This document discusses the virtual world of Second Life and what users can experience there. It covers how new users are oriented through Orientation Island, forming an avatar and conquering the learning curve. Community, culture and commerce exist in Second Life, allowing users to connect with others and explore different locations. Some find that Second Life becomes their primary world, though it still maintains fantasy elements alongside attempting to mimic real life. The conclusion reflects on Second Life's potential for business networking and social aspects.

1. An Exploration Through Antoinette Delmage, David Librot, Ellie McIntyre, Chris Vaccaro, Kate Weber

2. Orientation Island: Welcome to Second Life Linden Lab’s way of showing the basics It’s a nice way of welcoming new-comers Assists with getting your started Mentors are very helpful! Introduces you to basic skills It’s still limited: doesn’t explain how to navigate or what’s available

3. Life as a “Newbie” Forming an Avatar Can create one in your own image or someone completely different Able to completely change your appearance Allows for freedom of expression None of the constraints of real life

4. Conquering Second Life: The Learning Curve Need to devote a lot of time and energy into getting accustomed SL has a safety-net built in Can locate mentors Orientation Island Extensive online tutorials Other users are very helpful Easily spot newbies and offer help I never felt uncomfortable, but rather grateful for the technical tips

5. Second Life as a Platform : Community, Culture, and Commerce

6. Community-Building Definition: Community “ A feeling of fellowship with others as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals” Second Life Provides the opportunity to meet others like you in a different situation Because there are so many locations in SL, no matter where one’s interests may lie, they can find a community However, you must put forth effort to locate a community Once you find one, they are seemingly accepting of others

7. Culture Definition: Culture “ The attitudes and behavior characteristics of a particular social group” SL facilitates exploration Different businesses, groups, clubs, and events have a presence on Second Life Experience different cultures in a realistic manner Because each location is unique, users can gain new perspectives

8. Commerce There is certainly an economy in SL American dollars convert into Linden dollars Purchase and sell goods like in a regular market Not a perfect representation of real life “ Freebie Island” doesn’t exist in RL Need to pay actual dollars to reap all of the benefits of this economy Through computers, marginal cost to produce any good is, essentially, 0

9. Cyber Teams Communication difficulties Subtleties are missing through email or chatting through Second Life Large time lag between responses Makes it hard to compromise Scheduling conflicts Email is not always the most efficient People devote different amounts of time to email and other technologies It is clear, however, that this is the way a lot of work will get done in the near future

10. What Did We Learn? Our world is constantly becoming more virtually connected Some companies already have meetings in Second Life IBM holds group meetings and does projects online and requires employees to create an avatar immediately A more effective technology Clearly, groups cannot always meet in person Video conferencing solves this problem Able to sense body language and other expressions that cannot be sensed through Second Life

11. Working Through Second Life: Realistic? It is very possible that Second Life will become increasingly important Cyber-teams are becoming ubiquitous Good experience for us to get ahead on the learning curve Some obstacles slowed progress Communication difficulties and differing schedules became clear hindrances Would exist in real life as well

12. Blue Fusion Jazz Club Live music scheduled Different DJs, party events like best dressed Romantic atmosphere to dance, meet new people, relax This is an effective location for social networking The casual environment facilitates easy conversation

13. Book Island Purpose Location to help authors and publishers connect with a new community Hold book fairs, information sessions, and discussions for users Impression Though the idea is great, there weren’t many people on the island Difficult to navigate the island

14. Growing Network Society Another medium to assist networking With so many users, it’s easy to meet people from all over the world The casual atmosphere makes networking feel more relaxed Different type of networking Users aren’t necessarily their real world “selves” Might lead to a more honest expression of ideas

15. What Makes Second Life Unique

16. Lack of Incentive Second Life is not a “game” People don’t win or lose Simply roam around exploring different locations and events Choose your own adventure Second Life can have as much or as little meaning based on what each user puts into it

17. Avatar: Alter-ego? Be who you want to be Cultural norms don’t exist Can express yourself in a way that’s not possible in real life Ability to change Today you can choose to look and act one way, and tomorrow it can be completely different No physical limitations in SL

18. When SL Becomes Your RL “ Power Users” Spend every free moment logged on to SL Identify their true identity as their avatar The lines between the two worlds blur Typically fleeing something in their RL SL gives people the opportunity to start fresh

19. Fantasy Element Though Second Life attempts to mimic real life in many aspects, there is fantasy element involved Teleporting, flying, ability to purchase tigers, for example Doesn’t interfere with the purpose of SL Still functions as a network society

20. Second Life is not perfect, but it has wonderful potential It’s an interesting concept Business networking with a social aspect SL is constantly making improvements and will only become more and more useful and ubiquitous Conclusion