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1. Map the exterior (What is outside of your world? Address access as well as location)

Samsara is a representation of Earth and has the same physical elements as the planet. Access is given by opting in to inhabiting the planet. This access offers a plot of land that the inhabitant is responsible for sustaining. The real-world actions of each inhabitant, as well as live data from around the planet earth, contributes to the overall health of Samsara.

Outside of Samsara is its atmosphere, which functions exactly the same way as the earth’s atmosphere. Beyond the atmosphere is a galaxy, and beyond that, the universe. This would leave room for an expanding galaxy, if more planets were needed to support participants.

2. Begin to map the interior. For now, divide it into broad zones in order to address issues of access, movement, activity that is determined geographically.)

- Land, occupied by people (participants); will form large land masses in which inhabitants will be given a piece of land.

- Water: Lakes and Ocean; both can become affected or polluted based on participants actions and external factors in the real world.

-Atmosphere: surrounds the planet, it affected by participants co2 usage and external factors; is susceptible to damage, such as holes or pollution.

-Galaxy, Universe: Samsara belongs to a specific universe

Inhabitants will be able to teleport, or move around to others’ plots of land, though will not be able to directly affect, or sabotage someone else’s land. They will, however, overrun the land on others as their ecological footprint grows.

3. Begin to design the format of your atlas. It should be "of" the world you are creating, i.e. the style and form should be consistent with the world (or your plans for viewers) itself.

-website: atlas can be a link, or part of the initial story of the land when a participant signs up to become part of the planet

4. Set up your Atlas's Table of Contents (or equivalent in your format). This will serve as your design schedule for the rest of the term. Here are some questions you will want to address: (These are general issues, you need to determine the categories relevant to your world, essentially you will be responsible for a coherent set of RULES that govern any story that might arise in this environment.)
Maps: Where is it
Directions: How do I get there
Pictures: What does it look like
Dioramas: What does it feel like to be there
Physics: How do things move, work?
Ecology: What lives there? What sustains them?
Economy: What do they do?, How do they survive?
Language: how do they communicate
Arts: How do they express themselves
War: How do they settle conflicts?
Faith/Religion/Superstitions: What do they believe?
Libraries/Books: How do they store knowledge?
Stories/Science: How do they explain their world?

1. Directions: URL to the website – directions on how to log in and gain access to a plot of land. Land is generated as each new player begins, adding to the overall impact on the planet
2. Map: overview of planet spinning in the universe; map of participants specific plot of land and neighbors
3. Pictures: real world photos will be used to demonstrate good deeds done in the real world, which will improve the well-being of the online world
4. Design: overall style of the planet and individual plots of land TBD
5. Physics:
a. External Factors: data will be pulled from RSS feeds related to climate change, severe weather conditions around the world,CO2 sensor worn by the participant etc
b. Internal Factors: Participant will be asked a number of questions when signing up to determine their day-to-day usage of things such as a car, average flights per year, gas and electricity used at home, etc
6. Ecology/Ecosystem: plants, animals and human-like inhabitants all survive based on the ecological footprint created by the human participant. A chart will show the current status of the flora and fauna, and hints will be offered as to how to improve the ecology of Samsara.
7. Economy: the economy is based on the recycling of natural resources and the inhabitants ecological responsibility to their land. There is no monetary economy, but those who are more kind to the planet have a larger stake in its well-being
…….. more to come