priit@imke

Basically Second Life is the computers came which became extremely popular about half a year ago and have now reached to the millions of users (residents, to be accurate) who are using (or living on) it tens of hours per week. What is all about it, what can I get from it?

The very first thing to do is to download a client program (runs on Windows 2000/XP, currently not supporting Vista and on Mac OS X 10.3.9 or better), install it. Next moves are going to happen in the virtual world already - creating an avatar (your virtual me), moving and exploring the virtual world and chatting / making new friends around it. It is nice to know that behind those virtual avatars there are always a live human behind that. Like Philip Rosedale, Linden Lab’s (creator of the Second Life) says: “There are a lot of ways of connecting people to their computers, not just mice and keyboards but gaze detection and neuromuscular stuff”. Sounds like a perfect opportunity to widen the circle of friends and a fantastic way to collaborate in the actions you are missing in the real life.

Philip Rosedale knows that very well: “There are lots of handicapped people using Second Life - it’s one of the really inspiring things about it”. I must admit, that he’s right - when all the traditional computers are also capable to managesome kind of virtual world, there’s always certain scenario to be followed. But Second Life may help you to by a house or visit the virtual lectures and plan a tour to the art museum. It is accessible without leaving the computer.

Meanwhile, we cannot forget the world we are physically existing in. Dutch report on the Second Life is mentioning: “The relationship between happiness in real life and in Second Life is strong in the group 30 hours and more except for those who are unhappy in real life. They are happier in Second Life. In the group are several people who are house-bound because of circumstances, illness or a handicap.”.

But what I’m thinking of, is the situation, where I’m house-bounded myself, I don’t have close friends or relatives and my only true friends are existing in the Second Life, then I would choose a chance to be happy in the virtual world rather thatbeing depressed in my situation.

http://www.comcast.net/news/technology/index.jsp?cat=TECHNOLOGY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_life
http://infoisland.org/2006/12/09/dutch-report-on-second-life-the-second-life
-of-virtual-reality/
http://www.workconnexions.com/blog/Leo
/Whysecondlifehasgreatpotentialforthehandicapped.aspx