process.

This increased engagement can lead to improved retention of information and a greater sense of accomplishment. For example, a student who is highly engaged in a game-like learning experience is more likely to remember the information they have learned than a student who is simply listening to a lecture or reading a textbook.

Another benefit of gamification in education is that it promotes the development of key skills. By playing educational games, students are given the opportunity to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This type of learning is much more effective than traditional methods, as students can apply the information they have learned in real-world scenarios. This leads to a deeper understanding of the material and the development of long-term retention of information.

Gamification can also help to break down barriers in the classroom. For example, students who may not be confident in a traditional learning environment may feel more comfortable participating in a game-like setting. By breaking down these barriers, students can take an active role in their own learning and develop a sense of pride in their achievements.

Another advantage of gamification in education is that it can provide a fun and engaging way for students to learn. This is especially important in today’s world, where students are often exposed to a barrage of digital distractions and are in need of more interactive and engaging learning experiences. Gamification can help to keep students engaged and motivated, even when they are facing difficult material.

Finally, gamification can be used to create a more personalised learning experience. By tracking the progress of individual students and adapting the learning experience to their needs, gamification can provide a more tailored experience that is tailored to each student’s strengths and weaknesses. This can help to ensure that each student is challenged at the right level and is motivated to continue learning.

Conclusion

Gamification in education has the potential to transform the way we approach learning. By making learning more engaging and enjoyable, gamification can help to increase engagement, promote the development of key skills, break down barriers in the classroom, provide a fun and engaging way to learn, and create a more personalized learning experience. It is an innovative approach that has the potential to revolutionise the way we approach education in the future.

Writer – Irshad Girach

Unity Developer

[misctf]

Hey! I just bought this new VR game system and it says not to try it on alone. What the fuck are they talking about? And why are all the games on the online store so adult centered? Whatever, let's try it, wait what is happening ...

“Dude, you’re not supposed to use Hive X alone.” Some guy messages you in the chatroom, “Did you not see the warnings?”

“Or the reviews?” Another user asks, “It’s best for couples to use it. Together.”  

Your eyes narrow, “I didn’t pay all this money not to use it.” You reply, “I’ll let you know how it is.” You look down at the black box.

You always appreciated your friends in the gaming community. But the gaming community was quite divided when Hive X hit the stores. A new VR gaming system that seemed to offer a futuristic level of immersion. You didn’t really have time to read reviews, but you weren’t going to miss out on this opportunity.

“Well, here it goes.” You mumble.

You slowly remove the VR headset from the box, followed by two wrist and ankle cuffs. You can’t help but chuckle when you remove what looks like a waist trainer.

“What the fuck?” You whisper as you read the instructions.

Slowly, you remove your clothes until you’re completely naked. Apparently, this would help facilitate the full immersive experience. And as you stand in the center of your room, you slowly slip on the ankle cuffs, then the wrist cuffs, and finally the waist trainer. You pick up the headset, which looks like that of a motorcycle helmet, and with a deep breath, place it over your head. Initially, all you see is inky blackness. But as it turns on, the world around you comes alive. You wince as the ankle, waist, and wrist pads dig into your skin and warm up. And suddenly, you’re standing in what can only be described as a hotel.

“Oh wow.” You whisper as you look around, seeing others walking around the hotel. Heading to different rooms. You take a deep breath and smell a muskiness mixed with oak wood. The warmth of a glowing fire dancing in the hotel lobby. It’s warm, and a sense of peace fills you, “Oh shit!” You realize that you’re naked and quickly go to cover yourself.

Apparently, others heard you and look over. Some chuckle, some give you concerned looks. And you realize that many of them are naked too. Blushing, you quickly walk down a hallway, awkwardly bumping into and maneuvering around other couples.

“Why the fuck is everyone naked?” You mumble, “And why...” Your eyes widen and you gasp when you turn a corner and enter a large room.

There had to be hundreds of men and women in the midst of a giant orgy. All moaning and engaging in lewd acts. You avert your eyes and back away, heading back the way you came. Your face beet red and dick twitching uncomfortably.

