Stumbling, Bumbling, Teleporting & Flying… a Librarian Avatar in “ Second Life ” Esther Grassian (aka Alexandria Knight ) UCLA College Library Rev. 29 May 2007

Alexandria Knight

Agenda What is Second Life (SL)? Who’s Involved? Examples: Real & Fictional Sites Examples: Library & Librarian Involvement & Fun Questions Welcome!

What is Second Life (SL)?

Who’s Involved?

Examples: Real & Fictional Sites

Examples: Library & Librarian Involvement & Fun

Questions Welcome!

What is “Second Life” (SL)? Modifiable MMOG/MMORPG Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game >6.6 million Registered Users 25%+ Increase/Month

Modifiable MMOG/MMORPG

Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game

>6.6 million Registered Users

25%+ Increase/Month

Virtual World? Community Standards Currency = Linden $$ Newspaper = “Metaverse Messenger” Objects Designed by Residents Intellectual Property Rights Respected (Lawrence Lessig) >7000 Businesses

Community Standards

Currency = Linden $$

Newspaper = “Metaverse Messenger”

Objects Designed by Residents

Intellectual Property Rights Respected (Lawrence Lessig)

>7000 Businesses

More… Top Ten SL Entrepreneurs: >$200,000/year Linden Lab’s Profit $20/virtual acre/month = $1 million/month + cut of currency exchange: L$ & US$ L$266-270 = US$1 January 2007: US$5 million traded

Top Ten SL Entrepreneurs: >$200,000/year

Linden Lab’s Profit

$20/virtual acre/month = $1 million/month

+ cut of currency exchange: L$ & US$

L$266-270 = US$1

January 2007: US$5 million traded

SL Demographics 43% Female/57% Male Participants Age 18-24=27% 25-34=39% 75% U.S. Participants (early summer 2006) 16% U.S.; 61% Europe (April 2007) 63% Unique Users 3.6 Million Visits (March 2007)

43% Female/57% Male Participants

Age

18-24=27%

25-34=39%

75% U.S. Participants (early summer 2006)

16% U.S.; 61% Europe (April 2007)

63% Unique Users

3.6 Million Visits (March 2007)

Some considerations… Access Requirements Internet Connectivity Platform development & revision Platform stability Learning curve Time commitment Sleaze factor…

Access Requirements

Internet Connectivity

Platform development & revision

Platform stability

Learning curve

Time commitment

Sleaze factor…

Businesses…

More…

Marketing/Advertising

More…

“ Metaverse Messenger” Kiosk

Caledon (19 th century Sim)

Caledon Library

Steam-Powered Card Catalogs

Elven Glen

Campuses San Diego State University Ohio University NMC (New Media Consortium) 100 in development…

San Diego State University

Ohio University

NMC (New Media Consortium)

100 in development…

San Diego State University

SDSU WebQuest

NMC Campus

SJSU SLIS

Research Studies & Social & Political Events Are they real? Are they authoritative?

Are they real?

Are they authoritative?

Heart Murmur Sim

Heart Murmur Sim…

Fictional! “This exhibit is for your entertainment only. None of the medical information presented here should be taken as true.” Kemp, Jeremy. “Notices and Disclaimers…”

“This exhibit is for your entertainment only. None of the medical information presented here should be taken as true.”

Kemp, Jeremy. “Notices and Disclaimers…”

Svarga

Fictional, but… "If I was to turn off the clouds the whole system would die in about six hours…” Laukosargas Svarog, “Second Life Virtual Ecosystem New World Notes”

"If I was to turn off the clouds the whole system would die in about six hours…”

Laukosargas Svarog, “Second Life Virtual Ecosystem New World Notes”

Realistic attempt to replicate… “…the building contains a closely researched recreation of visual and aural hallucinations, based on interviews of real schizophrenics.” Nash Baldwin, MD & computer programmer, UC Davis

“…the building contains a closely researched recreation of visual and aural hallucinations, based on interviews of real schizophrenics.”

Nash Baldwin, MD & computer programmer, UC Davis

Social Issues… Sponsor?

Real! White Band Day: 17 Oct 2006 Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)

White Band Day: 17 Oct 2006

Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)

Libraries, Librarians & Others Info Island Archipelago Main Library Mystery Manor Sci-Fi Building More… Health Info Island ICT Library TechSoup

Info Island Archipelago

Main Library

Mystery Manor

Sci-Fi Building

More…

Health Info Island

ICT Library

TechSoup

Flying in Info Island…

Medical Library

Sci-Fi Fantasy Library

Cybrary City UCLA Library Stanford Science & Engineering Libraries Many more…

UCLA Library

Stanford Science & Engineering Libraries

Many more…

UCLA Library

UCLA Library

International Spaceflight Museum

Entertainment Bazaars Casinos Bars Be wary… Mature areas

Bazaars

Casinos

Bars

Be wary… Mature areas

Yadni’s Junk Yard

Casino…

ATM…

Blarney Stone Bar (Dublin Sim)

Blarney Stone Bar…

Review What is Second Life (SL)? Who’s Involved? Examples: Library & Librarian Involvement & Fun To conclude…

What is Second Life (SL)?

Who’s Involved?

Examples: Library & Librarian Involvement & Fun

To conclude…

Why Get Into SL? Higher Education, Research & Training Businesses Learn New Technology Skills Collaboration Opportunities Faculty Other Librarians & Technologists And…

Higher Education, Research & Training

Businesses

Learn New Technology Skills

Collaboration Opportunities

Faculty

Other Librarians & Technologists

And…

Go To Users!

Machinimas… Info Island Tour Ohio University SJSU SLIS

Info Island Tour

Ohio University

SJSU SLIS