Second life and first life

The above funny comic about the Second life is from blaugh and this article “Get a Second Life, why don't you?” by Graeme Philipson is also talk about it. There is a book «Second Life: The Official Guide» about it as well. In addition, Second Life International Conference: Best Practices in Teaching, Learning and Research was in May, 2007.

It seems that Second life become particularly noticed by people this year. First time I heard Second life was when I attended a presentation “Is there 'no life' in Second Life? (Exploring the educational affordance in synthetic worlds)” by Paul Hollins at the CAL’07 Conference in March. He mentioned Sloodle and virtual learning, also his experiences and opinions of using it. But at that time, I wondered why people want to be in virtual. Is the real world not vivid enough?

I am not good at playing computer games and similarly not interested in virtual world, but I’m interested in trying new things, I might like them or not. I was thinking maybe I should try it when I get a bit time. Second life for me, hmm, sounds like an online game. I haven’t done any study on Second life, just browsed the website quickly. I try to assume the benefits of using Second life before I really get into it. Why is there only one point in my mind? - try something I am never ever able to try in my real life, that is, make my imaginations come true in a virtual world, e.g., flying or driving a plane, trying certain careers, study in Harvard University, running a fashion business…