Modeling Reality With Virtual Worlds

Virtual worlds are used for creating an alternative life simulated on a gaming platform. Avatars are created to represent people in the virtual worlds. Locations from the real world are recreated to create the synthetic experience of living an alternative lifestyle. An article from the Wall Street Journal by Stephanie Simon, "The Avatar II: The Hospital" explains that the virtual world technology is being used for training student nurses and doctors. The situations and appearances are set up to simulate sick patients in a hospital setting. Generally Virtual reality worlds are used as leisure gaming enjoyment, professional training tools and as a meeting ground for all sorts of interaction such as business, friendships, relationships, etc. Another article from CNN.com called, "Going to Virtual Office in Second Life" by Mark Tutton says that the Second Life virtual world is working on creating a new tool that allows businesses to conduct meetings virtually. Virtual Reality worlds seem to offer a much cheaper way of living than reality does. Virtual Reality worlds are fun, easy to use, gives you a chance at a life you never had or can never have, allows you to interact with others easier and create a sense of community with people who share interest with you. On the other hand, they can encourage withdrawal from reality, depression, loneliness due to real life disassociation and lack of real life experiences. Virtual Worlds are a playground for creativity, as a persons abilities and creative resources are limitless. The future of Virtual Reality Worlds are moving towards a more realistic look and feel of the reality created. Which I believe would mirror the action film "Surrogates" starring Bruce Willis.

Blog About Twitter

Twitter compares to blackboard discussions in a negative way. Firstly, Twitter limits a person's post to 140 characters, which are sometimes not enough to express your thoughts and opinions. Secondly, Twitter is a public webpage, that allows your words to be exposed and disclosed to anyone. Whereas blackboard discussions is a private college based forum that allows academic exchange of information in a controlled online environment. Finally, the language a person may use on Twitter is more casual, compared to the manner in which they relate on blackboard discussion. On another note, comparing twitter to in-class discussions is senseless. In my honest opinion, fluent speech exchanges are better than written exchanges in every way. The experience of an in-class discussion will allow people to hear the voice tones, see the body language and understand the implications of another persons' words better that reading them on a two dimensional screen.

Social Networking Sites

Almost every social network appears to have one common goal in mind, which is connecting people through internet web pages designed to make the sharing of information easy. Four of the most commonly used social networking sites are twitter, facebook, myspace and linkedIn. In comparison of all four networking sites, I have realized that each of them connect people on different levels and in different ways. Myspace is one of the first generation social networking sites, it was created to connect friends and families in a socially informal way. On Myspace, users were abe to share their thoughts, pictures, videos, and create page backgrounds that represented their personal style. Facebook, on the other hand emerged after Myspace, and was created to connect college students around the world. The College restriction on the Facebook site did not last long, as many people demanded access to the site. Like Myspace, Facebook is a place where people can share thoughts and opinions, pictures, videos, and play online games. Further along the social network timeline, Twitter arrived, offering a status (or tweet)  focused website, where people can share personal updates or 'tweets' about their life and activities. Opposed to Myspace and Facebook, Twitter is a more constant kind of affair, where picture and statuses are related to what is presently occurring. Lastly there is LinkedIn, a social networking site, created to bring business people together, so that they can work more flowingly and cohesively. This site allows company's to share picture, updates and developments about their profession. Like many other social networks many people became aware of it, and its use is expanded way beyond its original intent. All four social networking cites are basically popular for a time, until the next best one steps into the spotlight.

Social Net'g

Social Networking is for everyone. It connects friends, families, co-workers and people from all walk s of life, hence the name "Social-Networking"- which simply means, connecting with people. On social networks, people are able to share their thoughts and views on topics of their Interest. An NPR article by Frank Langfitt explains, "Professional recruiters have started hunting for job candidates using social networking technology — like the kind found on the popular sites MySpace and Facebook." Beyond individual socializing use, social networking is also being used professionally. Another means of using social networking is educationally. People can use it to educate one another and to take academic learning, beyond the parameters of a classroom. Basically, social media works as a community, to guide, mold and shape personal character and preferences. Although this can have negative effects, such as influencing individuals to join hate groups, to indulge in cyber bullying, misquoting people's words, spread malicious or fictitious information and other negative online behaviors. An article titled, What next Your Future In Social Networking, predicts the direction of the social networking in the near future, it states, "In an interview for Maclean’s readers, Chuck Hamilton, New Media and Learning Leader for IBM’s 3D Internet Division, explores the new frontier of virtual networking." Basically the future of social networking, is the merging of this social communication, with 3D technologies. People will no longer be subjected to 2D images, they would be able to see a person 3 dimensionally, which would show a persons height, size and features in a more realistic manner. The advancement of this technology, could make the good attributes of social networking better, and the negative ones worse.