Digital Artifacts

Monday, November 5, 2007

More on Second Life...

Found this article about a robot controlled avatar that is being used for psychological research. I think this raises some interesting issues about the ethical use of the program. The research is focusing on the way in which people respond to invasion of their personal space online in comparison with real life. It is all very interesting, but as with a lot of info I am learning about second life, there is something a little off putting about the whole thing.
Click Here

3 Comments:

Blogger sunshinejen said...

I was just getting on to post about something very simular. I was gonna ask what people thought of second life..love it, hate it...leave it?
I have reading alot about how (and CNN has been reporting about) how people are becoming lost in these "worlds" and leaving behind the "normal" world they live in for these on-line "friends" It does raise some interesting issues with the internet and these sites.
anyone else found more? I'd like to read about it/
where is yr article from?

November 5, 2007 at 6:33 PM  
Blogger Rebecca said...

There is a link to the article in the original post. I found it on technology.newscientist.com

I've been having a lot of convos with various people about their feeling in regards to SL and there have been a large variety of responses. I have definitely found that the most outspoken people are those that fear that this type of alternate universe will take up too much time in a person's life. But after reading "Everything Bad is Good For You(Johnson)" I tend to think that really it is just another thing that should be done in moderation. It has value when used in certain ways and this needs to be respected.
Personally, I have been very uncomfortable on SL and the whole alternative "life" online creeps me out. That being said, i still have found it important to try and learn about what makes the program so successful. I have started to read game guide book for second life and it has some interesting info. I will share more as i get further into it.

November 5, 2007 at 7:12 PM  
Blogger Colin and/or Michele said...

Interestingly enough, there are studies starting to emerge--if I can find them, I'll post them here--that virtual worlds like SL are proving to be useful social spaces for people with autism. Removing the immediate physical dimensions of interactions seems to really facilitate their social interaction and participation.

November 8, 2007 at 9:34 PM  

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