![What is a virtual world? “… an online environment whose “residents” are avatars representing individuals participating online” From 7 things you should know about…Virtual Worlds http://connect.educause.edu/display/39392 [Accessed 21st September 2008]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/2009virtualworldsandsecondlife-090813074955-phpapp02/85/2009-Virtual-Worlds-And-Second-Life-3-320.jpg)
![Related terminology Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) “… genre of computer role-playing games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world …” From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mmorpg [Accessed 12th August 2009] Multi User Virtual Environment (MUVE) “ refers to online , multi-user virtual environments , sometimes called virtual worlds … most widely used to describe MMOGs that are not necessarily game-specific. From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MUVE [Accessed 12 th August 2009]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/2009virtualworldsandsecondlife-090813074955-phpapp02/85/2009-Virtual-Worlds-And-Second-Life-4-320.jpg)
![What is an avatar? An avatar is a computer user's representation of himself or herself, whether in the form of a three-dimensional model used in computer games, [1] a two-dimensional icon (picture) used on Internet forums and other communities, [2] [3] or a text construct found on early systems such as MUDs .” From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_(computing) [Accessed 19th September 2008] Multi User Dungeon, Domain or Dimension (MUD) “… a multi-player computer game that combines elements of role-playing games, hack and slash style computer games and social chat rooms.” From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MUVE [Accessed 19 th September 2008]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/2009virtualworldsandsecondlife-090813074955-phpapp02/85/2009-Virtual-Worlds-And-Second-Life-5-320.jpg)
![Introduction to Second Life h ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R1SrZua5ww “ Second Life is a free online virtual world imagined and created by its Residents“ From: http://secondlife.com/whatis/ [Accessed 12 th August 2009] What is Second Life?](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/2009virtualworldsandsecondlife-090813074955-phpapp02/85/2009-Virtual-Worlds-And-Second-Life-8-320.jpg)
2009 Virtual Worlds And Second Life
- 1. Virtual worlds and Jenny Evans Thursday 13th August 2009 http://delicious.com/imperiallibrary/secondlifeworkshop © Imperial College London http://learning2009imperial.wordpress.com
- 2. What we will cover today Virtual worlds Definition MMORPGs, MUVEs, avatars, MUD Second Life An overview In libraries/higher education What is happening at Imperial College London Hands-on Set up an account, create your avatar and begin to explore Second Life
- 3. What is a virtual world? “… an online environment whose “residents” are avatars representing individuals participating online” From 7 things you should know about…Virtual Worlds http://connect.educause.edu/display/39392 [Accessed 21st September 2008]
- 4. Related terminology Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) “… genre of computer role-playing games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world …” From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mmorpg [Accessed 12th August 2009] Multi User Virtual Environment (MUVE) “ refers to online , multi-user virtual environments , sometimes called virtual worlds … most widely used to describe MMOGs that are not necessarily game-specific. From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MUVE [Accessed 12 th August 2009]
- 5. What is an avatar? An avatar is a computer user's representation of himself or herself, whether in the form of a three-dimensional model used in computer games, [1] a two-dimensional icon (picture) used on Internet forums and other communities, [2] [3] or a text construct found on early systems such as MUDs .” From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_(computing) [Accessed 19th September 2008] Multi User Dungeon, Domain or Dimension (MUD) “… a multi-player computer game that combines elements of role-playing games, hack and slash style computer games and social chat rooms.” From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MUVE [Accessed 19 th September 2008]
- 6. 2008 Metaverse Tour Video: The Social Virtual World’s A Stage by Gary Hayes http://www.personalizemedia.com/2008-metaverse-tour-video-the-social-virtual-worlds-a-stage/ (7 mins) Virtual worlds: Examples
- 8. Introduction to Second Life h ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R1SrZua5ww “ Second Life is a free online virtual world imagined and created by its Residents“ From: http://secondlife.com/whatis/ [Accessed 12 th August 2009] What is Second Life?
- 9. About Second Life Hosted by Linden Labs on their Second Life grid platform Created by its residents Can build things – you own what you create How does it work? Basic account is free Premium account (monthly charge) allows you to buy/lease land, build Download the software to your computer (need a good video card) Explore and play
- 10. What can I do in Second Life? Create an avatar Move around Walk, run, fly, dance Teleport using a SLURL (Second Life URL) to go directly to a specific location in Second Life Participate in the Second Life economy Buy land, shop with Linden Dollars Build single objects, buildings Businesses, educational and cultural institutions all found there Not compulsory
- 11. Second Life...what you need to know Islands - the places you walk around/on while in Second Life Avatars - your online persona Buildings - can create them as well as go into them Objects - can be clothes or cars…your imagination is the limit Notecards - an item containing text and/or other information Pie menu – right click to get a list of options
- 13. What are UK HE institutions doing in Second Life? Coventry University have built a virtual campus in Second Life Edinburgh University Virtual University of Edinburgh Work with Masters students Open University Holding classes in Second Life DigiLab Sloodle Moodle (VLE) in Second Life
- 14. Second Life @ Imperial College London Academics giving lectures on Nature Network’s Second Nature Island Dr James Kirkpatrick from the Physics Department Conferences Virtual Climate change conference Dec 2008 Second Health Hospital Healthcare in the future Department of Biosurgery and Surgical Technology Clinical scenarios, Training ward , virtual operating rooms
- 15. Undergraduate teaching in the Faculty of Medicine in Second Life Respiratory Ward HUD in Second Life – Imperial College London http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1hOsiiHlyo
- 16. Is Second Life relevant to us as librarians/administrators/educators? http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2007/04/30/ten-very-good-reasons-why-your-librarians-should-be-in-second-life/ Yes... Medical students using it Used for research Awareness needed Learning something new – gain new skills http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2007/05/01/six-very-bad-reasons-to-have-a-library-branch-in-second-life/comment-page-1/ No... Cost Time needed to gain expertise Technical requirements A fad??
