EDUC 7108 - Module 4
Second Life is a disruptive technology because it competes with the real world. Thornburg (n.d.) talks about a disruptive technology being a ‘wild card’ and Second Life creates a new idea that is efficient in creating a world in which the impossible is possible. So therefore Second Life challenges the real world and allows anything to happen via a virtual world. The technology that Second Life replaces are blogs and also tangible conversations can be eliminated too. Blogs are replaced by this technology because conversations can take place in real time and face to face via an avatar. Also conversations with people whether it is face to face or on Skype can be replaced with Second Life. I think Second Life will not necessarily be replaced, but will increase in size. Each year the ‘space’ of Second Life increases 5% (Rosedale, 2008). So this world will continue to grow in size, but I think perhaps how the people communicate might change. Talking takes place by entering text and then there is a computer generated voice – perhaps part of the future of this technology will have the actual voice of the person being talked through their avatar. Or perhaps the voices can be altered and one can add an accent or continue to have a computer voice. The graphics will continue to become better (Rosedale, 2008) which will entice more the video gamers to perhaps sign up. The social benefits associated with Second Life can be quite vast in the educational realm. Classes can meet in a virtual environment where students can chose their own avatar during a time when they are still trying to understanding who they are as a person. Students can understand real life experiences in the virtual world. For instance one can make money in Second Life and then this money can be used to purchase virtual things such as land or homes or also experiences can be bought such as being pregnant (Rosedale, 2008). Also students of different classrooms can meet in a virtual setting to discuss projects and/or collaborate real-time in a virtual world (Nuthall, 2008).
Personally I cannot really grasp the idea of Second Life and why it is so appealing – just to be honest here. I have talked with friends about Second Life and their thoughts and opinions and many had similar thoughts to mine – for once! I like to have tangible conversations or see people’s actual faces instead of a made up avatar. The average age of the users of Second Life is 32, but there are more people in the range from 32-60 then there are younger persons (Rosedale, 2008) so I guess once career and life choices have been made this is a way of seeing what could have happened if I did this instead. So with that thought in mind I can see where there is appeal someone to have an avatar in Second Life. I do have an avatar in Second Life I created about 6 months ago, but I am still on the initial island you go to when you are created…well at least that is where I left her.
Links –
http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20080117162121373
References:
Nuthall, Keith. US: A disruptive technology arrives. Retrieved July 23, 2010, from
http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20080117162121373.
Rosedale, Philip. (2008, May). Philip Rosedale on Second Life. Retrieved July 23, 2010, from
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/the_inspiration_of_second_life.html.
Thornburg, D. (n.d.). Disruptive Technologies. Retrieved July 20, 2010, from
http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4199715&Survey=1&47=5863341
&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1.
Hi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteMy Second Life Avatar is on the initial island as well and I don't know if she'll ever get off! I thought my lack of appeal was generational. However, the fact that it is growing in size and use makes it a disruptive technology. I wonder how much real interaction it is replacing? Learning to navigate and conversate in it taxed my patience.I can understand using avatars in gaming,and I can understand using avatars to see "what if", but as for spending a lot of time building,living and doing business in Second Life, I won't be doing that anytime soon.
Hi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI created an avatar as well, but never logged back on to the site. I also feel that second life is a way for people to live out a fantasy that can sometime lead to mischief. I watched an episode of Law and Order that involved a person being kidnapped because of an obsession someone had with her avatar. So seeing that show along will cause me to live in the here and now.
Hi, Sarah!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to be so late logging in to blog and to post my comments about Second Life. I had similar feelings to yours, but I have changed my mind after exploring Second Life and creating a couple of projects based upon it.
I will say that I don't spend as much time there these days because I have so much to do and I am not in the traditional classroom to use the virtual field trips. However, there are so many resources for educators and education is the fastest growing part of Second Life, so I see many opportunities in that field. I hope that you will check out my blog and my videos. They might give you another perspective on Second Life.
Oh, I also want to say that I agree with your comments about the growth of Second Life. I was glad to see documented information that confirmed my thoughts about it expanding through the years.
Cynthia