Definition and Taxonomy of Virtual Worlds Mark W. Bell Indiana University

Mark Bell Research at Indiana University Synthetic Worlds Institute Author of Second Life For Dummies

Mark Bell

Research at Indiana University

Synthetic Worlds Institute

Author of Second Life For Dummies

Definition How we got here Current vision Future Taxonomy

A synchronous, persistent network of people, represented by avatars, facilitated by computers. A Virtual World is…

A synchronous, persistent network of people, represented by avatars, facilitated by computers.

Uma rede sincronizada e persistente de pessoas, representadas por avatares auxiliadas por computadores

A synchronous , persistent network of people, represented by avatars, facilitated by computers.

A synchronous , persistent network of people, represented by avatars, facilitated by computers.

A synchronous, persistent network of people , represented by avatars, facilitated by computers.

A synchronous, persistent network of people , represented by avatars, facilitated by computers.

A synchronous, persistent network of people, represented by avatars , facilitated by computers.

A synchronous, persistent network of people, represented by avatars , facilitated by computers.

A synchronous, persistent network of people, represented by avatars, facilitated by computers .

A synchronous, persistent network of people, represented by avatars, facilitated by computers .

Robbins-Bell Facets Persistence Multi-user Avatars Wide-Area Network (Robbins-Bell, 2008)

Persistence

Multi-user

Avatars

Wide-Area Network

(Robbins-Bell, 2008)

Persistence: A VW can't be paused ; it exists whether you're logged in or not.

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

Avatars: Rather than an icon that represents a user, a virtual world allows us to create an agent that takes action , an avatar.

Wide Area Network: VWs are facilitated via wide area networks rather than local ones.

New Technologies Bring New Network Structures Facilitating New Connections between people

Sender Message Receiver Channel

Printing Press Reader Author Book Printer

Telegraph Operator Sender Telegraph Telegraph Operator Receiver

Telephone Sender Network Telephone Receiver Telephone

Telex Sender Network Telex Receiver Telex Receiver Telex Receiver Telex

Radio Sender Network Receiver Radio Receiver Radio Receiver Radio

Television Sender Network Receiver TV Receiver TV Receiver TV

Fax Sender Network Fax Receiver Fax

Broadcast

Broadcast

Dialogic

Dialogic

The computer changed everything

Punch card

Connecting computers really connected people

Connecting computers really connected people

People have been connecting a long time

People have been connecting a long time

"Communications tools don't get socially interesting until they get technologically boring ." - Clay Shirky

In the beginning, was text … Email Chat USENET The WELL

Email

Chat

USENET

The WELL

A Game on A Calculator ?

MUD-1 (1978)

OUBIETTE (1977) Avatar (1977) TinyMUD (1989) TinyMUCK (1990) TinyMUSH (1990) MOO (1990)

Habitat (1986)

The Palace (1994)

Dungeons & Dragons

NeverWinter Nights (1991)

Meridian 59 (1995)

Ultima Online (1997)

EverQuest (1999)

World Of Warcraft (2004)

Rise of social worlds Social worlds

Second Life (2003)

MMO player < 14

People + Methods of production and distribution + New methods of currency exchange = New Economies

Technology is bright and shiny

People are the brightest and shiniest

Uncanny Valley?

Fun

New Bodies

New Abilities

New Quest and Rewards

Taxonomy

Text

Graphics

Persistence

Stigmergic Communication through change in the environment

Homes

Business

Social Spaces

Virtual Worlds

Real Virtual

Real Virtual

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