- 17. Open browser and go to: http://secondlife.com/ and click on get started
- 18. Fill in the boxes Can change your avatar look when you arrive in Second Life First Name can be anything Last Name has to be selected from the list Your name cannot be changed once you have chosen it Email address –College email or webmail – you will need this to activate your account
- 19. Select Virtually Linked – Second Life in London and click on ‘Yes, Start here’
- 20. Go to your email account and confirm your SL account by clicking on the link
- 21. To launch Second Life go to the start menu, select program, select Second Life and then click on Second Life.
- 22. You should now have arrived on Orientation Island – which should be Hyde Park
- 23. Need to run through the tutorial Moving forward and back Flying / stop flying Changing the view Chat with others Add another resident to your friends list Viewing inventory Changing your appearance Pie menu Map Mini map
- 24. Find the Queens Tower and the Alexander Fleming building From the ‘map’ Search for Imperial College London Or teleport to: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Imperial%20College%20London/150/86/27/ Explore Reception Research Centre Respiratory ward
- 25. Want to explore further? Find Imperial Island (hint: search in the map) and see what they are doing there Or teleport to: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Medical%20School/112/102/23
Editor's Notes
- #2: Welcome and big thanks to Kathryn Greenhill from Murdoch University for all of her advice/suggestions/presentations
- #3: First 20 mins or so of the session – me talking to you, demonstrating things A brief overview of virtual worlds Second Life more in depth due to the fact that High level of usage in UK HE sector – particularly Edinburgh, Coventry and the OU Imperial are using it In libraries and education – a UK focus Second Life @ Imperial College London Lectures Faculty of Medicine Second Health Virtual conference Hands on Set up an account (easy) Create/build your avatar Explore the Imperial College Island in Second Life including meeting at the Queens Tower in Second Life and having a go at the game that the Faculty of Medicine has set up in Second Life (in the Alexander Fleming building)
- #4: Can be based on the real world or be completely fantasy What can I do in a virtual world? Social aspect a key element Interact with other real world people (via their avatar – see next slide or two?) Communicate via text chat or voice Buy and sell items Build things View lectures/explore exhibitions Web 2.0 link Use web 2.0 tools such as youtube within SL to stream videos, build networks of ‘friends’ as you would in facebook etc. Use web 2.0 tools such as blogs, wikis, flickr, google groups to support SL activities As a rule virtual worlds themselves are not ‘games’ as there are no specific rules and/or goals however games can be (and often are) played within virtual worlds – however this is something that differs depending on who is writing about them Lots of jargon – will try to explain some of it as we go along Two better known examples used in education are Second Life and Active Worlds – mention OpenSim too
- #5: Virtual worlds have developed from gaming Some of them are considered games (such as World of Warcraft) as there is a goal/aim/objective involved – these are known as MMORPGs Others that focus on the social aspect are known as MUVE (Multi-User Virtual Environments) – which don’t involve specific rules or goals (though games can be played / be a part of these environments) This is what we will be focussing on today can however play / participate in games within a MUVE MMOG Massively multiplayer online game An online game– loads of people playing at once
- #6: Interact with other avatars Your online persona Can be 3D though not always Can customise Will look at this more when we look at Second Life
- #7: Show them a minute or two of this video
- #8: Today we are focussing on the virtual world Second Life, due to the fact that this is what is used in a number of HE institutions, particularly Imperial in the Faculty of Medicine You may already have ideas as to whether or not you think this is relevant to us as a library/institution, but do keep an open mind – if not relevant today – maybe it will be in a year or twos time..
- #9: Key points User created and owned Social network You can become friends with other people Listen to streamed video casts, podcasts Practicalities – it is not web based – you need to download it onto your pc (though this has been done already for the cluster pcs for todays workshop) Latest stats – 19 millions registered users though only a small percentage are active (kzero.co.uk) One of many virtual worlds – but high level of usage in higher education – used at Imperial
- #11: Basic account is free but you can use Linden Dollars (Second Life currency) to pay for land, clothes, buildings Create an account Download the software (free) Need broadband internet Helps to have a pc/laptop with top of the range video card but it does work without this Create an avatar
- #12: Note – basic account is free – allows you to create an avatar and explore the islands, pick up notecards and objects To pay for items, expand your wardrboe, build objects and buildings you need a paid for acount – currency is Linden dollars
- #14: Different places have a different focus – some are holding classes, some have built virtual campuses
- #15: Also virtual conference: International Virtual Association of Surgeons April 2008 – though haven’t been able to find the 2009 version
- #16: Less chance for learning with real patients – so simulation is an alternative MUVE – new way of delivering clinical teaching to digital natives Piloted with a group of medical students in March 2008 Created a hospital ward, had access to virtual patients who they could examine and provide diagnoses for Phase 2 – a multi patient approach – select the patient, ask questions, order tests (with Linden $), make diagnosis
- #17: Gives us an understanding of how people are using it to learn Mention Kathryn Greenhill’s blog posts Ask people to think, question Key point here – being aware of what is in Second Life, what the potential is – that’s one thing...actually setting up shop so to speak is well and truly another.
- #19: Go to https://join.secondlife.com/ and walk them through