“I should’ve read the reviews.” You mumble, realizing this is some kind of virtual sex toy, “Okay, I’m done. The guys will get a kick out of this.”

“What’s wrong?” You jump at the monotone voice behind you, “So sorry. I’m NPC 436.” A fully clothed, relatively plain individual says, “I am designed to tailor your experience and enhance customer satisfaction.”

“Yeah, I...” You cover your junk, “This isn’t my thing... I...”

“We have many experiences designed for our users.” It continues, “Usually, partners enter the Hive due to enhanced physical sensations. It appears...”

“Yeah, I’m alone.” The NPC nods.

“Based on your preferences and attitudes, we have determined an ideal experience.”

“Wha... how?”

“The VR headset you utilize is a two-way interface with your mind.” It says simply, “Please follow me.”

Part of you wants to say no and write this off as one of your biggest failed gaming experiences. But another part of you is curious. You nod and follow NPC 436 as it leads you to one of the hotel rooms. You stop outside Room 194 and NPC 436 opens the door, beckoning inside.

“Please enjoy.” It says, “Customer satisfaction is a primary objective.” It continues.

You nod as the door closes behind you and you enter a standard hotel suite. A warm fire place cackling and the smell of oak filling your nostrils. You feel your body start to relax and your thoughts slow. Absentmindedly, you stroke your hardening cock. The sound of the shower in the other room brings you back to reality and you slowly walk over. When you enter, your eyes widen.

“Hey there.” The man says, as he turns and smirks at you, “Fuck you’re cute.”

You feel your heart beating, your cock aching with need. And as he approaches you, you step forward. Your hands moving to feel his massive pecs. He grins as he guides your hand to his dick and you shudder at the feeling of his thick manhood in your hand.

“Good boy.” He moans, “I’m NPC 251.” He continues as you continue to feel his body, “Fuck... you’re needy.”

Things seem to move quickly. He’s pressed you up against the wall of the shower, your lips locked, your tongues doing battle. You can feel his rough hands roam your body, as yours continue to stroke his dick. And suddenly you’re on your knees as he fucks your face- you deepthroating him like a pro. He lets out a moan as he finishes and you shudder as you’re filled with his seed.

“Fuck.” He whispers.

You stumble to your feet, quivering from the pleasure. And before you can say another word, you moan as your cock hardens again. A wave of horniness filling your mind. A desire for more filling your every thought.

“Th-this isn’t...” You whisper. How was your body already craving another round? What was this VR device doing to you? “I... I...” NPC 251 is stroking his dick, grinning down at you.

“Additional interaction requires in game purchase.” Your heart sinks, “Would you like to initiate NPC trial period?” NPC 251 asks, “This will unlock additional sessions with any other NPC.”

You raise an eyebrow, trying to comprehend what NPC 251 means. But your aching cock is too distracting. You bite your lip. NPC trial period? What did that even mean? What would it...? But NPC 251... god you wanted to do that again. You wanted...

“Trial period. Please.” You moan.

A searing pain knocks you off your feet. You can feel it in your ankles, hands, and waist. And the feeling seems to be moving along your arms, legs, and torso. You cry out and look up at NPC 251 in terror, gripping your head as you develop a significant headache.  

“Digitalization process is taking place.” It says, “Your physical body is being fully converted into the Hive.”

Before you can say another word, a different feeling fills you. You feel like you’re being inflated. Each muscle contracting and bloating. Expanding and growing at a terrifying rate. You try to push yourself up and immediately fall over. Unfamiliar with your new size and bulk as your musculature takes on that of an athlete. You wince as your body hairs burns away and leaves you smooth and hairless. Your muscles toned and bulky. The body of a porn star.

“Optimization of user traits allows for seamless integration for company standards.” It continues, “Your prior traits will be saved in the mainframe.”

You gasp as you look at yourself, hands roaming over your impressive musculature. You moan in a far deeper voice as your ass pulses with need. And you look up desperately at NPC 251, knowing it could give you what your new body craved.

“Initiating directives.”

Your jaw goes slack and your eyes dim as words and numbers flash in front of your eyes. You can barely keep up with the various components as you’re given directions and commands. Your numb mind filling with them- a sense of devout obedience driving you.

