Teaching in Second Life

For people looking at virtual worlds as teaching tools, you might want to check out a short segment on npr about teaching college geography in Second Life. To listen:

www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyid=101580485

To see the Second Life images:

www.npr.org/soapbox  ... then scroll down.

My gamer DNA results

I first took the Bartle quiz as myself, and turned out to be an Explorer, which really does suit me when I read the descriptions. I always chose what sounded most interesting.

Cassandra my avatar, on the other hand, being a much more aggressive person in games but shy, turned out to be an Achiever. She always selected big, bad weapons and kill options rather than anything like a social or collaborative choice. She does not work well in a group and prefers to attack before being attacked. Turns out she'd be a better gamer than I am!

Virtual news 2D design example

Informational graphics online are largely Flash rollovers. Imagine how this graphic could be redesigned in a 3D world.

www.nytimes.com/2007/04/17/us/20070417_SHOOTING_GRAPHIC.html

Gamers alert!

In addition to creating straight explantory virtual presentation of news as described in my previous blog, I have found that there are already news GAMES as well.

See this article from the Poynter Institute: www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=47

Download and try this game: www.peacemakergame.com

If anyone from DAI 627 would like to collaborate with me on a final project that would use a game interface to present a news story, I would love the help. I will do the reporting/editing and you would suggest a game format to illustrate it. You don't actually have to create a game, just use screen grabs/sketches/Flash animations or whatever software you choose to build a prototype. The type of "world" you design and structure of how you "win" the game is your challenge. The presentation would occupy a window on my site. 

Don't be intimidated by the verbal depth of the Israeli conflict example. Our topic could be much less complex, mostly visual, and include an avatar if you wish.

Please contact me via e-mail. I look forward to working with you! 

Virtual news design is possible!

Janis Spivak's lecture was an inspiration to me. A fantasy component to my culminating project — a virtual news story — seems actually possible to do. My project is to research interactivity online in news organization web sites, and propose a new model that incorporates diverse methods of presenting information. So far I am including audio, video, interactive informational graphics and social networks. If news organizations could outsource recreations and process documents to companies like There's sister company Fronterra, then visitors could experience news events virtually. This would be especially useful when news photography is poor or impossible, the event is already over/historic, or the subject is invisible or hidden. 2D informational graphics accomplished this task in print, and 3D seems the to be a logical progression. Spivak claims that most of the world is already built as virtual spaces, especially since Google Earth has been in existence, and news reports could indeed be created in a timely manner by companies that specialize in this work. Since newsrooms are downsizing (or shutting down!), it strengthens my contention that more interesting news web sites can be produced than currently exist even with few graphic artists on staff, by recognizing that complex visuals can be reported by professionals, and then created outside the newsroom.

Second Life too weird? "There" too bland?

My experience with There was unfortunately limited by its PC-only format, but when I did visit as a generic avatar I found other residents to be more helpful and a lot less intimidating than avatars I encountered in Second Life. In both worlds, I felt the signage and help modules to be less instructive than I would have liked, so a little courtesy from more knowledgable visitors went a long way with me. I actually had a very hostile owner insult me and throw me off his island in Second Life, even though I explained I wasn't aware that it was bad form to "sleep" in his space. Visually, I like the extreme design of Second Life better than the middle America look of There, but I also felt out of place and constantly in danger of doing the wrong thing. Maybe I belong in Second There!