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Greetings from afar … I promised when I left Cincinnati and CET to write now and then … so here we go. These days my office is in the fabled land of Academia, where I sit atop my ivory tower (okay, 6th floor, with a window overlooking the top of “parking structure #6″ – I really do miss my view of Music Hall).

A couple of weeks ago, I participated in a show and tell of a 3D virtual world where people play and somtimes actually learn. It’s called Second Life, and it’s a time-sucking black hole, although not without good points. Here are the basics: you download the software, you choose some basic characteristics for your avatar (it’s like a 3D Barbie or Ken doll, with attitude) and you are placed on Orientation island. On this island, you learn to move (including flying capabilities, which is very cool), communicate, change your appearance, find information and events in Second Life, and so forth.

I was introduced to Second Life by tuning in with my web camera to observe, in web conferencing software, one of our staff participate in an education conference taking place in Second Life. Yep, people attending a conference via avatar. You go, you find the rooms, you sit down in chairs, you see a speaker on a podium. It’s bizarre, I kid you not, but you also get used to it pretty quickly. 

Well, of course I had to go try it out. When I came here, they gave me two computer monitors (screens). I thought, “Why do I need two computer monitors?” I have found many uses. One was to watch this presentation while simultaneously going to Second Life and setting up my account. What I was watching via web conferencing made more sense when I experienced it first hand.

But alas, I am a loser: I haven’t gotten past Orientation Island. 1. I’m too busy. It takes time, and every time I log out I lose all my points for finishing tasks. I have never been able to finish that last task and then magically … well whatever happens then. 2. There are idiots there as in real life. Ladies, any of you who plan to do this should go in and as soon as possible disguise yourself as a guy. I mean, just like downtown on a Saturday night, if you don’t have a date you will find yourself with unwanted company. Or maybe you want company. Okay, I won’t pass judgment on you. I’m just saying if I could really move my avatar like I want to, the guy in the white t-shirt would find himself in a world of hurt.

Second Life will indeed suck up your time. I tried it out, then looked up and couldn’t believe how much time I’d spent on it. Same from my colleagues. However, you will find neat things there. Some universities actually offer classes in Second Life. Of course, recently some idiot (I’m guessing possibly the guy in the white t-shirt) trashed a university’s island/classroom space and it had to be rebuilt from scratch. Second Life is not without its special issues.

Well, I have gone on entirely too long. Try it out for yourself. Here are some links:
Second Life http://www.secondlife.com/
Ohio University Second Life Campus http://vital.cs.ohiou.edu/index.php/Ohio_University_sims
The Infinite Mind on Second Life http://www.current.org/tech/tech0614secondlife.shtml
Meet the New You (School Library Journal – high school) http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6403251.html
Campus Life Comes to Second Life http://www.wired.com/gaming/gamingreviews/news/2004/09/65052
Educators Explore Second Life Online http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/11/13/second.life.university/

-Patsy
 

Patsy is a former employee of CET who has moved away from Cincinnati but enjoys virtual community by occasionally contributing to the CETconnect blog.