“I will serve. I will ensure customer satisfaction.” You drone on, “Serving is my pleasure. Being used is my pleasure.” For a brief moment, you feel fear. Part of you coming to realize what your life is about to become. But fear is not part of your programing, “I am NPC 803.” You say.

NPC 803 was quickly led away to a new room. An empty room. One for NPC 803 and the services it would provide. Time wasn’t a concern for NPC 803, nor were any thoughts about when it would get to return to its old life. And as NPC 803 waiting for someone, it laid in bed. Dildo in its ass. Moaning from wave after wave of pleasure. But it wasn’t enough. All it wanted was to provide customers with the best experience possible. And as another man was led to your room, also without a partner, you couldn’t help but smile. After the time you were gonna give him, you just knew you’d have another NPC joining your team.

[fight-nights-at-freddys]

MASTER POST OF PROSHIP RESOURCES!!! <3<3

this is just for links (bc i just have No Way of formatting this properly), so for more in-depth stuffs and credits, head to the google doc, or the carrd !! :3c

Fiction ≠ Reality

Violent media -

Does Media Violence Predict Societal Violence? It Depends on What You Look at and When

Video Game Violence Use Among “Vulnerable” Populations: The Impact of Violent Games on Delinquency and Bullying Among Children with Clinically Elevated Depression or Attention Deficit Symptoms

Extreme metal music and anger processing

On the Morality of Immoral Fiction: Reading Newgate Novels, 1830–1848

How gamers manage aggression: Situating skills in collaborative computer games

Examining desensitization using facial electromyography:Violent videogames, gender, and affective responding

'Bad' video game behavior increases players' moral sensitivity

Fiction and Morality: Investigating the Associations Between Reading Exposure, Empathy, Morality, and Moral Judgment

Comfortably Numb or Just Yet Another Movie? Media Violence Exposure Does Not Reduce Viewer Empathy for Victims of Real Violence Among Primarily Hispanic Viewers

Fantasy Crime: The Criminalisation of Fantasy Material Under Australia's Child Abuse Material Legislation

Being able to distinguish fiction from reality -

Effects of context on judgments concerning the reality status of novel entities

Children’s Causal Learning from Fiction: Assessing the Proximity Between Real and Fictional Worlds

Reality/Fiction Distinction and Fiction/Fiction Distinction during Sentence Comprehension

Reality = Relevance? Insights from Spontaneous Modulations of the Brain’s Default Network when Telling Apart Reality from Fiction

How does the brain tell the real from imagined?

Meeting George Bush versus Meeting Cinderella: The Neural Response When Telling Apart What is Real from What is Fictional in the Context of Our Reality

loli/shota/kodocon -

If I like lolicon, does it mean I’m a pedophile? A therapist’s view

Virtual Child Pornography, Human Trafficking and Japanese Law: Pop Culture, Harm and Legal Restrains

Lolicon: The Reality of ‘Virtual Child Pornography’ in Japan

Report: cartoon paedophilia harmless

‘The Lolicon Guy:’ Some Observations on Researching Unpopular Topics in Japan

Robot Ghosts And Wired Dreams Japanese Science Fiction From Origins To Anime [pg 227-228]

Australia's "child abuse material' legislation, internet regulation and the juridification of the imaginationjuridification of the imagination [pg 14-15]

Multiple Orientations as Animating Misdelivery: Theoretical Considerations on Sexuality Attracted to Nijigen (Two-Dimensional) Objects

Positive Impact on Mental Health

Art therapy -

The effectiveness of art therapy for anxiety in adults: A systematic review of randomised and non-randomised controlled trials

Efficacy of Art Therapy in Individuals With Personality Disorders Cluster B/C: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Effectiveness of Art Therapy With Adult Clients in 2018 - What Progress Has Been Made?

