The Evolution of the Internet: Using "Virtual Worlds" to Enhance Teaching, Learning, and Scholarly Research (movies removed)

The Evolution of the Internet:

Using “Virtual Worlds” toEnhance Teaching, Learning,

and Scholarly Research

The Evolution of the Internet:

Using “Virtual Worlds” toEnhance Teaching, Learning,

and Scholarly Research

SUNY COCID

April 3, 2009SUNY COCID

April 3, 2009

Bret IngermanVice President for Computing and Information Services

Vassar College

ingerman@vassar.edu

Bret IngermanVice President for Computing and Information Services

Vassar College

ingerman@vassar.edu

AgendaAgenda

What? Why? Examples Future Concerns Challenges Closing Comments Q&A

What? Why? Examples Future Concerns Challenges Closing Comments Q&A

What?What? Is a Virtual World? Is a Virtual World?

What?What?

World: an environment that its inhabitants regard as being self-contained.

Is a Virtual World? Is a Virtual World?

What?What?

World: an environment that its inhabitants regard as being self-contained.

Virtual:

Real: That which is.

Imaginary: That which isn’t.

Virtual: That which isn't, having the form or effect of that which is.

Is a Virtual World? Is a Virtual World?

Virtual worlds are places where the imaginary meets the real.

Virtual worlds are places where the imaginary meets the real.

Richard Bartle

PeachPit Press

http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.asp?p=99703&rl=1

excerpted from Designing Virtual Worlds by Richard A. Bartle (New Riders Publishing, 2003)

Richard Bartle

PeachPit Press

http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.asp?p=99703&rl=1

excerpted from Designing Virtual Worlds by Richard A. Bartle (New Riders Publishing, 2003)

Virtual worlds provide a fundamentally social experience in what has traditionally

been a solitary medium.

Virtual worlds provide a fundamentally social experience in what has traditionally

been a solitary medium.Bret IngermanBret Ingerman

Goal oriented

Limited set of actions / controls

Limited ability to modify environment

Paying for the environment

Goal oriented

Limited set of actions / controls

Limited ability to modify environment

Paying for the environment

No specific goals

User defined actions and controls

User ability to modify the environment

Paying for the platform

No specific goals

User defined actions and controls

User ability to modify the environment

Paying for the platform

Why?Why?

Evolutionary… Evolutionary…

1.0 2.0 3.0

WebWeb

Why?Why?

Revolutionary Convergence…

Revolutionary Convergence…

Why?Why?

Exciting Inspiring They are in our future… …but they are in the present of our kids

Exciting Inspiring They are in our future… …but they are in the present of our kids

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressorare needed to see this picture.QuickTime™ and a decompressorare needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressorare needed to see this picture.QuickTime™ and a decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Why not the others?Why not the others?

Windows only Limited / no development abilities Uploads limited, if at all Acceptable materials defined by others

(PG-13) Limited market share

Windows only Limited / no development abilities Uploads limited, if at all Acceptable materials defined by others

(PG-13) Limited market share

Second Life: UsersSecond Life: Users

Over 12.2 million accounts in SL (Jan. ‘08) Probably 1/2 to 2/3 are unique

Demographics (Jan. 2008) Age: 35% are 25-34 Sex: 65% male, 35% female Location: 35% in USA

No recent demographics Possibly due to change in Linden leadership? Best guess: no increase in growth, or small decrease

Over 12.2 million accounts in SL (Jan. ‘08) Probably 1/2 to 2/3 are unique

Demographics (Jan. 2008) Age: 35% are 25-34 Sex: 65% male, 35% female Location: 35% in USA

No recent demographics Possibly due to change in Linden leadership? Best guess: no increase in growth, or small decrease

Second Life: CurrencySecond Life: Currency

While SL is free… …need $ for many ‘essential’ needs Linden Dollars (L $)

USD $1 = L $266 (8/08) LindeX

$8,941,800,000 Linden exchanged in 8/08 Over $9,500,000 USD exchanged in 8/08

24,757 L$ USD$ 300,455 USD$ L$

While SL is free… …need $ for many ‘essential’ needs Linden Dollars (L $)

USD $1 = L $266 (8/08) LindeX

$8,941,800,000 Linden exchanged in 8/08 Over $9,500,000 USD exchanged in 8/08

24,757 L$ USD$ 300,455 USD$ L$

Second Life: Building & ScriptingSecond Life: Building & Scripting

All objects and scripts created by residents All objects and scripts created by residents

All objects and scripts created by residents All objects and scripts created by residents

(the following movies were removed from presentation)(the following movies were removed from presentation)

Avatars Moving Around The Amphitheater on Vassar Island Castle Vassar The Virtual Reality Room on Vassar Island Virtual Art Gallery The Ghent Altarpiece The Sistine Chapel on Vassar Island Taylor and Main Hall Ferry House

Avatars Moving Around The Amphitheater on Vassar Island Castle Vassar The Virtual Reality Room on Vassar Island Virtual Art Gallery The Ghent Altarpiece The Sistine Chapel on Vassar Island Taylor and Main Hall Ferry House

Teaching and LearningTeaching and Learning

Media Studies2007

Media Studies2007

Media Studies2009

Women’s StudiesWomen’s Studies

Avatar’s in the Curriculum WMST 375

Senior Seminar in Women’s Studies “Thinking Women’s Bodies”

Avatar’s in the Curriculum WMST 375

Senior Seminar in Women’s Studies “Thinking Women’s Bodies”

AvatarsAvatars

ExamplesExamples

ExamplesExamples

ExamplesExamples

ExamplesExamples

(movie removed)

Sculpture:Doubleday Hall on Vassar Island

(movie removed)

Cognitive Science

ResearchResearch

Cognitive Science Research

Cognitive Science Research

Cognitive Science Research

Cognitive Science Research

Cognitive Science Research

(movie removed)

Chemistry:Rhodopsin Molecule

Voice Open source

Browser now Server ???

Realism Images Physics

More natural navigation

Future DirectionsFuture Directions

ConcernsConcerns

PrivacyPrivacy

Concern: CommercialConcern: Commercial

Web / Internet also commercial Has driven innovation in SL

Just like in RL

Web / Internet also commercial Has driven innovation in SL

Just like in RL

Dell Computer

SearsNBA

Pontiac

Sundance Channel

Coldwell Banker

Educational vs. Commercial

Educational vs. Commercial

Educational vs. Commercial

Educational vs. Commercial

Educational vs. Commercial

X X X

Concern: Adult OrientedConcern: Adult Oriented

So is the internet So is email

Spam Can avoid it just as on Internet

Or in RL Education and awareness BTW…

Frequently first to make money with new tech.

So is the internet So is email

Spam Can avoid it just as on Internet

Or in RL Education and awareness BTW…

Frequently first to make money with new tech.

Islands vs. ParcelsIslands vs. Parcels

(know your neighbors)(know your neighbors)

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Concern: Social IssuesConcern: Social Issues

2 types RL social issues SL social issues

2 types RL social issues SL social issues

Concern: RL Social IssuesConcern: RL Social Issues

“…Internet users in all countries spent more time per week socializing with friends than non-users.”

From World Internet Project, a project of the UCLA International Institute, February 9, 2004

Virtual worlds no diff. than other technologies

“…Internet users in all countries spent more time per week socializing with friends than non-users.”

From World Internet Project, a project of the UCLA International Institute, February 9, 2004

Virtual worlds no diff. than other technologies

Concern: RL Social IssuesConcern: RL Social Issues

Augment or enhance Not replace

Virtual worlds no diff. than other technologies

Augment or enhance Not replace

Virtual worlds no diff. than other technologies

Concern: SL Social IssuesConcern: SL Social Issues

Need a code of conduct Virtual worlds no diff. than other

technologies Angry email Anonymous blog posts

Need a code of conduct Virtual worlds no diff. than other

technologies Angry email Anonymous blog posts

Media Studies

Media Studies

Concern: CostConcern: Cost

Compared to? Island: less than USD $2,700 / year

Why single out this technology? LMS: $7,500 - $50,000 / year

Virtual worlds no diff. than other technologies

Compared to? Island: less than USD $2,700 / year

Why single out this technology? LMS: $7,500 - $50,000 / year

Virtual worlds no diff. than other technologies

Concern: Why bother?Concern: Why bother?

Don’t get hung up on the nomenclature: Don’t get hung up on the nomenclature:Island / “sim”ulator

avatar

inventory

Linden Labs

buildings, cars, etc.

server

objects

account

file storage

hosting company

“It’s not real” Neither is your web site

At least try it before you rule it out

The genre will likely stay Remember Habbo Hotel?

92 million registered users 8.6 million unique visitors each month (36 minutes / session) 90% of users between 13 - 18 years old

- http://www.sulake.com/habbo

USD $30 million in revenue in 2005 From Nielsen Netratings, June 2006 as reported by

www.techcrunch.com, July 10, 2006

Remember Club Penguin? Founded in October, 2005 (1.5 million) 700,000 paid subscribers at $5.95 / month 4 million unique visitors in January, 2007

From “Your Igloo or Mine,” Newsweek, February 23, 2007

Disney purchased in August ‘07 for reported $700 million

The genre will likely stay Remember Habbo Hotel?

92 million registered users 8.6 million unique visitors each month (36 minutes / session) 90% of users between 13 - 18 years old

- http://www.sulake.com/habbo

USD $30 million in revenue in 2005 From Nielsen Netratings, June 2006 as reported by

www.techcrunch.com, July 10, 2006

Remember Club Penguin? Founded in October, 2005 (1.5 million) 700,000 paid subscribers at $5.95 / month 4 million unique visitors in January, 2007

From “Your Igloo or Mine,” Newsweek, February 23, 2007

Disney purchased in August ‘07 for reported $700 million

Concern: Why bother?Concern: Why bother?

ChallengesChallenges

Evolving technology Learning curve

Can be steep Changing UI

Software Frequent upgrades

Hardware Graphics intensive

Evolving technology Learning curve

Can be steep Changing UI

Software Frequent upgrades

Hardware Graphics intensive

ChallengesChallenges

Tech support Anonymity No local backup Must use SL development tools

But this is changing (sculpted prims)

Tech support Anonymity No local backup Must use SL development tools

But this is changing (sculpted prims)

CommentsComments

Fix what worked yesterday Find what is needed today Also… Explore & Evaluate new technology

See what sticks

Fix what worked yesterday Find what is needed today Also… Explore & Evaluate new technology

See what sticks

CommentsComments

Help plan the future Inform Inspire

Not just react What fun is that?

Help plan the future Inform Inspire

Not just react What fun is that?

Questions?Questions?

Thank you!Thank you!