Baba Sucks

Confusion over Neuronet continues. The International Association of Virtual Reality Technologies (IAVRT formerly IABIT) is drawing all kinds of attention. C|Net first reported and it has since been picked up by 3pointD, GigaGamez 2, Eric Rice, reBang, and now Slashdot.

IAVRT’s claim,

IAVRT is working with its VR member peers and the global community to create and govern a new real-time virtual reality network, separate and distinct from the Internet, which will be called the Neuronet. The Neuronet will be designed from the ground up as the world’s first - and only - network designed specifically for the transmission of virtual reality and next generation gaming data. The Neuronet will organize the virtual reality world and ensure its safety, reliability, and functionality.

Right away this seems odd. Why do we need a new network? Ostensibly, it is to allow for higher bandwidth to support real time virtual reality. A huge task to be sure, and expensive. It’s also already been done — in the form of Internet2 the research network funded by hundreds of universities and government grants in the U.S.

How do they plan to fund this major new network?

The sales of domain names VR and CIN, as well as expensive memberships. csven at rebang was the first to suggest this might be a scam after a bit of digging found little in the way of corporate background.

Slashdotters found this reference to IAVRT previous incarnation IABIT in google’s cache.

Vancouver, Canada – The International Association of Brain Interface Technologies (IABIT) is pleased to announce a US$10 million fund for the study and advancement of Brain Interface (BI) technology. The fund will issue one US$500,000 grant and two US$250,000 grants each year for ten years beginning in 2007.

Heh..

The big questions,

1. Who are they?
2. Why should anyone trust them?
3. Can I get a refund?! plz…

All the fun is at rebang in the comments. Check them out