Benefits of Art Therapy in People Diagnosed With Personality Disorders: A Quantitative Survey

The Effectiveness of Art Therapy in the Treatment of Traumatized Adults: A Systematic Review on Art Therapy and Trauma

The clinical effectiveness and current practice of art therapy for trauma

Writing therapy -

Optimizing the perceived benefits and health outcomes of writing about traumatic life events

Expressive writing and post-traumatic stress disorder: Effects on trauma symptoms, mood states, and cortisol reactivity

Focused expressive writing as self-help for stress and trauma

Putting Stress into Words: The Impact of Writing on Physiological, Absentee, and Self-Reported Emotional Well-Being Measures

The writing cure: How expressive writing promotes health and emotional well-being

Effects of Writing About Traumatic Experiences: The Necessity for Narrative Structuring

Scriptotherapy: The effects of writing about traumatic events

Emotional and physical benefits of expressive writing

Emotional and Cognitive Processing in Sexual Assault Survivors' Narratives

Finding happiness in negative emotions: An experimental test of a novel expressive writing paradigm

An everyday activity as treatment for depression: The benefits of expressive writing for people diagnosed with major depressive disorder

Writing about emotional experiences as a therapeutic process

Effects of expressive writing on sexual dysfunction, depression, and PTSD in women with a history of childhood sexual abuse: Results from a randomized clinical trial

Written Emotional Disclosure: Testing Whether Social Disclosure Matters

Written emotional disclosure: A controlled study of the benefits of expressive writing homework in outpatient psychotherapy

Misc -

Emotional disclosure about traumas and its relation to health: Effects of previous disclosure and trauma severity

Treating complex trauma in adolescents: A phase-based integrative approach for play therapists

Emotional expression and physical health: Revising traumatic memories or fostering self-regulation?

Disclosure of Sexual Victimization: The Effects of Pennebaker's Emotional Disclosure Paradigm on Physical and Psychological Distress

Kink/Porn/Fantasies

Sexual fantasies -

A Critical Microethnographic Examination of Power Exchange, Role Idenity and Agency with Black BDSM Practitioners

Women's Rape Fantasies: An Empirical Evaluation of the Major Explanations

History, culture and practice of puppy play

What Exactly Is an Unusual Sexual Fantasy?

The Psychology of Kink: a Survey Study into the Relationships of Trauma and Attachment Style with BDSM Interests

Punishing Sexual Fantasy

Women's Erotic Rape Fantasies

Sexual Fantasy and Adult Attunement: Differentiating Preying from Playing

What Is So Appealing About Being Spanked, Flogged, Dominated, or Restrained? Answers from Practitioners of Sexual Masochism/Submission

Dark Fantasies, Part 1 - With Dr. Ian Kerner

Why Do Women Have Rape Fantasies

The 7 Most Common Sexual Fantasies and What to Do About Them

Sexual Fantasies

Pornography -

The Effects of Exposure to Virtual Child Pornography on Viewer Cognitions and Attitudes Toward Deviant Sexual Behavior

American Identities and Consumption of Japanese Homoerotica

The differentiation between consumers of hentai pornography and human pornography

Pornography Use and Holistic Sexual Functioning: A Systematic Review of Recent Research

Claiming Public Health Crisis to Regulate Sexual Outlets: A Critique of the State of Utah's Declaration on Pornography

Pornography and Sexual Dysfunction: Is There Any Relationship?

Reading and Living Yaoi: Male-Male Fantasy Narratives as Women's Sexual Subculture in Japan

Women's Consumption of Pornograpy: Pleasure, Contestation, and Empowerment

Pornography and Sexual Violence

The Sunny Side of Smut

Other -

Fantasy Sexual Material Use by People with Attractions to Children

Fictosexuality, Fictoromance, and Fictophilia: A Qualitative Study of Love and Desire for Fictional Characters

Exploring the Ownership of Child-Like Sex Dolls

Are Sex and Pornograpy Addiction Valid Disorders? Adding a Leisure Science Perspecive to the Sexological Critique

Littles: Affects and Aesthetics in Sexual Age-Play

An Exploratory Study of a New Kink Activity: "Pup Play"

Jaws Effect

The Jaws Effect: How movie narratives are used to influence policy responses to shark bites in Western Australia

The Shark Attacks That Were the Inspiration for Jaws

The Great White Hope (written by Peter Benchley, writer of Jaws)

The Jaws Myth [not a study BUT is an interesting read and provides some links to articles and studies]

