technology

SL Competition

Here's the link to the analysis of current competition to SL I found following links in the article in the previous post.

Children and Virtual Worlds

I came across this analysis of virtual worlds and children while I was reviewing economic news this morning. At the end is a link to a discussion of other emerging rivals to Second Life. From earlier reading, it seems that SL is ahead of the game because it is on both platforms and has an additional low barrier to entry because the entry level is free. (but they know you will soon be hooked!)

If you have a young niece or daughter, you’ve almost certainly seen her puttering with Zwinky, the pop-eyed cartoon avatar-based social network– sort of a cutesy MySpace for kids, run from a browser toolbar interface. Techcrunch just reported that InteractiveCorp, the company behind Zwinky, will launch a virtual world tie-in. Transitioning from toolbar to interactive world is an obvious technology leap; it’s also a savvy and unsurprising business move. Considering the impressive growth rate of Gaia Online, Club Penguin, Webkinz, and many others, virtual worlds for kids are exploding. The real surprise is how long it’s taken the tech and game industry to recognize how big this space has grown. (In March, Zwinky had 4.7 million unique visitors; Gaia Online, 2 million.)

At present, they’re actually the only reliably expanding niche in online worlds. After all, World of Warcraft remains the uncontested traditional fantasy MMORPG, dominating all its competitors (except in Asia), while Second Life remains unchallenged in the user-created 3D world sub-genre (though a number of rivals are coming soon.)

How did they become so popular?

Short answer: By being fast, cheap, and totally in control. Almost invariably, online worlds for kids are web-based Java apps, and don’t require a large client download (like Second Life and There), and are free, eschewing monthly subscriber fees (as with Warcraft) preferring advertising, virtual item purchases, and other alternate revenue models. More crucial to parents (as today’s WSJ reports), they’re tightly regulated safe zones for kids. (In Club Penguin, the Journal notes, “Penguins… [have] two chat modes: ultimate safe chat, which is limited to a predefined menu of greetings, and standard safe chat, in which all messages are subject to filters that screen for inappropriate language and personal information like phone numbers.”) Nothing worse than a foul-mouthed penguin.

 

SL in BusinessWeek

The recent issue of BusinessWeek includes a special tech report on SL. Too bad my subscription hasn't started yet so that I can get ahold of a print copy easily.

I set up a MySpace account last week but haven't done much with it. It's just a technology I need to explore.

In SL, I've been busy forming some groups since it cost so little and as a way to get a foothold networking even for groups that don't yet see the potential. I missed out on buying URLs almost 15 years ago and don't want to make that mistake again. Anyone can form groups if they want to pony up a little bit.

A pre-education friend took me on some interesting tours last night. Kathy Schrock also greeted me and included me in the ISTE group  - they are quite good on their first-mover advantage that I think I've mentioned before. I've held off saying much to in-world friends given that I need to be focusing energy inward instead of outward if I want to get as much done as I used to feel like I was getting done.

In 2 short weeks, SL has provided some amazing networking opportunities. There's an anthropologist just up the road at K State who was responsible for the now famous Digital Text YouTube video that was all over the web. I attended part of a conference on Media in Transition hosted by MIT both in world and in SL and it was great food for thought - what type of meaning we bring to our worlds. One commentator made an excellent point - that our students no longer have some of the traditional culture elements in common - the example they pointed to was that we no longer assume everyone has either read Huck Finn or really know who Mark Twain was. On the other hand, the middle schoolers doing Of Mice and Men in role-play and filming it is a novel way to embrace the technology to rejoin us to some of our traditional culture that should not be forgotten as new cultural elements overwhelm us. As our students increasingly depend on technology, they are less able to reach out to the unfamiliar - not necessarily an expected outcome. This points to my needing to some work in media literacy studies.

Finding a Home in Second Life

Ex helped me find a home to call my own in Second Life. I'll use it primarily as an office/learning space/teaching space.

This morning I officially met Kathy Schrock. I imagine the crowds will gather in SL later in the day.

This is even more addictive than the early internet and the breadth of info I could get compared to other means in a small town.

While I wanted to go to fewer conferences, I'll have to figure out what tech conferences are worthwhile. There's one in August in Kansas that is primarily for the post-secondary audience. I'll go this year but didn't want to present because I want August open given how busy June and July are with history teacher workshops. (We're going to get to include more tech because one of our Teacher Leadership Team members is no curriculum/technology specialist partly as a result of getting an MA in an earlier history grant!)

Now I have to figure out how to furnish my space. I want to go with a traditional mission style and I've located a mission furniture store in SL but can't figure out how to get myself there - I still can't always figure out how to teleport somewhere.

