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ViewsVirtual WorldsFrom IPL Wiki
[edit] About Virtual WorldsVirtual worlds, sometimes also known as MUVEs ("Multi-User Virtual Environments") are online virtual spaces through which users navigate remotely by operating an avatar - a virtual representation of themselves - using a mouse, arrow keys, and keyboard text commands or joystick controls to "walk" around and interact with objects and other people's avatars within the virtual environment. The visual virtual world environments grew out of text-based virtual worlds such as LambdaMOO which portrayed the virtual world with text descriptions rather than visual images. The original text-based worlds were known as MUDs (multi-user dungeons) and MOOs (MUD, object oriented). The Internet Public Library operated a text-based virtual world (the IPLMOO) for library reference services from 1995-2001. There are hundreds of virtual worlds in existence, although most people have only heard of a handful of them. Active Worlds, established in 1995, is one of the older visually-based virtual worlds, although Second Life, launched in 2003, is probably the best known. Virtual worlds exist for users at every age level; some examples include Disney-owned Club Penguin for six-year-olds and up, Gaia and Habbo Hotel for teenagers, There.com for young adults and Second Life for adult users. Many toys for children also now have associated online virtual worlds such as Webkinz stuffed animals, LEGO building blocks, Bratz dolls and Barbie dolls. The 2008 edition of The Blue Book: Consumer Guide to Virtual Worlds lists over 300 virtual worlds. A YouTube video by Gary Hayes shows 50 virtual worlds in a quick tour, including some which no longer exist such as Google's Lively. [edit] How do Virtual Worlds work?Virtual worlds generally require users to register an account and select a login name that will become the name of their avatar. Some virtual worlds offer choices of different "starting" avatars (e.g. male, female, non-human). Both 'paid' and 'free' accounts may be available, in which the free accounts have more limited functionality. Virtual world users can usually convert real-world money into virtual world currency to purchase items for their avatars, or may be able to 'earn' virtual world money by performing tasks in-world. In addition to paid accounts and selling virtual items, virtual worlds may generate money through selling advertising or virtual land. Second Life features the ability for users to rent, own and sell land as well as to create and sell virtual items of their own design, which famously resulted in the first avatar millionaire. For discussion about economics in virtual worlds, see these two longer YouTube videos: Ge Jin discussing his dissertation about gold farmers and Julian Dibbell on economics and gaming. Virtual worlds are social spaces where users can chat using voice or text and engage in a variety of activities, from playing games to working and training collaboratively, to working in or running a virtual business. Some virtual worlds are accessed through web browsers, while others require downloading a 'client' software. While typically users log in to servers and proprietary software owned by a company (such as Linden Labs for Second Life), there are some open source variations for virtual worlds software such as OpenSimulator ("OpenSim") and Sun Microsystems' Project Darkstar. Thus it is possible for organizations to purchase space on an existing virtual world, or if they have the expertise, to set up their own closed, 'private' world restricted to their own affiliated users only. [edit] Best PracticesLibrarians and educators have been especially active in the virtual worlds of Second Life, Whyville and Active Worlds:
[edit] IPL examplesIPL 15 Things in Second Life
Internet Public Library's 15 Things installation on Mythica, Imagination Island in the virtual world of Second Life The Internet Public Library was an early pioneer in virtual worlds for reference services. Elizabeth Shaw (1996) described the initial pilot testing in late 1995 of IPL's text-based virtual world reference service in "Real-time reference in a MOO: promise and problems." The IPL MOO reference service operated from 1995 to 2001, and during that time provided a virtual learning laboratory for librarians interested in exploring real-time reference services. Ken Eustace (1996) integrated screenshots from the IPL's text based virtual world reference service in "Going my way: Beyond the WEB and the MOO in the library." Australian Library Review. Vol. 13 Number 1, pp 44-53, February, 1996. [edit] Hands on ActivityThis hands-on activity explores the virtual world of Second Life. To get started with Second Life, register for a free new account at http://www.secondlife.com You will need to download and install the 'client' software and run that on your computer to access Second Life. For useful information in getting started, see Torley Linden's Second Life Quickstart Guide and Torley's video tutorials http://secondlife.com/video Activity 1: Visit IPL 15 Things in Second Life for information about getting started and places to visit: IPL 15 Things in Second Life http://slurl.com/secondlife/Imagination%20Island/226/129/24 (While Second Life is running, click this link in your Internet browser and use it to teleport) Activity 2: Visit a virtual world library reference service. Alliance Virtual Library offers a virtual world reference service staffed collaboratively by librarians worldwide at Info Island in Second Life: Second Life Library Info Island http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island%20International/116/237/34 (While Second Life is running, click this link in your Internet browser and use it to teleport) Activity 3: Visit a virtual world health and medical library. Alliance's Health Info Island has a medical library and a consumer health library: Health Info Island http://slurl.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/132/140/23 [edit] Articles about Virtual WorldsBell, Lori, Pope, Kitty, Peters, Tom and Galik, Barbara (2007). Who’s on Third in Second Life? From Library 2.0 to Library 3-D. Online 31 (4), 14-18. Bell, L., Pope, K., & Peters, T. (2007). Digital libraries on the MUVE: A virtual adventure. Bulletin of the American Society of Information Science and Technology, 33 no.4, 29. Retrieved June 25, 2007, from http://www.asis.org/Bulletin/Apr-07/bell_pope_peters.html Castronova, E. (2007). Exodus to the virtual world: how online fun is changing reality. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Crowe, N. and Bradford, S. (2006). ‘Hanging out in Runescape’: identity, work and leisure in the virtual playground. Children’s Geographies 4, no. 3 (December 2006), 331–346. Eustace, K. (1996). Going my way: beyond the WEB and the MOO in the library. Australian Library Review, 13 no. 1: 44-53. Jennings, N. and Collins, C. (2008). Virtual or virtually U: educational institutions in Second Life. International Journal of Social Sciences 2, no 3, 180-186. Mon, L. (2009). “Questions and Answers in a Virtual World : Educators and Librarians as Information Providers in Second Life.” Journal of Virtual Worlds Research, Volume 2, Number 1 (April 2009). http://www.jvwresearch.org/v2n1_Mon.html Roush, Wade (2007). Second Earth. Technology Review 110 (4), 39-48. Shaw, E. (1996). Real-time reference in a MOO: promise and problems. Retrieved from: http://www.ipl.org/div/iplhist/moo.html SL for Nowt (2009). 30 (and more) things every newbie should know before starting Second Life. http://sl4nowt.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/30-things-every-newbie-should-know-before-starting-second-life/ [edit] Feedback and Prize DrawingTo give feedback to the IPL about the 15 Things and to register for the prize drawing, please visit: http://vll.ipl.org/15things/index.html
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