Slenderman Stabbings

Out Came the Girls: Adolescent Girlhood, the Occult, and the Slender Man Phenomenon

Jury in Slender Man case finds Anissa Weier was mentally ill, will not go to prison

2nd teen in 'Slender Man' stabbing case to remain in institutional care for 40 years

Negative effects of online harassment

How stressful is online victimization? Effects of victim's personality and properties of the incident

Prevalence, Psychological Impact, and Coping of Cyberbully Victims Among College Students

Offline Consequences of Online Victimization

The Relative Importance of Online Victimization in Understanding Depression, Delinquency, and Substance Use

Internet trolling and everyday sadism: Parallel effects on pain perception and moral judgement

The MAD Model of Moral Contagion: The Role of Motivation, Attention, and Design in the Spread of Moralized Content Online

Morally Motivated Networked Harassment as Normative Reinforcement

When Online Harassment is Perceived as Justified

Violence on Reddit Support Forums Unique to r/NoFap

"It Makes Me, A Minor, Uncomfortable" Media and Morality in Anti-Shippers' Policing of Online Fandom

[genderqueerdykes]

im not sorry the truth of the transmasculine experience is ugly. i'm not sorry that we have to frequently discuss sexual and physical violence and abuse. i'm not sorry that we have to discuss violent physical abuse and death. i'm not sorry that we have to discuss homelessness, mental illness, addiction, disabilities, and other challenges in life.

we struggle. we do not instantly gain male privilege the second we come out. even if we pass. when someone knows we're trans we're treated like a woman no matter what. we can sometimes get lucky and pass with strangers but eventually people around us find out because people tell each other without our consent.

we face all kinds of abuse due to the fact that people feel entitlement to our bodies, regardless of what our AGAB is. they feel entitled to our faces, our hair, our entire appearance. they focus on the face that we're ruining something "pretty". they threaten corrective sexual violence to remind us that we're "just women". it happens constantly. this is not an isolated incident and virtually nobody wants people to talk about it when it comes to transmasculine people.

trans men often get injured for one reason or another. usually because someone wants to make them "prove" they're a man, to "toughen them up" or to "prove to them that they're a woman". sometimes this results in sexual assault. other times it results in physical assault. and sometimes people just kill trans men. all because they hate that a "woman" can transition into a man.

it's an ugly part of our reality but it needs to be discussed because otherwise people use the lack of that conversation as ammunition to say transmascs don't struggle.

transmasculine people struggle to stay housed. transmasculine people get kicked out of their living situations very often for many reasons. it's hard for transmascs to get jobs because often times people want either a man or a woman for a specific position and fuss over what they think the transmasc's gender is. misgendering is a huge issue at work. going stealth at work can be painful. being in the closet at work can be painful

transmascs are often disabled and struggle to get care due to people not taking AFAB patients' pain and symptoms seriously. this is a huge issue with any kind of AFAB person or any woman. all woman and AFAB people struggle with having their symptoms taken seriously when seeking serious medical attention to the point of possibly being undiagnosed for life, thus being unable to get on disability. trans women face this just as much as AFAB cis women, it's a huge issue in the medical industry

transmasculine people struggle to say on their hormones (or access them at all). testosterone is a controlled substance in many countries which means that you need a prior authorization to get the medication and need to consistently see a provider to get blood tests and check ups. it can be difficult to do so if you are low income and sometimes certain pharmacists will intentionally find ways to withhold hormones due to their own prejudices

transmasculine people struggle to get pregnancy support and care. it is very difficult for transmasculine people to figure out how to navigate their pregnancy, either due to their HRT provider not knowing much about pregnancy, or having a gynecologist who's not familiar with transmasculine health.

transmascs get denied from spaces made for men constantly. even if they pass, if word gets around that they're trans they can easily be kicked out of a space. transmasculine lesbians are often removed from lesbian, transmasc and/or non binary spaces. transmasc butches are often ostracized from all communities their identities correlate to. trans men and transmasc enbies are seen as a threat to women.

there is ugliness in every pocket of the queer community when it comes to how cisheteronormative society treats us. we all face disgusting treatment that needs to be addressed. it's important to consider how this system affects everyone underneath it. we need to talk about the positive things, it's good to help those are questioning, but we also must discuss what struggles we face in order to humanize ourselves and show that we people, too. none of us have it easy.

