The document discusses the use of faceted classification to analyze and categorize virtual worlds. It defines 10 facets that emerged from studying 75 virtual worlds, such as dominant content form, user communication, object ownership, and user relationships. Two specific virtual worlds, World of Warcraft and Second Life, are analyzed based on these facets. The document concludes by suggesting several virtual worlds that could be useful for educational purposes based on their characteristics.

1. Using a Faceted Classification Scheme to Predict the Future of Virtual Worlds Sarah “Intellagirl” Robbins-Bell Relive 2008

2. What is a virtual world?

3. text?

4. visual?

5. avatars?

6. persistent?

7. a game?

8. my definition

9. Persistence: A virtual world can’t be paused; it exists whether or not a user is logged in.

10. 2. Multiuser: A virtual world must be populated or at least have the potential for population.

11. 3. Avatars: Rather than offering an icon to represent a user, a virtual world allows a user to create an agent that takes action, an avatar. This representation of the user can perform actions that the user requests, such as fighting, expressing emotion, or simply moving through a space.

12. 4. Wide Area Network: A virtual world is facilitated via a wide area network rather than a local one. Freed from the limited access of a locally hosted space, virtual worlds have the potential to be global and large.

13. VWs Definition Persistent Multiuser Avatars Wide Area Network

14. so what’s the difference?

15. what’s the difference?

16. why are the differences important?

17. not defining the differences flaws our choices

18. Faceted Classification

19. Faceted Classification is used to categorize and analyze objects such as data points, library books, and other objects that need to be easily sorted, compared, and differentiated. Ranganathan, S.R. 1962. Elements of library classification . New York: Asia Publishing House.

20. 75 worlds, which fit the operational definition of a virtual world, were studied to define common facets among them

21. 10 facets emerged

22. 1. Dominant Content Form : Text dominant Image dominant mix

23. 2. Dominant User to User Communication form Text Voice Mix

24. 3. Stigmergy : Stigmergic Non-stigmergic Conditional stigmergy

25. 4. Object Ownership : Private Public Sharing

26. 5. User Identity Formation : Static Conditional Custom

27. 6. Access : Public Fee Limited/Private

28. 7. User relationship with other Users (U2U): Competitive Conditional Collaborative

29. 8. User relationship with Environment (U2E): Competitive Conditional Collaborative

30. 9. Access to groups : Private/Invite Public None

31. 10. Number of groups : Many One None

32. The Facets are Powerful

33. Facet WoW SL Content Form Image Image U2U comm Text Mixed Stigmergy Non-stigmergic Stigmergic Object Ownership Private Limited Sharing U2U relationship Conditional Collaborative U2E relationship Conditional Collaborative Group # One Many Group Access Permission Open World Access Fee Public Identity Conditional Custom

34. Facet WoW SL Content Form Image Image U2U comm Text Mixed Stigmergy Non-stigmergic Stigmergic Object Ownership Private Limited Sharing U2U relationship Conditional Collaborative U2E relationship Conditional Collaborative Group # One Many Group Access Permission Open World Access Fee Public Identity Conditional Custom

35. So what do WoW an SL have in common? Persistence Multi-user Avatars WAN Image-based content

36. Worlds worth investigating for education Second Life/OpenSim – content creation, identity play Metaplace – experience construction World of Warcraft – management, teams, culture Lord of the Rings Online – literature, narrative Never Winter Nights – modification Hello Kitty – collaboration, global culture

37. Sarah “Intellagirl” Smith-Robbins [email_address] Skype, AIM, Gchat, Flickr, Second Life: Intellagirl For more info and discussion check at www.ubernoggin.com