Virtual Worlds

(Notes from Training Tech Solutions Conference 2007)

• Online persistent world that is active and available 24/7.
• To implement for learning, try learning from media companies to see how they integrate real life with virtual life.

Resources

• www.sric-bi.com/vwc

Software

• www.secondlife.com – Virtual world
• www.qwaq.com – Virtual spaces for real work.
• www.forterrainc.com/ – Virtual world technology for the corporate, healthcare, government, and entertainment industries.

SecondLife

• It’s not a game, it’s not web 2.0. Likes to be seen as Web 3D.
• Join for free, don’t need to provide personal information.
• Security; allows private sessions/events, or build islands that allows only authorized members to enter.
• Can be slow if the servers are overloaded.
• Uses voice and IM/chat technology.

Related websites

• www.technologyreview.com
• www.pathfinderlinden.com
• www.advancedrealities.com
• www.mayarealities.com – Maps and traffic analysis in SecondLife.
• www.simteach.com
• http://sl.nmc.org
• www.slcn.tv/best-practices-in-education
• www.simteach.com/slccedu07proceedings.pdf
• www.tinyurl.com/ydvcvo
• www.msitsecondlife.wikispaces.com
• www.slurl.com

Mashups

• www.sloodle.org is secondlife + moodle