[nostalgebraist]

Anthropic's stated "AI timelines" seem wildly aggressive to me.

As far as I can tell, they are now saying that by 2028 – and possibly even by 2027, or late 2026 – something they call "powerful AI" will exist.

And by "powerful AI," they mean... this (source, emphasis mine):

In terms of pure intelligence, it is smarter than a Nobel Prize winner across most relevant fields – biology, programming, math, engineering, writing, etc. This means it can prove unsolved mathematical theorems, write extremely good novels, write difficult codebases from scratch, etc. In addition to just being a “smart thing you talk to”, it has all the “interfaces” available to a human working virtually, including text, audio, video, mouse and keyboard control, and internet access. It can engage in any actions, communications, or remote operations enabled by this interface, including taking actions on the internet, taking or giving directions to humans, ordering materials, directing experiments, watching videos, making videos, and so on. It does all of these tasks with, again, a skill exceeding that of the most capable humans in the world. It does not just passively answer questions; instead, it can be given tasks that take hours, days, or weeks to complete, and then goes off and does those tasks autonomously, in the way a smart employee would, asking for clarification as necessary. It does not have a physical embodiment (other than living on a computer screen), but it can control existing physical tools, robots, or laboratory equipment through a computer; in theory it could even design robots or equipment for itself to use. The resources used to train the model can be repurposed to run millions of instances of it (this matches projected cluster sizes by ~2027), and the model can absorb information and generate actions at roughly 10x-100x human speed. It may however be limited by the response time of the physical world or of software it interacts with. Each of these million copies can act independently on unrelated tasks, or if needed can all work together in the same way humans would collaborate, perhaps with different subpopulations fine-tuned to be especially good at particular tasks.

In the post I'm quoting, Amodei is coy about the timeline for this stuff, saying only that

I think it could come as early as 2026, though there are also ways it could take much longer. But for the purposes of this essay, I’d like to put these issues aside [...]

However, other official communications from Anthropic have been more specific. Most notable is their recent OSTP submission, which states (emphasis in original):

Based on current research trajectories, we anticipate that powerful AI systems could emerge as soon as late 2026 or 2027 [...] Powerful AI technology will be built during this Administration. [i.e. the current Trump administration -nost]

See also here, where Jack Clark says (my emphasis):

People underrate how significant and fast-moving AI progress is. We have this notion that in late 2026, or early 2027, powerful AI systems will be built that will have intellectual capabilities that match or exceed Nobel Prize winners. They’ll have the ability to navigate all of the interfaces… [Clark goes on, mentioning some of the other tenets of "powerful AI" as in other Anthropic communications -nost]

----

To be clear, extremely short timelines like these are not unique to Anthropic.

Miles Brundage (ex-OpenAI) says something similar, albeit less specific, in this post. And Daniel Kokotajlo (also ex-OpenAI) has held views like this for a long time now.

Even Sam Altman himself has said similar things (though in much, much vaguer terms, both on the content of the deliverable and the timeline).

Still, Anthropic's statements are unique in being

official positions of the company

extremely specific and ambitious about the details

extremely aggressive about the timing, even by the standards of "short timelines" AI prognosticators in the same social cluster

Re: ambition, note that the definition of "powerful AI" seems almost the opposite of what you'd come up with if you were trying to make a confident forecast of something.

Often people will talk about "AI capable of transforming the world economy" or something more like that, leaving room for the AI in question to do that in one of several ways, or to do so while still failing at some important things.

But instead, Anthropic's definition is a big conjunctive list of "it'll be able to do this and that and this other thing and...", and each individual capability is defined in the most aggressive possible way, too! Not just "good enough at science to be extremely useful for scientists," but "smarter than a Nobel Prize winner," across "most relevant fields" (whatever that means). And not just good at science but also able to "write extremely good novels" (note that we have a long way to go on that front, and I get the feeling that people at AI labs don't appreciate the extent of the gap [cf]). Not only can it use a computer interface, it can use every computer interface; not only can it use them competently, but it can do so better than the best humans in the world. And all of that is in the first two paragraphs – there's four more paragraphs I haven't even touched in this little summary!

