Virtual Worlds 101
If you are familiar with Virtual Worlds, feel free to skip this part and explore how we are using Virtual Worlds to grow collaborations in the Metaverse Community.
What is a Virtual World?
A virtual world is an interactive simulated environment accessed by multiple users through an online interface. Virtual worlds are also called "digital worlds," "simulated worlds" and "MMORPGs" which stands for "Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game."
There are many different types of virtual worlds, however there are six features all of them have in common:
1. Shared Space: the world allows many users to participate at once.
2. Graphical User Interface: the world depicts space visually, ranging in style from 2D "cartoon" imagery to more immersive 3D environments.
3. Immediacy: interaction takes place in real time.
4. Interactivity: the world allows users to alter, develop, build, or submit customized content.
5. Persistence: the world's existence continues regardless of whether individual users are logged in.
6. Socialization/Community: the world allows and encourages the formation of in-world social groups like teams, guilds, clubs, cliques, housemates, neighborhoods, etc.” -creativecommons.org Second Life® Second Life® is a 3D virtual world created by its Residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by millions of Residents from around the globe."
Excerpt from an article at http://www.virtualworldsreview.com/info/whatis.shtml
Metaverse Communities
Second Life® and Avination® are examples of 3D virtual worlds created by their Residents. These and many other Metaverse communities have grown explosively and today are inhabited by millions of residents from around the globe.
For more information about Second Life or Avination and to download the free software needed to access the virtual world, visit the official Second Life website or Avination Website.
Applications
Virtual worlds are used for many purposes, by people from all walks of life. Some types of applications used by Second Life residents are listed below. Many virtual worlds offer similar applications. SL is used as an example.
Virtual Worlds are used as a platform for education by many institutions, such as colleges, universities, libraries and government entities. There are over one hundred sites or ‘regions’ used for educational purposes. For instance, some 300 universities around the world teach courses or conduct research in SL. New educational institutions have also emerged that operate exclusively within Second Life.
Some virtual worlds have been created for educational purposes. In most cases, educational worlds are sponsored by academic institutions or nonprofit organizations, although some educational worlds are sponsored by corporations.
Language learning is the most widespread type of education in virtual worlds, with many universities, mainstream language institutes and private language schools using 3D virtual environments to support language learning.
Support groups abound. Disabled and shut in people find activities, support, entertainment and personal connections that enrich their lives. Resources have been developed to facilitate the use of virtual Worlds by vision impaired and other disabled people. The anonymity of a Virtual World encourages people to access information and support that they may not be available to them otherwise.
Residents express themselves creatively through virtual world adaptations of art exhibits, architecture, live music, spoken word and live theater.
Second Life is used for scientific research, collaboration, and data visualization.
Second Life gives companies the option to create virtual workplaces to allow employees to virtually meet, hold events, practice any kind of corporate communications, conduct training sessions in 3D immersive learning spaces, simulate business processes, and prototype new products.
Religious organizations have also begun to open virtual meeting places within Second Life.
Several countries have opened an embassy in Second Life. Visitors are able to talk face-to-face with a computer-generated ambassador about visas, trade and other issues.
- Second Life Information derived from an article at - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Life
Other Virtual World Applications
Commercial gaming worlds tend to focus on a singular fictional theme and consistently follow formal conventions such as character-focused avatars, progression through an interactive narrative storyline, and a series of competitive events.
In addition to the traditional fantasy worlds, there are many commercial community-focused virtual worlds that emphasize socializing rather than gaming. These worlds offer a more open-ended experience and are strongly influenced by the cultures of text-based chat rooms.
Virtual worlds can serve as forums for political expression and debate. While real-world political issues can crop up in gaming, social, and educational worlds, there are a few cases in which completely separate virtual worlds have been built for the purpose of political debate or even experiments in various types of self-governing online communities.
Virtual world technologies are also being used in some interesting ways by the U.S. military. “America's Army” is being used as a tool to recruit potential soldiers, while companies like Forterra Systems are working with military groups to develop training simulations.
- Other virtual world Applications information from an article at -http://www.virtualworldsreview.com/info/whatis.shtml
. As these technologies develop further over the next several years, virtual worlds will be used for all types of purposes as more people begin spending more time in cyberspace.
An excellent and comprehensive glossary may be found at:
http://www.digitalspace.com/avatars/book/appendix/glossary.htm
ROF Home ROF Memorial RFL 2011 Support Virtual Worlds
Gallery Links News Events Contact ROF
©2009 - 2012, All Rights Reserved.
Some images and content copyright © by their respective owners.
No portion of this site may be reproduced without permission
