Module 4 Blog Posting: The Disruptive Power of Second Life

Second Life (SL) is a virtual world developed by Linden Lab that launched on June 23, 2003 and is accessible on the Internet. A free client program called the Viewer enables its users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars. Built into the software is a three-dimensional modeling tool based around simple geometric shapes that allows a resident to build virtual objects. This can be used in combination with the Linden Scripting Language which can be used to add functionality to objects. The Second Life Terms of Service ensure that users retain copyright for any content they create, and the server and client provide simple digital rights management functions.

Second Life is a disruptive technology because it is the same as an internet chat room or other networking web site but now it adds a physical description of the ones involved in the conversation with the avatar. Also the user can develop a “home” through the development of their Second Life Island where they can make buildings and rooms that are significance to them and their situation. This may also lead to obsoleting some other networking web sites because of the capabilities of Second Life to pull together entire conferences on any subject plus the multiple types of media available to the users such as text chat, oral presentation/ response, and the ability to converse with people of the same interests through your avatar.
Since Second Life deals with Avatars and graphics I don’t feel that this technology will be obsoleted until Artificial Intelligence becomes more involved in our world. Sticking with the topic of our discussion topic this week, Science-Fiction, all of the Science Fiction movies that deal with Artificial Intelligence, it will could be in our life-time that Artificial Intelligence obsoletes a great number of the technologies in our daily lives.

There are an endless number of social benefits of second life. The networking opportunities are endless with friends being able to connect with friends, people with similar interests able to connect, and also the experience that people are able to gain on subject areas which aids in knowledge acquisition.