Beverly, Chelsea, CaitlynBeverly, Chelsea, Caitlyn

The “Newbie” ExperienceThe “Newbie” Experience

• With any new technology comes With any new technology comes the task of learning skills to the task of learning skills to navigate navigate

• New experiences bring different New experiences bring different emotions for each character, emotions for each character, because no one goes through the because no one goes through the same period of initializationsame period of initialization

Learning the RopesLearning the Ropes

Helped ProgressHelped Progress• We skipped orientation island because We skipped orientation island because

we were too eager to indulge into the we were too eager to indulge into the unknownunknown

• Just as in video games where experience Just as in video games where experience increases a player’s status, the most increases a player’s status, the most helpful assets on SL were the veterans. helpful assets on SL were the veterans. From hair styles to teleporting, every From hair styles to teleporting, every single unknown person that returned single unknown person that returned conversation shared knowledge willingly conversation shared knowledge willingly and in a friendly manner. and in a friendly manner.

• Curiosity ultimately led us to talk to Curiosity ultimately led us to talk to people, which ultimately led to people, which ultimately led to instantaneous new items or landmarks instantaneous new items or landmarks upon dropping the line “I'm new here.” upon dropping the line “I'm new here.” Most people seemed to want to show us Most people seemed to want to show us the things they found interesting so we the things they found interesting so we would be impressed by SL. would be impressed by SL.

• Other than interacting with people, we Other than interacting with people, we found SL to be a learn as you go kind of found SL to be a learn as you go kind of process. For example, we created a process. For example, we created a plastic covered rectangular block by plastic covered rectangular block by trial and error .trial and error .

Hindered ProgressHindered Progress• The main opponent to my progress on SL The main opponent to my progress on SL

was simply the technology itself. Often, was simply the technology itself. Often, we would know what we wanted to do, we would know what we wanted to do, but we would not be able to figure out but we would not be able to figure out how to do it!how to do it!

• We feel as though the amount of time you We feel as though the amount of time you spend on certain things has an ample spend on certain things has an ample effect on your skill development. For effect on your skill development. For example, in our first few weeks on SL, we example, in our first few weeks on SL, we were more or less obsessed with were more or less obsessed with changing our appearance: our hair, our changing our appearance: our hair, our outfits, our body, etc... Everyone we outfits, our body, etc... Everyone we talked to had the purpose of helping us talked to had the purpose of helping us discover new means of creating our discover new means of creating our avatars. avatars.

• After we got past the appearance phase, After we got past the appearance phase, we were more interested in finding we were more interested in finding interesting people and places. Often interesting people and places. Often discouraged by what we found, we discouraged by what we found, we thought SL was not that interesting until thought SL was not that interesting until we started using the Map to teleport to we started using the Map to teleport to the most crowded places.the most crowded places.

Community, Culture, and Community, Culture, and CommerceCommerce• CommuityCommuity

– We did not gather a sense of community among any of the three of us, perhaps due to time constraints

– From our interactions with other people, we did not feel as though anyone really had a sense of community. The closest thing to a community was the groups one belonged to, although many of them, like our groups, started with an invitation from someone known in the real life.

– The absence of an actual home or family diminishes the traditional sense of community; however, perhaps the idea of modern, virtual communities of like-minded people will surface, although most people We ran into were with either one friend or by themselves unless attending some public speech or concert

• CultureCultureThere is a broad sense of culture in SL from

what we have observed. We actually ran into several people who did not speak English (Japanese and Spanish).

An interesting trend was that we could not tell from the avatars’ chosen appearances who was speaking Japanese or a foreign language. We expected to see Japanese people, but their avatars were indistinguishable from those of the typical “American” avatar. This could mean that foreigners are experimenting with an an altered appearance (possibly due to feelings of inferiority or minority perception)

There are many items, buildings, and activities typical of a particular culture. For example, this structure is typical of oriental style.

CommerceCommerce

• Trade, Economics, and BusinessTrade, Economics, and Business– Most of the Linden dollars in SL are used for either obtaining

some special object that enhances transportation or appearance, to create something (usually a place), or to support a cause, in our experiences.

– More and more businesses seem to be joining SL for the sake of advertisement. And why not advertise, considering the audience? Personally, we were not intrigued by any company to the point where we sought further information on a subject or came close to purchasing a product.

– We did find an interesting place… a free public yard sale. People are allowed to sell whatever they want in this space of SL. There were patio tables and many items just sitting in the serene landscape. As odd as it was to change the scenery of a business, this made it more appealing and interesting for us to explore. Why would anyone want to explore something that looks just as ordinary and banal as it does in the real world?

