everything you need to know about second life

Everything You Need to Know About Second Life

Jenny Bullough / Chloe Barbosa

Eden Spodek / Paradise Wunderland

In the beginning….

Today

In the beginning….

Today

What is it?• Virtual world (one of many)

• Created by Linden Labs in 2003

• Claims millions of members, growing

Why should I sign up?

Pros:• It’s free

• It’s fun (barbies for grownups)

• It’s a community

• Contests

• Events

• Meeting people

Cons?

• High barrier to entry – memory, graphics

• Tech glitches – limited number of avatars at a given location (sim) – “lag” and “rez”

• Downtime – every Wednesday

• Time to learn – jargon, culture, basic functions

• Time and cost to customize your avatar

What can you use it for?

• Overcome personal barriers – from shyness to disability

• Education – classes, seminars, conferences

• Virtual meetings – informal to formal

• Personal and professional use

Personal Use

• Connecting with RL friends

• Meeting new people through their avatars

• Groups of shared interest

• Special events

• Shopping!!

Case Study: After a Fashion

• Co-founded by Kate Trgovac and Eden Spodek, Feb. ’07

• Canadian women working in digital media to teach each other and learn more about Second Life and other virtual worlds

Case Study: After a Fashion

• Safe environment – with friends – each member either knows Eden and/or Kate in real life

• Collaboration: shared experiences and activities• Limited membership: not to be exclusive but to

facilitate learning, sharing and community• Real life networking, events• Considering extending invitations to other

women for special events

Case Study: After a Fashion

• Evolving Avatars: The first After a Fashion…

Case Study: After a Fashion

• Evolving Avatars: Paradise dressed for Virtual Thirst event

• Fundraising and cause awarenessHair Fair ’07

Case Study: After a Fashion

• Hanging out at Sparrow’s Hideaway

Professional Use

• Connecting with a target market• Focus groups• Consumer engagements• Surveys• Immersion in and connection with your

brand / product

…IF you have a strategy, executed well!

Case Study: Author Events

• Harlequin strategy vs. competition– Bantam Dell– Random House

• MJ Rose, The Reincarnationist

• Deanna Raybourn, Silent in the Sanctuary– Reading and Q&A– Victorian Ball– Writing Workshop

Questions so far?

How do I sign up?

Final Steps:

• A confirmation email with a link is sent to the address you provided

• Download the Second Life software

• Enter Second Life!

What do I do when I get there?

• Spend time on Orientation Island

• Join groups – find areas of interest to you

• Find friends, old and new – go to events

• Get someone who is already in-world to give you a tour

Search “Chloe Barbosa” and add me as a friend!

There are general rules for conduct…

…but it is “buyer beware”.

Orientation is easy to navigate…

This is why you want to customize your avatar.

A search in groups for “book readers” gets 100s of results. Most of them legit!

A quick search in Events for today’s date gets tons of results… including a virtual state fair!

Coffee with Crayon every Thursday morning, 6 a.m. SLT

Or you can search for individuals – like me! – and click “add friend”

Or you can search for individuals – like me! – and click “add friend”

Jenny Bulloughaka Chloe BarbosaJenny_Bullough@harlequin.ca

Eden Spodekaka Paradise Wunderlandespodek@gmail.com