Worth a second look?EDTC6325-80 Martín Perna / Olga Terrazas

Avatar names: MartinAdrian Bombastic and OLTerrazas Lemondrop

Tentative Topic: Second Life: Worth a second look?Second Life is a complex virtual environment with myriad possibilites and features. However, it can be as imperfect as anything in the real world. In our collaborative project we will approach Second Life as skeptics who want determine what Secon Life can do that can’t be done in other free educational tools such as wikis, Skype and others.

Experiences / First Impressions

Experiences so far:•Solo explorations and group explorations•Group chats with a helpful stranger•Explorations of search function and teleporting•Exchange of information with helpful strangers

Frustrations:•SL can be big and confusing•Worthwhile places can be empty •Lots of human problems recreated in virtual reality•Certain things can cost real money!!

Potential:•Free way to groups to communicate via text and chat•Lots of space for imagination to run wild

Screenshots (solo)

University of Texas in Second Life“hookem virtual horns”

Screenshots (solo)

Martín in the virtual Caribbean danceclub.

Screenshots (group)

Meeting a helpful stranger at IEEE

Screenshots (group)

At the Space Flight Museum. Bad hair day for Martín

Conclusions

• Seems redundant with availability of other free tools (Skype, Pbwiki, etc)

• Need to spend more time reading and investigating how SL is used effectively

• Spend more time learning layout• Learn mobility skills