Insights and Interesting Insights and Interesting ThingsThings

A Niche A Niche – Most people that we questioned joined

SL out of curiosity. We believe that people can find their niche in this world, whether it be to harbor creativity, let loose from the regulations of the real world, promote a cause, or just for entertainment

– We were incredibly disinterested in SL and not enthusiastic about learning anything. We approached the project with a “non-hacker” ethic so to speak, being that we wanted to do a good job, but without having enthusiasm. The more we explored and found places like these, the more we became intrigued by what this world has to offer. For example, Bev is a lover of art, so the buildings, colors, aesthetics, and landscapes of SL appeal to her.

– Another interesting idea is that, when our friend sends us a postcard from Vienna, Italy, our hopes of going there even in 10 years are slim. In SL, one can visit, tour, explore, and appreciate these inspiring places immediately!

CyberTeam RelationsCyberTeam RelationsAgain, the ‘traditional’ sense of community seemed to have a primary effect Again, the ‘traditional’ sense of community seemed to have a primary effect

on our team in that geographical limitations hindered our communication.on our team in that geographical limitations hindered our communication.

Due to either infrequent use of their e-mail or some other communication Due to either infrequent use of their e-mail or some other communication confusion, technical error on SL, or other circumstances, the three confusion, technical error on SL, or other circumstances, the three students from Bucknell University were not able to get a response from students from Bucknell University were not able to get a response from the two students at St. Johns.the two students at St. Johns.

Waiting for e-mails, responses, and sharing slides from our team made it Waiting for e-mails, responses, and sharing slides from our team made it tough to make solid progress on this project. This shows one tough to make solid progress on this project. This shows one inconvenience of e-mailing as opposed to using the telephone, because inconvenience of e-mailing as opposed to using the telephone, because one does not have to get an immediate response or even know if the one does not have to get an immediate response or even know if the intended recipient received the message! Furthermore, giving e-mail intended recipient received the message! Furthermore, giving e-mail addresses has become standard, where telephone numbers were not even addresses has become standard, where telephone numbers were not even available for this (and many other) projects.available for this (and many other) projects.

Otherwise, the notion of working online with people in different places is kind of an interesting feeling. To know that someone could be sitting in California while you are in Pennsylvania, but that you are both together with some appearance online in the same space seems to transcend the laws of physics. At the same time that it seems fake, the interactions and results seem very real!

Overall, we learned that communication over space requires time and planning, which we were not able to ascertain in the period designated for our research and collaboration.

Exploring the Ups and Downs Exploring the Ups and Downs of Virtual Lifeof Virtual Life

• Sistine Chapel at VassarSistine Chapel at Vassar

• My first impression of the Sistine Chapel was simply awe. It looks so My first impression of the Sistine Chapel was simply awe. It looks so beautiful, but maybe that’s because of my appreciation of art. This beautiful, but maybe that’s because of my appreciation of art. This and other places seem to be a platform by which the potential for and other places seem to be a platform by which the potential for education on Second Life is beginning to come to recognition. education on Second Life is beginning to come to recognition.

• Having been to the Sistine Chapel myself, it reminded me very much Having been to the Sistine Chapel myself, it reminded me very much of the feeling of being there. Of course, nothing can replace the real of the feeling of being there. Of course, nothing can replace the real thing, but Second Life has advantages that real life does not. I am thing, but Second Life has advantages that real life does not. I am able to fly up to the ceiling to view the details or sit in a window and able to fly up to the ceiling to view the details or sit in a window and admire the architecture.admire the architecture.

• The island of Vassar would inspire me to create more places of The island of Vassar would inspire me to create more places of education on Second Life. The Sistine Chapel definitely invokes education on Second Life. The Sistine Chapel definitely invokes appreciation for art history. appreciation for art history.

• ““The purpose of this recreation is to explore the use of virtual reality The purpose of this recreation is to explore the use of virtual reality for teaching and learning about art and architecture, by experiencing for teaching and learning about art and architecture, by experiencing the context, the scale, and the social aspects of the original.”the context, the scale, and the social aspects of the original.”

Dell IslandDell Island

• Dell Island reminded us of Orientation Island because there Dell Island reminded us of Orientation Island because there were different venues set up that tell you how to work were different venues set up that tell you how to work second lifesecond life– Venues taught you how to chat, fly, change your appearance,

etc.

