Second Life: The Future of Communications? Nicola Martinez Sloan-C International Symposium Emerging Technology Applications for Online Learning Monday, June 2, 2008 Nicola Martinez June 2, 2008

Nicola Martinez

Sloan-C International Symposium

Emerging Technology Applications for Online Learning

Monday, June 2, 2008

The virtual and immersive world Second Life provides its "residents" with a visually rich, interactive, social networking environment, and the spaces and tools to explore the possibilities for communications, collaboration, learning and global interaction. This presentation will introduce the audience to Second Life communities and educational sites, while providing strategies for building successful virtual communities and meeting the challenges of multilingual, synchronous communications in immersive environments. I will focus on a case study on the Isle of Wyrms, a Second Life immersive world with an international, multilingual virtual citizenry.

The virtual and immersive world Second Life provides its "residents" with a visually rich, interactive, social networking environment, and the spaces and tools to explore the possibilities for communications, collaboration, learning and global interaction.

This presentation will introduce the audience to Second Life communities and educational sites, while providing strategies for building successful virtual communities and meeting the challenges of multilingual, synchronous communications in immersive environments.

I will focus on a case study on the Isle of Wyrms, a Second Life immersive world with an international, multilingual virtual citizenry.

The Future of Communication By the end of 2011, 80 percent of active Internet users (and Fortune 500 enterprises) will have a “second life”, but not necessarily in Second Life, according to Gartner, Inc. http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=503861 13,867,326 registered users as of this morning (6-2-08 ) Gartner: Second Law: Behind every avatar is a real person. Gartner said people can’t be fooled by the fantasy elements in the virtual world. There are unwritten rules and expectations for behavior and culture are developing. Gartner: Today’s multiplicity of virtual environments has developed through the convergence of social networking, simulation and online gaming. There are over 300 + educational institutions represented in Second Life

By the end of 2011, 80 percent of active Internet users (and Fortune 500 enterprises) will have a “second life”, but not necessarily in Second Life, according to Gartner, Inc. http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=503861

13,867,326 registered users as of this morning (6-2-08 )

Gartner: Second Law: Behind every avatar is a real person. Gartner said people can’t be fooled by the fantasy elements in the virtual world. There are unwritten rules and expectations for behavior and culture are developing.

Gartner: Today’s multiplicity of virtual environments has developed through the convergence of social networking, simulation and online gaming.

There are over 300 + educational institutions represented in Second Life

Profile Communicates Avatar Details

Follow the Green Dots Each green dot = one avatar. Follow the dots to find the people.

Reuters Island Reuters Island

Reuters Hud Reuters News HUD SL News, Real Life Feeds Linden Exchange Rate

IBM Recruitment Center IBM Recruitment Center

Research Park Trauma Center

NMC Orientation

NMC Orientation

Isle of Wyrms

Isle of Wyrms - International Citizenry English (US, Canada, UK, Australia, NZ) Dutch French (France, Belgium, Switzerland, French Canada) German Italian Japanese Polish Portuguese (Brazil and Portugal) Spanish (Spain and Latin America) The IOW Leadership makes a concerted effort to recruit guides From among the native speakers of represented language groups

English (US, Canada, UK, Australia, NZ)

Dutch

French (France, Belgium, Switzerland, French Canada)

German

Italian

Japanese

Polish

Portuguese (Brazil and Portugal)

Spanish (Spain and Latin America)

Citizen Group Roles Guest – trial citizenship Citizen - full citizenship Volunteer - citizen helper, non staff Guide - citizen helper, first level staff Mentor - citizen leader, chosen from guide pool Advocate – bridge between citizens and high council members Mayor – elected by citizens from among the citizens Ambassador - not a citizen group role…High Council, citizen representative at large Guardian -Peacekeeper, Leader

Guest – trial citizenship

Citizen - full citizenship

Volunteer - citizen helper, non staff

Guide - citizen helper, first level staff

Mentor - citizen leader, chosen from guide pool

Advocate – bridge between citizens and high council members

Mayor – elected by citizens from among the citizens

Ambassador - not a citizen group role…High Council, citizen representative at large

Guardian -Peacekeeper, Leader

PG SIM No nudity No obscenity No violence No weapons No harassment No begging Citizens Only Build Rules Posted

In World Group Communication Channels Isle of Wyrms Help Forum – Provides 24 hour live assistance drawing from international citizenry. Isle of Wyrms Citizen’s Group- Invitation Only Council of Hatchlings, Council of Wyrmlings, Council of Wyrms- Invitation Only, after authentication and by registration. For admin notices. Isle of Wyrms Conference Hall- Staff Communications Channel. Gives staff immediate access to each other and to IOW highest levels of leadership. Dragon Friends – Non-draconian, interested in the dragons and the isles misc. related groups

Isle of Wyrms Help Forum – Provides 24 hour live assistance drawing from international citizenry.

Isle of Wyrms Citizen’s Group- Invitation Only

Council of Hatchlings, Council of Wyrmlings, Council of Wyrms- Invitation Only, after authentication and by registration. For admin notices.

Isle of Wyrms Conference Hall- Staff Communications Channel. Gives staff immediate access to each other and to IOW highest levels of leadership.

