Sounding Off: Second Life Educators and "What Do We Want?"

Location: NOT at the VWER Roundtable

Photo credit: Lolly Dovgal

I'm doing a night class for the next month, so I missed an important session of the Roundtable. I've asked for on-my-computer backups of my creations in Second Life, but what did 30+ colleagues put on their wish-lists for 2010?

• Easier scripting
• More than 25 groups/avatar & more flexibility in groups (subgroups etc.)
• Better performance on lower-powered systems
• Interoperability with other virtual worlds
• Better media management in SL (working video capture for all OSes, document sharing, course-management system)
• Some policy to allow those under eighteen to use the Main Grid if they are in a class, coupled with better policing of underage residents on the grid
• (For some) A separate educational grid.

Noteworthy Quotations; Kudos to Lolly & Olivia: "recognition of value at the university!" and "I would like to see support of education that was as strong as it is for business, and conducted in a way that worked with educators' constraints - semesters, huge enrollments, age restrictions, group privileges, group enrollment, etc."

Read the entire transcript here. Let's hope the the Linden Lab team pays more attention to the educational community this year.

Heritage Key: Improved Avatars & Orientation

Location: Travel Hub, Heritage Key

Before Viv gave me my recent tour of the Heritage Key Valley of the Kings, I bumbled about the new welcome areas for avatars. The ability to select better avatars (I'm sticking with Ron Glass' clone, however) makes HK worth a repeat visit. Here's Iggy/Ron looking at the new HK avatars and accessories:



Still in the works: a better default walk. I hope that happens soon. It's the only thing I detest about my avatar, and my students felt the same about their walks last term. If for nothing more than deepening the immersion here, realistic walks for men and women would help.

I like the Travel Hub, pictured below, a great deal.



The immersive nature of the experience--the avatar as time-traveler--extends to the Dr. Who style time-travel booths. I'm not an avid follower of Dr. Who, but I know a Tardis-like device when I see one. The simulation is not too close, but the reference is both quaint and comforting. The area matched my mental image of how a time-travel hub might actually look.



I'm very fond of the Mechanism that powers all this, Viv's interpretation of an antikythera mechanism mixed with an astrolabe - a Steampunk masterwork. The new welcome region features many classic buildings, mixed with futuristic ones by primary sim Flopsie Mcardle and Rezzable's team, including LIttleToe Bartlett, My McKenzie, and Pavig Lok, get major nods for the structure and decor of the new areas. But, unless I'm mistaken (and I'm not), Viv's is the twisted mind behind the Mechanism's underpinnings as well.

I knew this when, touching various objects, I got this message: "Do NOT Touch!!!: You've discovered the secret power hub of Heritage Key. Watch out for the alligator!" Perhaps you'll see the critter in the image below:



Viv notes that "the Travel Hub is meant to be a center of travel - from here you can get to all the regions that are opening up--Stonehenge, Tutankhamun, the Terra cotta Warriors, Ancient London--and travel within them, then come back and explore more destinations." There is information about many of these areas within the travel center. For instance, I got this notice:

departure 5: Stonehenge 2010: Walk the stones at sunset and meet modern-day Druids. Feel what it is like to attend a festival, and revel in the shadows of the Stones.

Orientation and guidance extend beyond the Learning Center. Viv has been at work on a HUD to guide visitors through the Valley of the Kings, too. She adds:

"I'm finishing the new updates to the VoK wearable...adding a region map with resource areas marked. It will help people see where they are, and what they're doing, and also allow them to reflect on the things they've found."

My next post will return to the Valley of the Kings for more detail on the HUD and the other treasures there.

State of the Fake Nation: Gimme My Free House, Linden Lab

Location: Buyer's Remorse

When I hard about this new program, I figured the incentive for new premium members would bring in lots of residents who pay that $72 annual fee. That's real money for Linden Lab, whatever Mark Kingdon once said about his disinterest in premium memberships.

Our premium memberships include a 300L weekly stipend, but remember, the $72 is an actual-dollar payment to Linden Lab. The stipends are distributed with Linden Dollars that the Lab creates, like the US Federal Reserve printing more money.

This is a no-brainer for the Lab. As I realized (awakening me from a stupid torpor) from a recent post by Tateru Nino, when one cashes out Linden Dollars in SL, not a penny comes out of LL's pocket. A "sell order" is filled by another SL resident who wants to purchase some ready (fake) cash.

Okay, that's the end of SLecon 101. My non-snarky side is not interested; I had a look at some of the neighborhoods. They are too much like suburbia, a living arrangement that I detest in real life. And the new SLurbs lack roads, so where would I drive my fake car?

Now for the snarky part from an old resident (me). Take it away, other half of my personality!

Does anyone recall the "Furniture Girls" from the wonderfully ecological Heston film, "Soylent Green"? You gotta love this aspect of the ad. Poor lass is coming out of her blouse, too!

Well, I didn't get no stinking free house, no open-blouse babe, and no SL Stimulus package when I went Premium in 2007....boo hoo! I want my free suburban house! I want my "furniture"! I want it all and I don't wanna pay anything for what I deserve!

How closely SL mirrors the psychology of real life in the States. Hey, Mr. President! Change that State of the Union address, now! Give every citizen who sends the Treasury $72 a house and then a check for $1000, and all will be well for the nation and your legacy!

Next VWER meeting: What Do You Want?

Location: Prepping for Night Class

This is a timely topic, with Claudia Linden attending last week's meeting after a long absence. I think that signals LL may be ready to listen to educators, again. They could even regain some trust in our community. So come join us and answer AJ's question:

Tuesday, January 26th, at 2:30pm SLT at the CHSSSouth Amphitheater, on Montclair State CHSSSouth:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Montclair%20State%20CHSSSouth/129/158/22

So here are my answers, AJ:

• Dream #1--Perfect SL replica of 1967 Pontiac GTO (dark green, tan leather interior and convertible top) with Positrac rear end, 400 cubic inch V8 with working cold-air-induction hood scoop. Redline tires and Pontiac Rally mag wheels, please.
  
• Dream #2--LL sanctioned inventory backup from SL to my hard drive for items I create.

I'm betting I'll see the GTO first, sold to me by John DeLorean's avatar. But maybe I'm wrong, and LL is ready to add features that will help educators try SL and convince their schools that LL provides services we can depend upon.

Later on I'll report on educators' wish-lists.

Free GTO courtesy of http://www.netcarshow.com