• While on the island we encountered an avatar from New While on the island we encountered an avatar from New York University that was also doing a digital networking York University that was also doing a digital networking projectproject– Interesting to interact with a student who is miles away and yet Interesting to interact with a student who is miles away and yet

partaking in basically the same project as us at the same timepartaking in basically the same project as us at the same time

– Reinforces the idea that distance does not matterReinforces the idea that distance does not matter

• Interesting because Dell clearly uses Second Life as a Interesting because Dell clearly uses Second Life as a marketing strategy in hopes of gaining publicity/advertising marketing strategy in hopes of gaining publicity/advertising their productstheir products– On Dell Factory Island you can build your own Dell PC, creating On Dell Factory Island you can build your own Dell PC, creating

computers that Dell actually has on the market todaycomputers that Dell actually has on the market today

– Clearly, Second Life is a great way to digitally market their Clearly, Second Life is a great way to digitally market their computer productscomputer products

Christmas IslandChristmas Island

• This island was really cool because it was decorated This island was really cool because it was decorated with Christmas decorations, so it was festive for this with Christmas decorations, so it was festive for this time of yeartime of year

• There was a charity going on called the Stocking FundThere was a charity going on called the Stocking Fund– This charity aimed at helping poor children in British

Columbia– You could donate your Linden dollars, so we

donated $100L in hopes of helping a needy family in BC

• We also got to ice skateWe also got to ice skate– Our avatars received a free gift that consisted of

figure skates, a scarf, gloves, and a hat

Cisco Systems Technology Cisco Systems Technology ParkPark• Cisco systems is a

company that designs and sells networking and communications technology and services under five brands, namely Cisco, Linksys, WebEx, IronPort, and Scientific Atlanta.

• Their vision is "Changing the Way We Work, Live, Play and Learn.”

• Part of the Cisco Systems building for IT professionals. The sign furthest to the right gives directions for what to do in order to see a Cisco Systems representative.

• In the Cisco Systems Technology Park in Second Life In the Cisco Systems Technology Park in Second Life shows the new age in business communication. There shows the new age in business communication. There are tutorials for the people who visit this island on are tutorials for the people who visit this island on what Cisco Systems can do for them.what Cisco Systems can do for them.

• The Introduction to the resources available to visitors The Introduction to the resources available to visitors on the island states, “Cisco data center networking on the island states, “Cisco data center networking bet practices provide customers with guidance and bet practices provide customers with guidance and assistance in developing the data center network assistance in developing the data center network architecture most appropriate to meet changing IT architecture most appropriate to meet changing IT requirements. These best practices augment the requirements. These best practices augment the Cisco data center network architecture technologies Cisco data center network architecture technologies and solutions to help IT architects and data center and solutions to help IT architects and data center professionals take a phased approach to building and professionals take a phased approach to building and operating a comprehensive network platform for their operating a comprehensive network platform for their next-generation data centers. By taking advantage of next-generation data centers. By taking advantage of Cisco data center-class network best practices, IT Cisco data center-class network best practices, IT professionals can build a data center-class network, professionals can build a data center-class network, deploy solutions more quickly with lower risk, deploy solutions more quickly with lower risk, facilitate technology evolution and upgrades, and facilitate technology evolution and upgrades, and help ensure that IT staff are equipped with the right help ensure that IT staff are equipped with the right skills and expertise.”skills and expertise.”

• The IT architects can learn all techniques they need to The IT architects can learn all techniques they need to from Cisco professionals available to them on the from Cisco professionals available to them on the island.island.

Reuters News ServiceReuters News Service

• In the Reuters News island, there are In the Reuters News island, there are many things that are available to us in many things that are available to us in our first life in, in second life.our first life in, in second life.

• The island is sponsored by Reuters and The island is sponsored by Reuters and Acura, and has a free set of commands Acura, and has a free set of commands for simple second life exploring for all for simple second life exploring for all of the island’s visitors.of the island’s visitors.

• On the Reuters island, you can listen On the Reuters island, you can listen to/watch guest speakers in their large to/watch guest speakers in their large auditorium, download a personal news auditorium, download a personal news HUD and display, and view HUD and display, and view advertisements for Acura vehicles.advertisements for Acura vehicles.

Different Reuters FeaturesDifferent Reuters Features

• On the left is part of the Second Life tutorial on the island, and a way to receive the news display. On the right is a welcome sign for the island, an advertisement for the new Acura, and an Acura vehicle that avatars are able to drive.

ConclusionsConclusions• Second Life could be a world for Second Life could be a world for

new dimensions of education, new dimensions of education, business, and personal niches.business, and personal niches.

• The problems it may face in The problems it may face in advancing these ideas are breaking advancing these ideas are breaking technology barriers and providing technology barriers and providing more opportunities for community.more opportunities for community.

• With a community-like With a community-like atmosphere, people naturally have atmosphere, people naturally have more interest in those they care more interest in those they care about and are therefore likely to about and are therefore likely to be more frequent users.be more frequent users.