What are different ways these virtual worlds can be used? What are the
pros and cons? Be specific. How do virtual worlds foster creativity?
What do you think the future of virtual worlds will look like?
Virtual worlds are meant to bring together community and creativity. Virtual worlds mimic the real world and therefore technology is used in a way to enhance the real world. Virtual worlds are models and can represent elements of reality that are more basic. These are altered versions of our reality; there is a different sense of space, time, and ability. A virtual world is a computer-based
simulated environment populated by many
users who can create a personal character called an avatar and at the
same time explore a virtual world and participate in activities and
communicate with others. An avatar is a virtual representation of yourself and it can be in any shape or form that you wish to appear in. Virtual worlds can range from fantasies, sports, historical and science fiction. Some are based upon the real world while others are much more focused on the fantasy world. The worlds are completely disconnected from the real world, which is why so many people are attracted to them.
There are many advantages to virtual worlds as they can enhance gaming experience, make use of virtual prototypes, there are training programs for the military, medical training, psychological training, and much more. Virtual worlds are exciting and they allow for communication with other people using text, sound, graphic images and much more. Some advanced technologies even allow voice and touch. Of course, there are disadvantages to virtual worlds. They can be extremely time consuming and it is hard to really re-create an environment that captures all aspects of the real world. Some issues that arise when creating this technology include making better tracking systems, lag time, overlooking basic laws of physics, and a lack of accuracy.
Virtual worlds really foster creativity because they encourage you to use your imagination. You can basically do whatever you want and whatever you have ever dreamed of. It allows people to go into a whole different realm in their brain and use parts of it that cannot be used in everyday life. People can pretend whatever they want.
Diane Mehta interviewed Jackie Morie in her article "After Second Life, Can Virtual Worlds Get a Reboot?" Morie explains why virtual worlds are not passe. They are not as isolating as they may seem. As Morie states "in virtual worlds, however, you are not alone together, you are really,
truly together—connected by these bodily representations caused avatars." I think this is a concept that people just truly miss the boat on and don't grasp the essence of virtual worlds. Morie discusses the positive aspects that virtual worlds bring to many people's lives. People are using virtual worlds for entertainment, social connection, and learning.
Mark Tutton discusses how people use virtual worlds as a tool and mechanism to help businesses in his article, "Going to the virtual office in second life." People are starting to use virtual worlds to have online meetings because the cost of business trips is just getting too out of hand. Tutton explains how this works: virtual worlds allow for "the ability to collaborate effectively using virtual tools may now become increasingly important skills as technology offers more options then, say, video conferencing.
In the future I think virtual worlds will be used as a tool in schools. I think there are many benefits that virtual worlds have to offer. They will probably become more and more advanced and the more advanced technology becomes the more real virtual worlds will be. There are just endless possibilities for virtual worlds and I think they are really going to flourish in the future.
References:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/dianemehta/2013/04/30/after-second-life-can-virtual-worlds-get-a-reboot/#679eb917143b
https://bbhosted.cuny.edu/webapps/lobj-wiki-bb_bb60/wiki/BAR01_CIS_3810_NET2_1169_1/_25852608_1/Home?cmd=GetImage
systemId=Going+to+the+virtual+office+in+Second+Life+-+CNN__0.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment