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Second Life Seminar. Dean L. Zeller dzeller@cs.kent.edu Dr. Paul S. Wang (advisor) Department of Computer Science Kent State University. Outline. Demonstrate usefulness of Second Life in: Computer Science Education Nurse training simulation Motivation Current research projects.
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Second Life Seminar Dean L. Zeller dzeller@cs.kent.edu Dr. Paul S. Wang (advisor) Department of Computer Science Kent State University
Outline • Demonstrate usefulness of Second Life in: • Computer Science • Education • Nurse training simulation • Motivation • Current research projects
Virtual World Interface • Gaming industry virtual worlds • World of Warcraft • Call of Duty • Matrix Online • Virtual worlds could be the next interface change for the WWW. • It will benefit the educational community to explore virtual worlds as an educational medium. • “Old school” web pages could become passé .
About Second Life • Based on an idea within Show Crash, by Neal Stephenson (1992). • 13,000,000 unique accounts. • Business conducted through Linden Dollars (US$1 L$300). • Instant messaging and item sharing. • Virtual meetings and classrooms. • SL is not a game.
Second Life encourages… • Creativity and imagination • Collaboration (in real time) • Experimentation • Social networking • Immersive learning environment • Development of spatial cognitive skills • Event driven programming • Negative aspects: • User interface problems • Addiction/escape from reality
Popular Culture References • Daily Show, with Jon Stewart. Segment on Avatar Heroes. • ANIMA, by Dalian Hansen. First work of fiction based in SL • The Last Testament, by Sam Bourne. SL plays part in story. • Second Life song, by Sheldon Tarsha. • British comedian Jimmy Carr performed a virtual show in SL on February 3, 2007. • SL girls rated #95 on Maxim’s Top 100 Hottest Females of 2007. • Law and Order: Special Victims Unit episode parodies SL in episode “Avatar”. • CSI NY episode: used SL to locate suspect in episode “Down the Rabbit Hole” on October 24, 2007. • The Office episode: Dwight Shrute creates a virtual world within SL, called Second Second Life in episode “Local Ad” on October 25, 2007. • Beyond the Void, a rock group touring the SL grid. • The Darkest Evening of the Year, by Dean Koontz, one of the antagonists is a private detective who lives vicariously through his SL avatar (released November 27, 2007).
Current SL research projects • Second Life workshop and curriculum • KSU Research Center for Educational Technology (RCET) • Expand workshop into semester-long special topics class • Mathematics education manipulatives • Web-based Mathematics Education team (WME), Department of Computer Science • 3DLogo programming interface • Nurse training simulation • KSU College of Nursing (COL) • Welcome center • Training facility
Nurse Training Simulation (COL) • Movie from Tacoma Community College (John Miller RN) http://www.metaversejournal.com/2008/05/11/nursing-education-in-second-life/
Funding This research is Sponsored by the Research Center for Educational Technology (RCET), the Web-based Mathematics Education (WME) team, and the College of Nursing (COL) at Kent State University.
Questions? • Please contact me at dzeller@cs.kent.edu
Appendix • Second Life stats • Competitors
SL: Productive Businesses PMLF: Positive Monthly Linden Flow
SL: Size of world • Currently at a billion square meters, or approximately 400 square miles (20mi20mi)
Google’s Lively • Released 07-09-08 • Web-based • Cartoony-feeling
Qwaq Forums • Focused on professional collaboration rather than entertainment • People can work on documents within forum.