In my PR Research and Strategies course, we are required to present "cool digital stuff." “Cool digital stuff” is new up-and-coming websites and programs on the web, such as Foursquare and Fring. My classmates and I presented tips to sites we use and sites that are on the rise. I recently stumbled upon a great new social network. It is called Second Life.
Second Life began in 2003 and is a 3D virtual world accessed online. Second Life is a program of opportunities and no bounds. Second Life also has a Teen Second Life for people under 18 years old. Second Life can be used as a chat room for friends as well as a place for conducting business meetings with someone on the other side in the world. It also has voice chat and virtual classrooms. You can shop, travel and create or trade services.
Designers use Second Life to share their designs with other designers for reviews of their work. Colleges are beginning to have virtual tours on Second Life. This site allows anyone to see exactly what the campus looks like. Also, you can buy or trade virtual property.
You can do almost everything in Second Life that you can do in real life, minus murder.
The unique thing about Second Life is that you have no objective. Your avatar does whatever you make him or her do, and the Second Life grid is constantly getting larger.
What I like about the virtual world is I can recreate myself. I can do all the things I wish and want to do. It is a great place to begin new ideas and creations that I may have. Not only does it allow me to create them, but it allows the rest of my virtual worlds to see it and access it. I can get instant feedback to evaluate or adjust the idea.
Hi, I tried Second Life once and it wasn't what I expected. Everything that I wanted to interact with was locked. Maybe I did not have enough points to play, but how could I immediately? The website did not stick with me. The information was not clear enough about what to do. However, when I first checked out the website it seemed really cool, maybe it just wasn't for me.
ReplyDeleteSecond Life sounds interesting. I've never tried it, but it appears be beneficial if used properly. However, I saw a show about people who became attached and addicted to their avatars. The world of digital and social media is rapidly changing. It's important that people use social media to their advantage and be aware of its pros and cons.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how much technology is out there. I wonder if we can really handle another social network.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about the name Second Life, it really does remind me of the movie Avatar. The main character, though he was in a wheelchair, got a second chance at life. I'll never forget the scene when he realized he had feeling in his legs. He ran right out of the hospital room, jumping over logs and pausing in delight to feel the mud between his Avatar toes.
I guess that what all social networks really do. It gives people a chance to step outside of who they are and become who they want to be, if even just virtually.
FAMU and other colleges really should utilize something like Second Life to give virtual tours to their students. That would be a great way to get the neo-Millenials involved. If they thought we were bad, wait until these kids grow up!
Shout out to ESTJ! I see you guys up there, Cam and Kwamae.
Good work, Elliot.
Elliot,
ReplyDeleteSecond Life sounds kinda cool. It seems as if it could be used for business purposes or like you said to create a "second life" for yourself and do the things that you always wanted to do. I like the fact that it has a room especially designed for teens 18-years-old and younger because there are so many people in the digital world that try to take advantage of these kids. All in all you have convinced me to at least check out the site and see what its really all about. Thanks alot Elliot!