2008 Woodie Awards
Second Life: Let's not let it replace the first
Editorial
Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: Opinion
Originally published: 11/7/07 at 10:46 PM PSTLast update: 11/9/07 at 12:34 AM PST
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Last spring, when The Santa Clara previewed the latest and greatest among technology at the university, professors and administrators hailed Second Life as a veritable educational revolution. Indeed, Second Life seemed to teem with virtual creative possibilities. In one class, students even made use of Second Life for a group project, using the game to create a short film "about how technology can distance you from human interaction."
Does anyone else see the irony here?
Complete with avatars and replicas of the Mission and de Saisset Museum -- filled with artwork, mind you -- Second Life seeks to go one step beyond technology and into the treacherous world of virtual reality. In Second Life, one can enjoy most of (the first) life's pleasures -- virtually, of course. Avatars on Santa Clara Island can read, socialize, listen to music, go for walks, visit the museum, even have sex! Students can use Second Life for creative projects, as previously mentioned, or for study groups and library research help. Professors can stream lectures from their very own virtual classrooms in Second Life.
But all of these amazing capabilities of Second Life beg the question: Why?
Why would a student need to visit the de Saisset and view uploaded versions of art, when they could just walk a few minutes from their dorm or conveniently located off-campus house to see them personally? Why would a student meet up with friends in front of the virtual Mission Church to have a leisurely "chat," when they could just as easily get off their computers and meet up with friends in person?
Undoubtedly, Second Life will offer a slew of educational benefits and conveniences to students, professors and administrators alike. But what will it do to the Santa Clara community in the process?
In our 21st century world where technology is virtually (no pun intended) ubiquitous, the creation of Second Life may seem to some as the logical next step. After all, technological developments of recent years have not only simplified life, but utterly transformed it, changing the way we work, communicate, apply for jobs, entertain ourselves and even socialize.
Does anyone else see the irony here?
Complete with avatars and replicas of the Mission and de Saisset Museum -- filled with artwork, mind you -- Second Life seeks to go one step beyond technology and into the treacherous world of virtual reality. In Second Life, one can enjoy most of (the first) life's pleasures -- virtually, of course. Avatars on Santa Clara Island can read, socialize, listen to music, go for walks, visit the museum, even have sex! Students can use Second Life for creative projects, as previously mentioned, or for study groups and library research help. Professors can stream lectures from their very own virtual classrooms in Second Life.
But all of these amazing capabilities of Second Life beg the question: Why?
Why would a student need to visit the de Saisset and view uploaded versions of art, when they could just walk a few minutes from their dorm or conveniently located off-campus house to see them personally? Why would a student meet up with friends in front of the virtual Mission Church to have a leisurely "chat," when they could just as easily get off their computers and meet up with friends in person?
Undoubtedly, Second Life will offer a slew of educational benefits and conveniences to students, professors and administrators alike. But what will it do to the Santa Clara community in the process?
In our 21st century world where technology is virtually (no pun intended) ubiquitous, the creation of Second Life may seem to some as the logical next step. After all, technological developments of recent years have not only simplified life, but utterly transformed it, changing the way we work, communicate, apply for jobs, entertain ourselves and even socialize.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Aaron Delwiche
posted 11/08/07 @ 5:39 AM PST
This is a well-written editorial. However, as an educator/entrepreneur who uses Second Life in the classroom, I have a few friendly responses. If there is ink in an upcoming issue, I would be grateful if you could print this letter. (Continued…)
Chromal Brodsky
posted 11/08/07 @ 12:30 PM PST
Interesting article. I would tend to agree that replacing a local community with a virtual version of it isn't terribly practical. I think the Science, Technology, and Society department types like to play with these sorts of environments to see how they resonate with the human condition, but, beyond these sorts of 'digital identity and community' experimental uses, moving a local/regional community online doesn't exactly make sense. (Continued…)
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