© Imperial College London

Virtual worlds and

Jenny Evans

Thursday 13th August 2009

http://delicious.com/imperiallibrary/secondlifeworkshop

http://learning2009imperial.wordpress.com

What we will cover today

• Virtual worlds Definition MMORPGs, MUVEs, avatars, MUD

• Second Life An overview In libraries/higher education What is happening at Imperial College London

• Hands-on Set up an account, create your avatar and begin to explore

Second Life

What is a virtual world?

“…an online environment whose “residents” are avatars representing individuals participating online”

From 7 things you should know about…Virtual Worlds http://connect.educause.edu/display/39392

[Accessed 21st September 2008]

Related terminology

Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG)

“…genre of computer role-playing games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world…”

From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mmorpg [Accessed 12th August 2009]

Multi User Virtual Environment (MUVE)

“refers to online, multi-user virtual environments, sometimes called virtual worlds …most widely used to describe MMOGs that are not necessarily game-specific.

From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MUVE [Accessed 12th August 2009]

What is an avatar?An avatar is a computer user's representation of himself or herself, whether in the form of a three-dimensional model usedin computer games,[1] a two-dimensional icon (picture) used onInternet forums and other communities,[2][3] or a text constructfound on early systems such as MUDs.”

From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_(computing)[Accessed 19th September 2008]

Multi User Dungeon, Domain or Dimension (MUD)

“…a multi-player computer game that combines elements of role-playing games, hack and slash style computer gamesand social chat rooms.”

From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MUVE [Accessed 19th September 2008]

2008 Metaverse Tour Video:

The Social Virtual World’s A Stage by Gary Hayes

http://www.personalizemedia.com/2008-metaverse-tour-video-the-social-virtual-worlds-a-stage/

(7 mins)

Virtual worlds: Examples

Introduction to Second Life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R1SrZua5ww

“Second Life is a free online virtual world imagined and created by its Residents“ From: http://secondlife.com/whatis/ [Accessed 12th August 2009]

What is Second Life?

About Second Life

• Hosted by Linden Labs on their Second Life grid platform

• Created by its residents Can build things – you own what you create

• How does it work? Basic account is free Premium account (monthly charge) allows you to buy/lease land,

build Download the software to your computer (need a good video card) Explore and play

What can I do in Second Life?

• Create an avatar

• Move around Walk, run, fly, dance Teleport using a SLURL (Second Life URL) to go directly to a

specific location in Second Life

• Participate in the Second Life economy Buy land, shop with Linden Dollars Build single objects, buildings Businesses, educational and cultural institutions all found there Not compulsory

Second Life...what you need to know

• Islands - the places you walk around/on while in Second Life

• Avatars - your online persona

• Buildings - can create them as well as go into them

• Objects - can be clothes or cars…your imagination is the limit

• Notecards - an item containing text and/or other information

• Pie menu – right click to get a list of options

What are UK HE institutions doing in Second Life?

• Coventry University have built a virtual campus in Second Life

• Edinburgh University Virtual University of Edinburgh Work with Masters students

• Open University Holding classes in Second Life DigiLab

• Sloodle Moodle (VLE) in Second Life

Second Life @ Imperial College London

Academics giving lectures onNature Network’s Second Nature Island• Dr James Kirkpatrick from the Physics Department

Conferences• Virtual Climate change conference Dec 2008

Second Health Hospital• Healthcare in the future

Department of Biosurgery and Surgical Technology• Clinical scenarios, Training ward,

virtual operating rooms

Undergraduate teaching in the Faculty of Medicine in Second Life

Respiratory Ward HUD in Second Life – Imperial College London

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1hOsiiHlyo

Is Second Life relevant to us as librarians/administrators/educators?

http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2007/04/30/ten-very-good-reasons-why-your-librarians-should-be-in-second-life/

Yes...• Medical students using it• Used for research• Awareness needed• Learning something new

– gain new skills

http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2007/05/01/six-very-bad-reasons-to-have-a-library-branch-in-second-life/comment-page-1/

No...• Cost • Time needed to gain

expertise• Technical requirements• A fad??

Open browser and go to: http://secondlife.com/ and click on get started

Fill in the boxes • Can change your

avatar look when you arrive in Second Life

• First Name can be anything

• Last Name has to be selected from the list

• Your name cannot be changed once you have chosen it

• Email address –College email or webmail – you will need this to activate your account

Select Virtually Linked – Second Life in London and click on ‘Yes, Start here’

Go to your email account and confirm your SL account by clicking on the link

To launch Second Life go to the start menu, select program, select Second Life and then click on Second Life.

You should now have arrived on Orientation Island – which should be Hyde Park

Need to run through the tutorial

• Moving forward and back• Flying / stop flying• Changing the view• Chat with others• Add another resident to your friends list• Viewing inventory• Changing your appearance• Pie menu• Map• Mini map

Find the Queens Tower and the Alexander Fleming building

• From the ‘map’• Search for Imperial College London• Or teleport to:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Imperial%20College%20London/150/86/27/

• Explore Reception Research Centre Respiratory ward

Want to explore further?

• Find Imperial Island (hint: search in the map) and see what they are doing there

• Or teleport to:http://slurl.com/secondlife/Medical%20School/112/102/23