Friday, November 19, 2010

Second Life


Second Life is a virtual world created by Linden Lab that was first launched in the summer of 2003. Second Life uses entities that represent users called Avatars. Avatars can range from people to animals to even plants. It is free to register however to really get involved in the game can cost some money.

My experience with Second Life started with the registration process. Registration requires downloading software and creating a profile. Not everyone can have optimal performance when using second life because it does operate as a pc game which does require minimal operating graphics and computer speed. Once I created my profile and had my Avatar I was free to roam the Second Life world. Second Life feels much like a video game although there is no real objective other than to perhaps communicate with other Avatars through local chat or instant messeging. Other actions include building a house, seeing a concert, or just walking around building you Second Life network.

Second Life has grown to be a media forum that different industries can use. For example, Second Life is used as a platform for education by many institutions, such as colleges, universities, libraries and government entities. Second Life residents can express themselves creatively through virtual world adaptations of art exhibits, live music, and live theatre. Secone Life also gives companies the option to create virtual workplaces to allow employees to virtually meet, hold events, practice any kind of corporate communications, and conducting training sessions.

In addition to these industry applications I also had a first hand experience to how businesses are using Second Life for advertismenst. While walking this virtual world I came accross different advertisments for well known comopanies such as Sony, Nissan, and Coca Cola. They had billboards and flyers set up around the Second Life community.

My overall experience with Second Life was interesting but I dont think it is a big enough media forum for smaller companies to want to invest in advertising. Second LIfe also has some major drawbacks such as having a minimum system setting to work properly.

3 comments:

  1. This is a very interesting site, and I like that you didn't think it was a good application to use for advertising.

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  2. Great post! I think it this site is cool but from your blog it sounds like it needs more ease before it becomes big.

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  3. I liked how you worked in advertisements and got to see this gaming experience working first hand

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