Inglese - Second life - Riassunto esame, prof. Rainey

The Experience of a Professor in Second Life

This text was taken from “The Economist”. In the first part, the writer describes the experience of a professor in Second Life. The professor, a psychiatry professor at the University of California, teaches about schizophrenia but has never been able to explain to his students how his patients suffer.

So, the professor went online and downloaded some free software and entered Second Life. He created hallucinations using Second Life, which improved the understanding of schizophrenia among his students. Afterward, the professor leased an island in Second Life where he built a clinic. He gave his students “avatars” so they could attend his lectures inside and then experience hallucinations.

The writer then explains what Second Life is. Second Life is a 3-D virtual world created by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has become more than just a game, as many people use it for serious purposes.

Many people use Second Life as a communications medium. For example, it is possible to give an interview in Second Life. The users can create and be anything that they want. Second Life connects people.

The history of Second Life: It was founded by Linden Leb and his founder, Philip Rosedale, had the idea to construct something that would allow people to extend reality by building a virtual life. In Second Life, the residents can build whatever they want and they can copy, modify, and transfer objects. They can also create a trade in the world currency called Linden Dollars. Linden Dollars are exchangeable for real currency.

The residents of Second Life own the intellectual property inherent in their creations. To enter Second Life, you need to create an avatar and download the software that needs to be installed on the computer. Linden Leb does not sell advertising; it makes money when residents lease property.

In conclusion, Second Life is unique in that the users conceive what they sell.

So is defined the only example of a self-sustained economy on the internet.