A little over a year ago, I became a resident of Second Life. For the uninitiated, Second Life (SL for short) gives computer users an opportunity to experience an online rendition of reality not available before. You might think of it as Alice in Computer Wonderland.
First, you must choose an identity for yourself by selecting from a pre-set (but regularly updated) list of last names to which you attach your own identity through a first name of your choice; then you select an online persona to represent yourself, known as an avatar. Once you open your free account, give “birth” to your avi and download the virtual world to your computer (known as the SL grid), you learn how to move your avatar by walking, flying or teleporting. You learn how to gesture to other avatars, build things for yourself or to sell to others, communicate via messaging (either private or public), how to update your appearance so you can look as much like (or unlike) yourself in real life as possible, and how to use online currency, called the Linden, to shop, party and even get a college education. SL has become so far reaching, universities have set up campuses to which your avatars can find courses and participate in with other like-minded individuals.
Second Life is not a game, but a portal into another type of computer interaction. Since becoming a resident, I’ve toured some amazing landmarks (even a resident’s rendering of Transylvania or the Star Wars planet Tatooine are available to visit), bought some nice avatar clothing, met amazing people from all over the world and learned some more about using my computer that I would never have done by reading a book. It’s worth a visit and a tryout for free: simply go to www.secondlife.com to read more.
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