Virtual news experiment instructions

This experiment is designed to test the theory that Internet users would be likely to choose to enter a virtual world to experience a news event such as a disaster or a crime, or to gain information on a hot topic.

The scenario: A major news event has occurred on the SF State campus, and, although news teams are on the scene, access to the site is limited.

The coverage: The basic information about the story has been reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and other news organizations, but since reporters and photographers can't get close, visuals are limited. Please read the newspaper story at http://gnusart.com/meteor_story.htm and try to visualize the disaster scene based on that information. We assume that such an important event would be widely publicized, so your virtual experience would be augmented by some prior knowledge.

The simulation: Based on information gathered from witnesses and social networks, a team of virtual world artists has constructed the disaster scene in Second Life. 

Go to the site: At 2 pm on Friday, May 8, log into Second Life. If you did not get into the scene in the previous experiment, you will be sent an invitation to join the SF State News group. The system should should automatically set that as your group. If you've been here before, right-click on your avatar, select "groups," and then activate the SF State News group. After the group is set, teleport to "SF State Housing" to begin the exercise.

You will arrive across the street from the main disaster scene. You may wander at will through and around the two dorm buildings involved, but you will not be allowed in the upper floors. Most of the damage is on the exterior and ground floors, so please walk the entire perimeter. You may also fly over. Please note how you go about this, how helpful it is in comprehending the situation, and how long it keeps your attention.

More information is available on scene:  Avatars Jane Valentino, JD Mint, and Cassandra Avedon will be on the scene as reporters. You will know them by their fedora hats, and signs that float above their heads that say, "I am a reporter. Ask me a question." Reporters will answer questions (via local chat) about navigating the virtual scene, and provide factual information about the disaster itself, such as "What is that thing made of?"

 

Follow-up: The portal will close at 3 pm. Please fill out a survey on SurveyMonkey by following this link

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=XwhdrrxJ2UOt31KB5_2f1ANA_3d_3d as soon as possible after the event. Very important to our research!

Thanks! Have fun! 

Second Life news experiment

Beth Renneisen & Josh Gruetzmacher

1. EXPERIMENT TITLE – Meteor slams dorms: A real news event experienced in a virtual world

2. EXPERIMENT SCENARIO

The experiment will allow participants to enter a simulation of a news event — in this case a disaster caused by a meteor falling into the SFSU dorm complex — as an “avatar,” with the ability to “walk” around the scene and ask questions of a “virtual reporter.”

3. The EXPERIMENT MECHANICS

By visiting this disaster in Second Life, participants will be able to experience an intimacy with a news event that would be impossible in any other format. In a dangerous situation such as this one, emergency personnel would prohibit citizens — and even the press — from physically approaching the scene. In the simulation, which, in practice, would be constructed from basic reporting and social network information, we will test the value of the experience to the visitor. I propose that the interactivity of this format serves the journalistic role of a “super” informational graphic. Participants will fill out a survey following the event to gauge its value in several areas.

4. SL LOCATION

The experimental scene has been built in Second Life with the assistance of SFSU’s Housing Department, who will open the location to visitors for one hour at 11 a.m., Thursday, April 23. Participants will be given the coordinates for teleporting to the meteor location on the day of the event.

5. ROLES

Participants will be asked to navigate the disaster independently, take snapshots, and take notes on how much they learned about what happened from their own investigation. They should note how the construction of the site enhanced or detracted from their interest in the actual news story, and be prepared to fill out a survey on their experience.

6. ROLE ASSIGNMENTS

The DAI 627 class will attend the event, as well as several other guests and faculty members. Avatars of Beth (Cassandra Avedon) and Josh (JD Mint) will be in the scene with participants to act as guides and answer questions as “virtual reporters.” They can be identified in SL by their fedora hats, with a “reporter” badge in the hat band.

7. ASSETS PROVIDED

Participants will only need the ability to take notes in as much detail as possible. During the exercise they will be able to locally chat with each other and the reporters by typing. Reporters will periodically send “breaking news” messages to the group.

8. PARTICIPANT PREPARATION

As a warm up, participants will be given a newspaper page with the meteor story presented in a traditional manner on the day of the event. The “story” will have the basic outline of what has happened, but contain no visuals except file photos of SFSU and a locator map.

9. PRODUCTION PLAN

The SFSU Housing department has given us access to their facilities for this period of time, and will assist us in managing the event from their offices. Josh will remain in the classroom to monitor participants, and Beth will be in the lab conducting the exercise. Both of us will be able to answer questions “in life” regarding the news story. Participants will be asked to fill out a survey online at SurveyMonkey directly after the window closes at noon.

10. CONCLUSION: We will write a report about the successes and failures of the experiment and the survey results, which will be accompanied by an edited and annotated video of the event, captured during the exercise.

Cool sites #3

Pets

I went looking for pets, and so far haven't been that impressed. Although Paradise Pets (134,184,26) has some pretty interesting aquariums. They also have cats and dogs with various abilities, but I didn't particularly like their appearance. The blue butterfly on my shoulder was a gift from them, and it's pretty cute. As far as animals go, I was best able to interact with Otis the bloodhound near Bistro Olive on Marco Island (79,162,22). One of my final project ideas was to show interactions with dangerous animals, that I probably won't do for lack of time, but I'm still curious about how realistic you can get movement to be.

Big surprise: Right after I pet Otis, I found a 2-D full body image of Barak Obama, who gave me a cocktail! Banana dacquiri anyone?

Cool sites #2

Roller coaster

The roller coaster (44,78,106) did turn out to be fun, albeit brief. It costs $1L per ride, and you get a whole new perspective on the land. The owner suggests using "mouse view, " which I tried, but I liked seeing my avatar upside down, too. There are three different rides — notice the colors in the photo. I think these animations are fun to check out because they stretch my concept of what's possible in movement and spatial relations. I walked around a bit in Rubi where the roller coaster is, and there's a bunch of other wild builds there to see. The Easter bunny photo is from another part of that world.

Cool sites #1

Learning how to shop

My adventures in SL have been enhanced a lot lately with help from other avatars. See the Green Lantern and his buddy at left, who sent me to the roller coaster I'll show you next.

 I was dissed quite a bit at first, but I've noticed that as soon as my appearance improved, people were more willing to help me. Isn't that typical?

I  have cool new hair from Sweet Faces Designs (23,87,21), and while shopping for it I asked another woman where she got her terrific-looking pumps. She gave me a card for the stiletto store ... very cool ... and then I was virtual shoe shopping! Does it get any better than that? Check out my new boots from Stiletto Moody Shoes (102, 89, 35) that came with gleams on the buckles, heel clicking sounds AND a sexy walk.

Needless to say, I've blown most of my Linden dollars, but heck, people talk to me now!