Just as Secret Society holoX earns some recognition with their victory in the singing contest, they’re hit with a wave of bad press. To clean up their image and win over the haters, the up-and-coming quintet decide to hold a free concert, advancing their plans for world domination to a new stage! And then, with their society becoming less of a secret by the day, the newfound prominence of holoX leads to a fateful encounter?!

This edited volume expands on what Aoyagi Hiroshi intended in the first decade of the new millennium to establish as a subfield of symbolic anthropology called “idology.” It brings together case studies of popular idolatry in Japan, but goes further to provide a transcultural perspective to guide anthropological investigations in different places and times. In proposing an integrated paradigm for the growing body of literature on idols, the volume redirects recurrent questions to more fundamental points of sociocultural inquiry. Contributions from scholars conducting ethnographic fieldwork, as well as those engaged in theoretical and historical analyses, facilitate comparative reading and critical thought. Exceeding a narrow focus on human idols, the chapters shed new light on virtual idols and YouTubers, cartoon characters and voices, robot idols and cybernetic systems. Science and technology studies thus comes together with theories of animation and anthropological work on life in more-than-human worlds.

VTubing, short for Virtual YouTubing, is a rapidly growing digital phenomenon where creators interact with their audience using animated avatars. These avatars, often anime-inspired, are controlled using motion capture technology, allowing creators to stream content, play games, sing, and much more, all while maintaining a layer of anonymity. As the VTubing community has expanded, so has its influence on the entertainment industry, blurring the lines between virtual and real-world interactions. This eBook is designed to help those who are new to VTubers understand the basics of this fascinating culture. Whether you're a curious viewer or someone thinking about starting your VTubing journey, this guide will walk you through the essential information you need to get started. From the history of VTubers to the equipment you'll need, you'll find it all here. For those just dipping their toes into the virtual waters, the world of VTubers can seem overwhelming. There are countless channels, personalities, and platforms to explore, each with its unique appeal. This preface serves as a gateway into this diverse world, providing a simple introduction to the topics we'll cover. The evolution of technology and entertainment has made it possible for anyone to become a virtual star, and this guide aims to empower readers by giving them the knowledge and tools needed to dive into the world of VTubing. You'll not only learn about the history and technical aspects but also the nuances of creating your unique VTuber persona and interacting with your audience. VTubing is much more than entertainment—it's about building a community, expressing creativity, and embracing technology. As you go through the chapters, you'll see that VTubing is not limited to a specific genre or audience. It has opened doors for all kinds of content creators—from gamers and singers to artists and comedians. This guide will show you how VTubing offers limitless potential for anyone willing to explore it. Enjoy this journey into the vibrant and ever-evolving world of VTubers. Whether you're here to watch or participate, this beginner's guide will give you a solid foundation to navigate the virtual realm confidently.

La+ Darknesss. Takane Lui. Hakui Koyori. Kazama Iroha. And Sakamata Chloe. Collectively known as Secret Society holoX, their goal is nothing less than world domination! ...But how exactly did they end up as Virtual YouTubers? Discover the origins of the self-proclaimed “rightful rulers of Eden’s planet” in this story based on the mega-popular stars of hololive. “YES MY DARK!”

This book highlights the latest trends and advances in applications of digital technologies in construction engineering and management. A collection of chapters is presented, explicating how advanced technological solutions can innovatively address challenges and improve outcomes in the construction industry. Promising technologies that are highlighted include digital twins, virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, robotics, blockchain, and distributed ledger technologies. The first section presents recent applications of extended reality technologies for construction education and advanced project control. The subsequent chapters explore Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, and BIM-enabled digitalization in construction through a series of case studies, reviews, and technical studies. Innovative technologies and digitalized solutions are proposed for improved design, planning, training, monitoring, inspection, and operations management in Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) contexts. In addition to the technological perspectives and insights presented, pressing issues such as decarbonization, safety, and sustainability in the built environment are also discussed. This book provides foundational knowledge and in-depth technical studies on emerging technologies for students, academics, and industry practitioners. The research demonstrates how the effective use of new technologies can enhance work methods, transform organizational structures, and bring profound advantages to construction project participants.

Volume CCIS 1654 is part of the refereed proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2022, which was held virtually during June 26 to July 1, 2022. A total of 5583 individuals from academia, research institutes, industry, and governmental agencies from 88 countries submitted contributions, and 1276 papers and 275 posters were included in the proceedings that were published just before the start of the conference. Additionally, 296 papers and 181 posters are included in the volumes of the proceedings published after the conference, as “Late Breaking Work” (papers and posters). The contributions thoroughly cover the entire field of human-computer interaction, addressing major advances in knowledge and effective use of computers in a variety of application areas.

Providing an in-depth discussion of emoji use in a global context, this volume presents the use of emoji as a hugely important facet of computer-mediated communication, leading author Jieun Kiaer to coin the term 'emoji speak'. Exploring why and how emojis are born, and the different ways in which people use them, this book highlights the diversity of emoji speak. Presenting the results of empirical investigations with participants of British, Belgian, Chinese, French, Japanese, Jordanian, Korean, Singaporean, and Spanish backgrounds, it raises important questions around the complexity of emoji use. Though emojis have become ubiquitous, their interpretation can be more challenging. What is humorous in one region, for example, might be considered inappropriate or insulting in another. Whilst emoji use can speed up our communication, we might also question whether they convey our emotions sufficiently. Moreover, far from belonging to the youth, people of all ages now use emoji speak, prompting Kiaer to consider the future of our communication in an increasingly digital world.

This book discusses how the role of traditional construction professional is changing, providing a useful guide for practitioners who would like to upskill themselves. Lately, core concepts and methodologies for the Built Environment are presented providing definitions and applications on Building Information Modelling, Computational Design, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Data Analytics and Visualization, Lean Construction, Advanced Project Management, Sustainability, Geographical Information Systems, Advanced Business Models, Disaster Management, Quality Management, Health and Safety and Legal prospective. The book also shows the latest technologies for the Built Environment including Digital Twins, Reality Capture, Extended Reality, Gamification, Computational Construction and Manufacturing, Structural Health Monitoring, Smart Transaction and Cybersecurity. Trends in soft skills for the Built Environment are presented covering Digital Working, Communication, Self and Relationship Management skills and Critical thinking. The book is dedicated to professionals who would like to enhance their understanding and capabilities to operate in the Industry 4.0 for the Built Environment having a holistic and comprehensive overview.

A great hero lies undefeated on her deathbed, regretting that she never found a foe who could take her down. She never intended to meet her fate anywhere other than on the battlefield, and her peaceful demise has her wishing desperately that things could have been different... But when she suddenly comes to in the body of the young, frail Nia Liston, she’s got an all-new fight ahead of her. Nia is a sickly child, meaning she has a long way to go before she’s in fighting form. Now that she’s been given a second shot at life, however, she’s determined to get what she wants. She’s going to live—and die—for battle this time! Make way for the Merciless Maiden!

Through this book, entitled Linguistics Anthology: Insights from Students Research, we want to provide our students with the opportunity of writing scientific essays that will be beneficial for them in the future. This book also facilitates their outstanding ideas in their initial research in the field of Linguistics. As part of the Linguistics practicum program, we selected their best research essays from the Linguistics classes; Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics, Psycholinguistics, Second Language Acquisition, Sociolinguistics; at the Study Program of English Literature, Universitas Brawijaya.