User:Vtaylor/Second Life

Second Life is not a 3D Facebook. Well, not exactly...

Second Life is a 3D world. Many contributors have created replicas of real world objects - people, buildings. Some uses are purely recreational and social. However, there is increase use of Second Life for education, training, architecture, mechanical modeling - a cheap and effective to create virtual versions of things before building the real thing.

Second Life is a place where The Tech
 * conducts online meetings
 * designs new exhibits for The Tech Museum in San Jose

Second Life main web site


 * Introduction video - old but still useful

Second Life software must be downloaded and installed on your computer.


 * create an account at: https://join.secondlife.com/ - There is no cost to the volunteer
 * Second Life system requirements http://secondlife.com/support/sysreqs.php

tutorials
 * using building tools


 * http://www.youtube.com/user/torley?blend=1&ob=4


 * explains advanced camera controls, or sitting, etc. He is more into entertainment

=== Non-Profits in Second Life===

Second Life is a free 3-D virtual world and social networking environment in which users are represented by "avatars", or online personae who live in a 360 degree virtual world experience. This is an enriched online environment that adds an element of fun and exploration to having a virtual meeting. The main ways of communicating in Second Life are via instant messaging, voice, and gestures (simulating movements like clapping, laughing, and crying).

For more information:


 * Online Virtual Worlds: A Mini Guide
 * Nonprofits in Second Life: Nonprofit Commons Intro
 * TechSoup Global in Second Life
 * Visit Nonprofit Commons in Second Life

== The Tech Virtual Museum==

Bob Ketner at The Tech Virtual would love have you volunteer. He has lots of volunteer jobs in-world and out. Please encourage any of your SL community / network to check it out as well.

You don't need to use or run Second Life to volunteer. It's just a tool, not a barrier to entry, as I always say. ..rk

http://thetechvirtual.org/volunteer

Bob Ketner Virtual Community Manager, The Tech Virtual The Tech Museum of Innovation San Jose, CA, USA

http://thetechvirtual.org

http://thetechvirtual.org/portal_memberdata/Agent

=== Bob says...===

I try to keep the message simple, that [Second Life] allows us to collaborate quickly and easily, without travel expenses.

Quickly and easily is evidenced by our use of the platform for rapid prototyping: http://thetechvirtual.org/blog/archive/2009/02/23/rapid-prototyping-the-future

Without travel expenses is documented here by IBM, a big proponent of virtual worlds: http://secondlifegrid.net.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/Second_Life_Case_IBM.pdf


 * Q: Why does it have to be a 3D world - wouldn't Facebook or a wiki or a webinar/ webmeeting or even Google docs do?

Yes and about the 3D - one difference between our project and others is that we use shapes and images to generate new museum content. We can do this in real time and it happens so fast that it's disruptive to traditional workflow. So, we can make great use of the Second Life platform because it's the only thing available like that. True, you could also upload your sketch or your CAD model image photos to the web and then discuss it through chat, but you wouldn't be able to walk around it or for example, add to it in real time, or see changes being made directly from your suggestions.

For someone in the design field the benefits are obvious - here's a great example - this architect also has an exhibit in our museum http://archvirtual.com/ and is probably the best example I know of of using Second Life professionally.

== Darian says..==

I am indeed active in Second Life. Well technically Teen Second Life (ages 13-17). Second Life is nothing like facebook. Facebook is more of a networking site. Second Life is more video game than anything. It has everything from shopping malls to armies to even private islands.

Everything in the game is made by a player. People have even picked up sculpting 3D objects. You can upload your "sculty prims" as they call it into the game. You can also upload your own images,sounds,or animations. I'd like to say I'm an experienced player since I've been playing since '06.

The basic objects in your "build tab" (used to get into the building interface) are torus,cube,sphere,triangular prism,pyramid,cylinder. You can resize,twist or even cut up these objects to create unique objects. The next step would be to create another object that could be linked to your first object. You can texture your object and name it. You can even script it (ex. rotation script, makes the object rotate on either the x,y,or z axis) they hve scripts for practically everything.

Here is a link to a youtube video that may be of use to you. It is rather old but still useful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b72CvvMuD6Q