Second Life is a multi-user virtual environment (MUVE). It is a game-like online environment that can be accessed by many users simultaneously, where they can interact with other people, objects and their environment within a virtual world.
The basics of how it works
Second Life is accessed by software that is downloaded free from the http://secondlife.com/
website. There are three basic elements that make up Second Life; avatars, objects and the environment.
Avatars can interact with other avatars, objects and the environment. can interact via voice chat. Avatars move through the Second Life world by walking, teleporting or flying.Similar to that of reality; avatars can also dance, sit, run, drive a car, etc.. in Second Life.
Objects - There is a building tools function in Second Life where you can build objects for your avatar to use, or to use within your environment. External programs can also be used to make objects and uploaded into the Second Life virtual world.
Environment - The landscape in Second Life replicates that of the real world. It has sky, sea, land, sun, etc...Second Life users use the environment to create landscapes and buildings. Landscapes in Second Life are on Islands. The environment can interact with third party sites which allows such things as video streaming, presentations, interactive blackboards to be used in the environment. There is also a social environment with searchable groups, profiles and contact lists.
Having a brief understanding of what is possible on Second Life helps to get a better understanding of how it could be used in the Information industry.
My learning experience of Second Life
For the purpose of this exercise I created an avatar (LynetteJoy) to explore the Second Life world. I have used Second Life before; so had an understanding or the concept behind this MUSE. I didn't find the software intuitive, and had to refer to the online help a couple of times until I got started. Once set up I found it easy to walk, teleport and fly around. I located the CSU-SIS Learning Centre easily and completed the exercise required. I liked the search functionality and used it to locate the following buildings:
-University of Newcastle
-Curtain University
-Association of College and Research Libraries
-Rodecliffe University Library Reference Desk
-Australian Libraries Building
Using Second Life in the Information Management industry
I love the concept of Second Life and feel that there is a place in the Information Management industry to use this platform for library reference, library training, and library instruction.
Some example of how it is being currently used in the Information Management industry can be found in the following literature:
Murdoch University has introduced Second Life to their university community. This YouTube video by Kathryn Greenhill gives a background to how it is being used
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiH7dkOVaLc
In 2006 an Australian Libraries Building was set up on Second Life It was a collaborative project which ran a virtual library with an interactive virtual reference desk. A paper titled Do we remove the walls? Second Life Librarianship was presented by Kathryn Greenhill at the 2008 VALA conference. The paper gives a great insite into the development and running of the virtual sitehttp://www.valaconf.org.au/vala2008/papers2008/20_Greenhill_Final.pdf
Mahnaz Tehtani also provides an overview of libraries that have conducted library services through the Second Life platform in his paper Librarian Avatars in Second Life.
http://iris.nyit.edu/~mtehrani/Librarian%20Avatars%20in%20Second%20Life.pdf
The Kista Library, which is a branch of the Stockholm Library Service runs a Literary Language Cafe for it's library users. It is a multi-lingual project between local universities, schools and community groups where European literature is shared and discussed in it "Literary Language Cafe" There are virtual discussion groups using the Second Life MUSE as the cafes platform The aim of the cafe is to improve Internet skills; to promote partnerships between local schools, universities and community groups; promote the virtual library and a platform for learning and r=encourage literature and culture and emerging technologies. More information ban be found on page 23 of the following report on the Great Public Libraries Tour of the World 2008
http://www.libraries.vic.gov.au/downloads/2008_Viclink_Great_Public_Libraries_of_the_World_Tour/2008viclinkgreatpubliclibrariesoftheworld_1668.pdf
Ilene Frank, librarian at the University of South Florida also outlines how librarians are engaging in Second Life in an onlie article titled Second Life: A Virtual World Why Are Librarians There?
http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/viewArticle/2222/2010
Whilst researching how Virtual Worlds are being used in the learning environment; I came across a very interesting blog post about how Virtual Worlds are being used in the classroom. It certainly leave some "food for thought" of the different way software such as Second Life can aid learning.
http://blog.cengage.com/?top_blog=engaging-students-via-immersion-in-virtual-worlds-and-augmented-realities
There is also a great YouTube video on how SecondLife is being used in education
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOFU9oUF2HA
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