Re: timing, they have even shorter timelines than Kokotajlo these days, which is remarkable since he's historically been considered "the guy with the really short timelines." (See here where Kokotajlo states a median prediction of 2028 for "AGI," by which he means something less impressive than "powerful AI"; he expects something close to the "powerful AI" vision ["ASI"] ~1 year or so after "AGI" arrives.)

----

I, uh, really do not think this is going to happen in "late 2026 or 2027."

Or even by the end of this presidential administration, for that matter.

I can imagine it happening within my lifetime – which is wild and scary and marvelous. But in 1.5 years?!

The confusing thing is, I am very familiar with the kinds of arguments that "short timelines" people make, and I still find the Anthropic's timelines hard to fathom.

Above, I mentioned that Anthropic has shorter timelines than Daniel Kokotajlo, who "merely" expects the same sort of thing in 2029 or so. This probably seems like hairsplitting – from the perspective of your average person not in these circles, both of these predictions look basically identical, "absurdly good godlike sci-fi AI coming absurdly soon." What difference does an extra year or two make, right?

But it's salient to me, because I've been reading Kokotajlo for years now, and I feel like I basically get understand his case. And people, including me, tend to push back on him in the "no, that's too soon" direction. I've read many many blog posts and discussions over the years about this sort of thing, I feel like I should have a handle on what the short-timelines case is.

But even if you accept all the arguments evinced over the years by Daniel "Short Timelines" Kokotajlo, even if you grant all the premises he assumes and some people don't – that still doesn't get you all the way to the Anthropic timeline!

To give a very brief, very inadequate summary, the standard "short timelines argument" right now is like:

Over the next few years we will see a "growth spurt" in the amount of computing power ("compute") used for the largest LLM training runs. This factor of production has been largely stagnant since GPT-4 in 2023, for various reasons, but new clusters are getting built and the metaphorical car will get moving again soon. (See here)

By convention, each "GPT number" uses ~100x as much training compute as the last one. GPT-3 used ~100x as much as GPT-2, and GPT-4 used ~100x as much as GPT-3 (i.e. ~10,000x as much as GPT-2).

We are just now starting to see "~10x GPT-4 compute" models (like Grok 3 and GPT-4.5). In the next few years we will get to "~100x GPT-4 compute" models, and by 2030 will will reach ~10,000x GPT-4 compute.

If you think intuitively about "how much GPT-4 improved upon GPT-3 (100x less) or GPT-2 (10,000x less)," you can maybe convince yourself that these near-future models will be super-smart in ways that are difficult to precisely state/imagine from our vantage point. (GPT-4 was way smarter than GPT-2; it's hard to know what "projecting that forward" would mean, concretely, but it sure does sound like something pretty special)

Meanwhile, all kinds of (arguably) complementary research is going on, like allowing models to "think" for longer amounts of time, giving them GUI interfaces, etc.

All that being said, there's still a big intuitive gap between "ChatGPT, but it's much smarter under the hood" and anything like "powerful AI." But...

...the LLMs are getting good enough that they can write pretty good code, and they're getting better over time. And depending on how you interpret the evidence, you may be able to convince yourself that they're also swiftly getting better at other tasks involved in AI development, like "research engineering." So maybe you don't need to get all the way yourself, you just need to build an AI that's a good enough AI developer that it improves your AIs faster than you can, and then those AIs are even better developers, etc. etc. (People in this social cluster are really keen on the importance of exponential growth, which is generally a good trait to have but IMO it shades into "we need to kick off exponential growth and it'll somehow do the rest because it's all-powerful" in this case.)

And like, I have various disagreements with this picture.

For one thing, the "10x" models we're getting now don't seem especially impressive – there has been a lot of debate over this of course, but reportedly these models were disappointing to their own developers, who expected scaling to work wonders (using the kind of intuitive reasoning mentioned above) and got less than they hoped for.

