#9 Virtual Worlds

Second Life

I have just had a look at Second Life and watched a few of the videos. I particularly found the video from Elizabeth at Murdoch University to be useful. She referred to the 2007 Horizon report and explained that virtual worlds were one of 6 major trends. She argued that learning to use animation so your avatar could walk, fly, take and give objects, talk and meet others is learning a new literacy. She predicted that the web will evolve into this interface in the future.

Second Life is a 3D virtual world community. In Second Life one's avatar can communicate using local chat or IM. In SL, you decide who you will be, what you will look like and where you will go. You can work, play, fall in love, have relationships, shop, do business, explore and attend live events. SL has its own internal economy and currency, called the Linden dollar (L$).

ExitReality

This is a really exciting development in web technology. This free Internet plug-in (4MB download) allows you to view every web page in 3D. Unfortunately, the video walkthrough did not work properly so I had to rely on the printed material.

"ExitReality purports to be for 3D internet what Google was for web searches, what You Tube was for video and what MySpace and Facebook were for social networking." (www.smh.com.au/news/exit-reality-with -3d-broswer/2008/09/18/122).

The 3D interface encourages people to remain longer and this is perceived as bring an advantage within the business community. Interestingly, it allows users to see and chat with other users who are visiting the same site. This could be another way that students become collaborative learners within a global context and unlike blogs which are 2D; the 3D interface could really appeal to some learners.

World of Warcraft

This is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) by Blizzard Entertainment. I watched the video clip about this and learnt that it is very easy to become immersed in this virtual world and lose yourself. The presenter referred to putting time limits and keeping other activities going in your real life.

Overall

I have learnt that the web will become increasingly 3D and there are infinite ways of presenting oneself in virtual worlds. Although I can see that the interface would be appealing to young people, I question how this correlates with the VELS and the drafted National Curriculum. I also wonder how this matches to our Year 12 assessment system, where so much emphasis is placed on traditional literacy skills.