And, I did some more research on Angel Island - their spot doesn't officially open until May 15 so that's why I can't tp onto it.

I'm still thinking of how to integrate history education into SL . . .

Second Life Flickr

I'm in the greenish/teal shirt toward the front of the circle on the right. My first documented appearance in Second Life. Thanks, KJ!

Exploring Land in Second Life

Existential Paine acted as real estate broker tonight to show some of us new SL members around to see places for sale. I'd like something to serve as an office in addition to running around the Greenbush Island once more people are there.

I went to the ISTE social tonight and that was an interesting place. Luckily I had read blog accounts of it before going - otherwise, the multiple conversations can be overwhelming. the ISTE presence is quite impressive - and a great build-up to their annual conference. People can wonder in and be welcomed by the group - plus the "docents" that hang around at ISTE headquarters are another great way to interact.

ISTE will definitely have the first mover advantage - especially with energetic people like Kathy Schrock involved. Here's a great podcast I found looking for the Schrock link. She mentions ISTE as a safe place and is thinking about presenting professional development sessions in SL.

RSS in Plain English

This video link on McGee's Musings blog explains RSS in Plain English. I've been using Bloglines but may look at Google Reader given all the various services/products they are offering educators for free. We won't be reading email much longer thanks to spam anyway.

Second Life Upgrade

I attended a presentation on a middle school project in Secondn Life that also uses the Teen Grid that restricts adult access - which is good thinking ahead for something like this - all you need is an island full of students to attract the bad presences on the net.

There's an upgrade going on this morning and the improvements/fixes are listed here.

I met a few new like-minded folks at the presentation and I also learned how to sit on a box! The link for the presentation on my notecard is in 2nd Life so will have to wait on that but she will be presenting at the May SL conference in SL and the Chicago SL Conference in August.

Greenbush has also asked if I'd like to prepare a short feature on their history to put on their island. Another virtual publication! And a great opportunity to build my knowledge base before applying it to more of what I do at the post-secondary level with pre-service and in-service teachers.

Journeys in Second Life

I am totally entranced with Second Llife and all of its education-related possibilities! It's much more interesting now that I have found people with similar interests and am no longer spending too much time touring empty buildings with no one around or only people trying to bother you popping up on your screen.

Greenbush has moved its presence to an island - primarily so that it can control its neighbors.  I have also figured out why there are Coke machines everywhere - Coke has a contest to help Second Life residents design its presence there - what a great marketing concept. I also stumbled across another marketing presence: crayonville.

EduIsland II is a great location and there are lots of friendly people there who are also interested in education. I reviewed the Games and Learning Group from Google groups and read those with profiles to find some like-minded souls to contact in SL and RL (Real Life). Kevin Jarrett has posted a comment on my earlier SL entry and last night I met Existential Paine (who really isn't) and he took me to a workshop on how to build PowerPoint presentations in SL. It costs a bit of money but only a small bit.

I was not impressed when I presented at NECC a few years ago but will have to re-think that given the large ISTE presence in SL and their prep for this year's NECC. My grant workshop schedule won't allow me to go this year but maybe next year in San Antonio ? ? ? ? There's also an online SL conference in May held in SL and one in Chicago in August - a perfect time to cut loose from the chaos that comes with the early part of the semester. This community is quite welcoming and friendly.

Appearances in SL for female avatars are important if you don't want to look like either a newbie or a hooker - so I will have to keep working on that. I've downloaded some Photoshop templates to build clothes so I may actually learn more than the basics of Photoshop because of my SL journeys.

My university is switching from Blackboard to Angel next fall and it looks like Angel is already working hard to incorporate SL into its presence so that means I can look at using it and SimSchool in my courses - primarily HIST 479 for the pre-service teachers. And it's a given with the Historical Thinking course - it provides an added dynamic to any course and because students can access it on campus if they don't have the connection power at home (but most do these days because MySpace and Facebook don't work well on dial-up connections), it can be more universal.

Like podcasting, Second Life is going to stick and stick good! It provides a component to the internet that multi-player gamers have known for a long time. Now I need to do a better job of documenting my progress in Second Life. My other preoccupation is whether I should buy an island to have my own space later on - primarily because it will cost much less now rather than later. In the meantime, it looks like I can rent some friendly spots that will be easier to design and learn to "build" in. After all, Coldwell Banker has discovered the real estate possibilities in SL.

Teacher Tube

I've seen a bit about Teacher Tube but this post discusses how teachers can add supporting documents - an excellent idea.