Dragon Friends – Non-draconian, interested in the dragons and the isles

misc. related groups

Virtual Communities Live Music Concert

In-World Communications Live one-to-one assistance: in-world staffing of the Cathedral and the Sandbox, the two places new visitors are most likely to visit. 24 h Live Help Forum Multilingual Notecards In-World Posters that give out notecard information The Herald , a monthly newspaper Interactive Scripted Objects Creating the Immersive Experience

Live one-to-one assistance: in-world staffing of the Cathedral and the Sandbox, the two places new visitors are most likely to visit.

24 h Live Help Forum

Multilingual Notecards

In-World Posters that give out notecard information

The Herald , a monthly newspaper

Interactive Scripted Objects Creating the Immersive Experience

Virtuality and Immersion Cathedral: The Immersive Experience Community in Action Dragons assisting Dragons

Ongoing Events Drum Dance Circle every other week Wyrm Wyrds storytelling alternating with Drum Dance Dragon Hatching Releases Most Anticipated Event on the Isles. Dragons are released in limited numbers Four times yearly and when a new species is created Summer and Winter Festivals Holiday Events Hatchie “Raids” Otherworld Visits Organized Games, etc.

Drum Dance Circle

every other week

Wyrm Wyrds storytelling

alternating with Drum Dance

Dragon Hatching Releases

Most Anticipated Event on the Isles.

Dragons are released in limited numbers

Four times yearly and when a new species is created

Summer and Winter Festivals

Holiday Events

Hatchie “Raids”

Otherworld Visits

Organized Games, etc.

Charity Auction Fundraising for Real Life Charities – Converting Lindens to Real Money

Conclusion Avatars are real people engaging in social, business and educational transactions in a virtual world. I have met residents from all over the world in Second Life, including avatars from Croatia and Sichuan, China with limited English language skills. This takes globalization to the next level. Isle of Wyrms residents include a number of people over forty, with several closer to 60 than 40. This is not a Grand Theft Auto gaming audience, though they may have dabbled in World of Warcraft. Communications in Second Life are complex. Mastery of the communication technology, culture and capabilities are key to success in virtual worlds.

Avatars are real people engaging in social, business and educational transactions in a virtual world.

I have met residents from all over the world in Second Life, including avatars from Croatia and Sichuan, China with limited English language skills. This takes globalization to the next level.

Isle of Wyrms residents include a number of people over forty, with several closer to 60 than 40. This is not a Grand Theft Auto gaming audience, though they may have dabbled in World of Warcraft.

Communications in Second Life are complex.

Mastery of the communication technology, culture and capabilities are key to success in virtual worlds.

References - Online Second Life Education Wiki http://www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Life_Education_Wiki Educational Uses of Second Life http://sleducation.wikispaces.com/educationaluses#interactive New Media Consortium Second Life Wiki http://sl.nmc.org/wiki/Main_Page Isle of Wyrms Wiki http://www.daryth.com/draconica/index.php/Main_Page Basic Communication in Second Life http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/sl/index.php/Basic_Communication_in_Second_Life Official SL Video Tutorials http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Video_Tutorials

Second Life Education Wiki

http://www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Life_Education_Wiki

Educational Uses of Second Life

http://sleducation.wikispaces.com/educationaluses#interactive

New Media Consortium Second Life Wiki

http://sl.nmc.org/wiki/Main_Page

Isle of Wyrms Wiki

http://www.daryth.com/draconica/index.php/Main_Page

Basic Communication in Second Life

http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/sl/index.php/Basic_Communication_in_Second_Life

Official SL Video Tutorials

http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Video_Tutorials

References - Books Boellstorff, T. (2008). Coming Of Age In Second Life : An Anthropologist Explores The Virtually Human . Princeton, Princeton University Press. Guest, T. (2007). Second Lives : A Journey Through Virtual Worlds . New York, Random House. Meadows, M. S. (2007). I, Avatar : The Culture And Consequences Of Having A Second Life . Indianapolis, Ind.; London, New Riders ; Pearson Education. Robbins, S. and M. R. Bell (2008). Second Life For Dummies . Hoboken, NJ, Wiley Pub. Rymaszewski, M. (2007). Second Life : The Official Guide . San Francisco, Calif.; Chichester; Hoboken, N.J., Sybex] ; John Wiley . Weber, A., K. Rufer-Bach, et al. (2008). Creating Your World : The Official Guide To Advanced Content Creation For Second Life . Indianapolis, IN, Wiley Pub.

Boellstorff, T. (2008). Coming Of Age In Second Life : An Anthropologist Explores The Virtually Human . Princeton, Princeton University Press.

Guest, T. (2007). Second Lives : A Journey Through Virtual Worlds . New York, Random House.

Meadows, M. S. (2007). I, Avatar : The Culture And Consequences Of Having A Second Life . Indianapolis, Ind.; London, New Riders ; Pearson Education.

Robbins, S. and M. R. Bell (2008). Second Life For Dummies . Hoboken, NJ, Wiley Pub.

Rymaszewski, M. (2007). Second Life : The Official Guide . San Francisco, Calif.; Chichester; Hoboken, N.J., Sybex] ; John Wiley .

Weber, A., K. Rufer-Bach, et al. (2008). Creating Your World : The Official Guide To Advanced Content Creation For Second Life . Indianapolis, IN, Wiley Pub.

Contact Information Nicola Martinez Director of Curriculum and Instructional Design SUNY Empire State College Center for Distance Learning 111 West Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-587-2100, ext. 2276 [email_address] Ragitake Takakura in Second Life [email_address]