Elizabeth Becker Christine Crawford

Lori Swinney

What is Second Life?A 3-D virtual worldFree and available to everyoneCreated in 2003 by Linden LabOver 9 million residents

53% male, 47% female200 + countries200 + universitiesIn-world economy US$1 = L$275 (as of 11/24/07)

Virtual World - A virtual world is a computer-based simulated environment intended for its users to inhabit, interact and create via avatars

International Space Flight Museum

Linden Lab

Phillip Rosedale, CEORealNetworks bought his small video streaming

company and made him VP and CTO.In 1999 Mr. Rosedale (he holds a BS in Physics) began

the research for the technology that is behind SL

Second Life is unique…Distributed simulation - Most virtual worlds are located

on one server and are limited in sizeSL is divided over a network of machines. Every time a

new machine is added to the network, hundreds of virtual acres are created.

Advanced compression – allows data to be compressed into thousands of objects per second into continuous streams to the resident’s machine

Collaborative, immersive, open-ended

Acronyms and expressionsSL = Second LifeRL = Real LifeIn-world = inside the virtual world of SLTP = teleportBling = objects that sparkle in-world (they can cause

lag)Prim = Primitive shape or object – Most basic shape

which can be further manipulated to build in-world

- a character that represents you in the virtual world

Can look just like you Or look nothing like you

Avatar

Avatars are customizable

Situation Learning/ImmersionAvatars are a means to experience the 3D

virtual world in a way that cannot be experienced via other virtual means.

Networking/CollaborationEmployee of Sun MicrosystemsGraduate library student from U of AFaculty member managing 3 SUNY IslandsBuilder of Northern Illinois University

(Glidden)Member of SL Development board and shop

ownerCEO and other important figures of NMCSeveral Harvard students“Lay” builder in-world (Vy)

Inventory

Add a Friend

Chat openly…

…or chat privately

…or use Voice Chat

Fly

Flying in front of tree on SL Campus grounds Flying above a carnival being worked on in Berkman Sandbox

Teleport

Rez- resolving an object that you create in-world

Force the sun

Join Groups

Search for the University of North Dakota group and join!

Build

Building tools used to create and manipulate prims

A triangle prim

Textures

A photo from in-World saved as a texture and added to a prim

A texture from the provided tools added to a prim

Hold a class

A class congregated outside ofHarvard Law School's Austin Hall

A session on immersion in the SL Symposium on Creativity

Announced on SLEDTrial of Socrates held on Buena Vista Island with students

from Buena Vista University and Mercy College

Conducted in text chat

…or a meeting

Teacher’s Buzz Meeting

Teacher’s Buzz Meeting

Build a presence

Map of Case Western University Campus

Vassar Castle, a replica of their library and Sistine Chapel replica

Rockcliffe UniversityThey built their campus in the sky….

Northern Illinois University, Glidden Campus

Art Café in Glidden Campus designed to look like a coffee cup. Student art is displayed on the walls.

Student Lounge

Get creative…

Scripting and building used to create this effect

Make friends…

…or fall in love

The beauty of it…Fully functioning economy

Linden dollars (L$)Can be exchanged on the Gaming Open Market for US $Goods and services created and exchanged by residents

Limitless self-expression and collaborationBuild – create buildings, vehicles, art, wings….whatever

your imagination inspiresScript – Second Life Script (SLS) is the language used in-

world to give life to your creationsChange avatar appearance or use different one

Youtube videosIntro to Second Lifehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b72CvvMuD6QEducational uses of SLhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOFU9oUF2HA

Resources for EducatorsSL Educators (SLED) ListservSL Research listserv (SLRL)

In-World Groups (Search, Groups Tab then enter search term, then click Join)

University of North DakotaNMCNursingLibrary: Academic Avatar

Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org

http://lindenlab.com/aboutwww.youtube.com

Special thanks to friends in-world for the help!