And (in light of that) I think it's double-counting to talk about the wonders of scaling and then talk about reasoning, computer GUI use, etc. as complementary accelerating factors – those things are just table stakes at this point, the models are already maxing out the tasks you had defined previously, you've gotta give them something new to do or else they'll just sit there wasting GPUs when a smaller model would have sufficed.

And I think we're already at a point where nuances of UX and "character writing" and so forth are more of a limiting factor than intelligence. It's not a lack of "intelligence" that gives us superficially dazzling but vapid "eyeball kick" prose, or voice assistants that are deeply uncomfortable to actually talk to, or (I claim) "AI agents" that get stuck in loops and confuse themselves, or any of that.

We are still stuck in the "Helpful, Harmless, Honest Assistant" chatbot paradigm – no one has seriously broke with it since that Anthropic introduced it in a paper in 2021 – and now that paradigm is showing its limits. ("Reasoning" was strapped onto this paradigm in a simple and fairly awkward way, the new "reasoning" models are still chatbots like this, no one is actually doing anything else.) And instead of "okay, let's invent something better," the plan seems to be "let's just scale up these assistant chatbots and try to get them to self-improve, and they'll figure it out." I won't try to explain why in this post (IYI I kind of tried to here) but I really doubt these helpful/harmless guys can bootstrap their way into winning all the Nobel Prizes.

----

All that stuff I just said – that's where I differ from the usual "short timelines" people, from Kokotajlo and co.

But OK, let's say that for the sake of argument, I'm wrong and they're right. It still seems like a pretty tough squeeze to get to "powerful AI" on time, doesn't it?

In the OSTP submission, Anthropic presents their latest release as evidence of their authority to speak on the topic:

In February 2025, we released Claude 3.7 Sonnet, which is by many performance benchmarks the most powerful and capable commercially-available AI system in the world.

I've used Claude 3.7 Sonnet quite a bit. It is indeed really good, by the standards of these sorts of things!

But it is, of course, very very far from "powerful AI." So like, what is the fine-grained timeline even supposed to look like? When do the many, many milestones get crossed? If they're going to have "powerful AI" in early 2027, where exactly are they in mid-2026? At end-of-year 2025?

If I assume that absolutely everything goes splendidly well with no unexpected obstacles – and remember, we are talking about automating all human intellectual labor and all tasks done by humans on computers, but sure, whatever – then maybe we get the really impressive next-gen models later this year or early next year... and maybe they're suddenly good at all the stuff that has been tough for LLMs thus far (the "10x" models already released show little sign of this but sure, whatever)... and then we finally get into the self-improvement loop in earnest, and then... what?

They figure out to squeeze even more performance out of the GPUs? They think of really smart experiments to run on the cluster? Where are they going to get all the missing information about how to do every single job on earth, the tacit knowledge, the stuff that's not in any web scrape anywhere but locked up in human minds and inaccessible private data stores? Is an experiment designed by a helpful-chatbot AI going to finally crack the problem of giving chatbots the taste to "write extremely good novels," when that taste is precisely what "helpful-chatbot AIs" lack?

I guess the boring answer is that this is all just hype – tech CEO acts like tech CEO, news at 11. (But I don't feel like that can be the full story here, somehow.)

And the scary answer is that there's some secret Anthropic private info that makes this all more plausible. (But I doubt that too – cf. Brundage's claim that there are no more secrets like that now, the short-timelines cards are all on the table.)

It just does not make sense to me. And (as you can probably tell) I find it very frustrating that these guys are out there talking about how human thought will basically be obsolete in a few years, and pontificating about how to find new sources of meaning in life and stuff, without actually laying out an argument that their vision – which would be the common concern of all of us, if it were indeed on the horizon – is actually likely to occur on the timescale they propose.

It would be less frustrating if I were being asked to simply take it on faith, or explicitly on the basis of corporate secret knowledge. But no, the claim is not that, it's something more like "now, now, I know this must sound far-fetched to the layman, but if you really understand 'scaling laws' and 'exponential growth,' and you appreciate the way that pretraining will be scaled up soon, then it's simply obvious that –"

No! Fuck that! I've read the papers you're talking about, I know all the arguments you're handwaving-in-the-direction-of! It still doesn't add up!