DELPHI QUESTIONNAIRE - PHASE ONE

INTRODUCTION & INSTRUCTIONS

Thankyou for agreeing to participate in this research project. I appreciate that your time is valuable, hence, every endeavour will be made to limit the time required to make submissions.

The aim of the research is to paint a picture to identify the key issues facing groups and individuals in achieving their objectives in the virtual environments created by the global electronic networks of the future.

Please read the following sections headed 'Research variables' and 'Assumptions' carefully prior to answering the seven questions.

Responses to the first phase of the Delphi should be submitted via the e-mail link below by the xx of yyyy.

ENDORSEMENTS

The endorsement of this research by of is gratefully acknowledged.

RESEARCH VARIABLES

The following statement provides the context for the research:

Entities in networked environments will comprise individuals, groups (formal or informal) and their autonomous agents. These entities will either interact or avoid interactions with each other. A repertoire of behaviours will be expressed in interactions and avoidance. Interactions will also result in experiences. Entities and their activities will exist within a number of dynamic social systems.

Key variables in this research, therefore, are:

Group entities and / or their autonomous agents. Groups may be formal - two or more individuals operating together under a formal understanding or structure eg. a company, government or church. Groups may be informal - eg. 'golfers' or fans of a rock band. Groups may use autonomous agents or artificial-intelligence entities (such as auto-bots) to extend their presence in the virtual environment.
Individual entities and / or their autonomous agents where an individual is a single consciousness but may have one or many virtual identities. Individuals may use autonomous agents or artificial-intelligence entities (such as auto-bots) to extend their presence in the virtual environment.
Behaviour which is an externalised expression of an entity in relation to the networked environment or other entities and is perceptible to other entities.
Experiences which may be characterised as either access (all transactions are initiated by one entity) or exchange (communication may be initiated by one or more entities to form a dialogue).
Dynamic social systems such as culture, legislation, regulation, economies or markets.

The relationship between these variables is illustrated below:

ASSUMPTIONS

This research is intended to sketch a broad picture of the highly functional virtual environments of the future. Broadly it should be assumed that technological and cultural adaptation will resolve many of the current issues facing virtual environments. Consequently three specific points should be assumed.

Assumption 1

Technology will sustain new environments that can be exclusively virtual. As a minimum these environments should be assumed to have the following attributes:

Interactive	Entities can initiate and self-mediate interactions / experience.
Real time	There is no lag - experience is immediate.
24 hours 7days	There are no prescribed 'opening hours'. Multimedia - Sight, sound and simulated touch (such as the data glove).
Global	All borders can potentially be crossed.
Remote	Newtonian and virtual effects can be initiated remotely.
Immersive	Experiences can be exclusive to the networked environment - no interaction with Newtonian space and time is necessary.
Intelligent	AI agents can participate 'autonomously' or under human instruction.

Assumption 2

Diffusion, access and acceptance issues will be resolved. The socio-cultural and access issues dominating current debates regarding global electronic networks and virtual environments;

network scale, scope and utilisation rates;
indexing and accessing information, individuals and groups; and,
transaction and data privacy and security;
will be resolved via either technological solutions, cultural adaptation or a combination.

Assumption 3

Virtual environments will contend effectively with real environments. There will be a point in the future where network functionality and the resolution of socio-cultural issues combine to create networked environments that are equally viable places to conduct many interactions as the real world.

Together these three assumptions imply that virtual environments will be highly functional, efficient, well accepted and well utilised by groups and individuals.

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Delphi Research Methodology
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