Modeling Reality With Virtual Worlds

    Virtual worlds have been around for a while mainly in the realm of Role Playing Games (RPGs) where your allowed to roam around and complete several tasks to accomplish missions. We have seen a lot of success with these games such as World of Warcraft (WOW). With the progression of technology, so goes virtual 3D worlds. One such online platform is Second Life, where users can log on and create space and interact with their environment and other users through the use of Avatars. As one of the videos we saw as part of this weeks lesson, where Dwight (from the Office) spoke about his time on Second Life and he has an avatar of himself and he goes to work just like in real life, the only difference is that he can FLY!!!
     Now aside from a way to kill time and see the limits of your creativity, new applications of this tech is being used with great results. As noted in the article, "iReport: 'Naughty Auties' battle autism with virtual interaction", David Savill, who has Asperger's syndrome, created a spot within Second Life where users afflicted by autism spectrum disorders and their friends and family. The spot allows them to practice social interactions and find information about the conditions. So this is one great benefit of virtual 3D worlds, it allows a form of social interaction which is important to people that have problems with that.
     Another advantage is that your only limited by your mind, so for instance, we saw another video as part of this week's lesson plan that showed a spot on Second Life where Avatars interacted with each other and did simple things like go for walks and be very mobile. To you and me this may seem simple, but to the users of these avatars, it was critical because in real life, they were confined to wheelchairs because they were paralyzed. To someone like this (paralyzed) this allowed them freedoms that they don't have in their real lives.
     But, as the Washington Post article by Mike Musgrove, "At Hearing, Real and Virtual Worlds Colide", shows us that it can have negative applications as well. The article brought up concerns about security on online worlds, "...can money be laundered? Are children safe in online worlds? Are there churches? Are you [Second Life] making any money?" These are legitimate concerns since there will always be someone to take advantage of something good.
     Online worlds allow for a place to collaborate which can foster creativity. Its just like working on a virtual wiki?!?!? People meet without being in the same room, this can also be likened to video conferencing. As long as people are allowed more ways of coming together more easily, creativity will always thrive.  Now as I was growing up, I didn't have the capability to take advantage of these such technologies. I have always been more inclined to traditional methods of socializing. Although, I find that as a tool for collaboration, it has a lot of upside. Not having to physically be there or even be in the same vicinity, does make it easier to meet up. As a benefit to mankind, I love to see people with disabilities have the opportunity to break the shackles of their disabilities.