Virtual worlds are online simulations of the real world, involving all aspects of life including social, business, and educational interactions, which mimic actual face-to-face interactions and scenarios. User’s of virtual worlds see this technology as an opportunity to lead a second life, which is the concept that led to the creation of the virtual world, SecondLife. SecondLife and other virtual worlds involve users controlling avatars in a real world landscape that allows them to create their own environment and interact with other users in the virtual world. Due to the extensively detailed representation of our physical and social environment, users can do the same things that are done in real life, but while they are sitting at their computers. This has lead people to utilize this technology in many ways and for a number of reasons. Some people use virtual worlds to do things that they have never gotten the opportunity to do in real life including, visiting places they have never been to before, or dancing in a night club. User’s of certain interest groups use virtual worlds to come together and interact, giving people the opportunity to virtually socialize with strangers who they would have never met if virtual worlds were not in existence. In the article iReport: 'Naughty Auties' battle autism with virtual interaction by Nicole Saidi, it is explained how individuals who suffer from autism and Asperger’s Syndrome use virtual worlds in order to become familiar with, and learn how to interact, communicate, and behave in social situations. People with disabilities involving paralysis or the inability to perform physical activities can use virtual worlds to swim, jump, run, dance, and even fly.
Discussed in the previous paragraph are some of the many pros involving virtual worlds. These pros include the ability of virtual worlds to provide people suffering social anxieties and disorders with the chance to practice and familiarize themselves with social interactions in steps. These people can use virtual worlds as their first step towards socializing and progress to face-to-face interactions when they feel more comfortable with handling the situation. Psychologists believe virtual worlds can be used as additional therapy to help people suffering from social disorders. These virtual worlds allow people to participate in society while they are in their own homes where they feel secure and comfortable. Virtual worlds give users opportunities to walk down the virtual street in a virtual neighborhood and run into a stranger, who is physically located in another part of the world, but in the same virtual world, that they would have never met. This technology has the ability to bring the global community together. Virtual worlds have resulted in lasting friendships and connections. People can conduct business in a virtual world that provides users the ability to practice a profession or occupation. A virtual world can help any kind of interaction, whether it be social or business related, due to its capacity to produce a sense of face-to-face interaction with the use of avatars. Even though the avatar may be a false representation of its user, the technology gives users a visible body to communicate with, which enhances the interaction.
The cons to virtual worlds may seem less obvious than the pros. One may perceive that virtual worlds may inhibit face-to-face interactions by giving people a reason to stay home and communicate virtually. If people begin using virtual worlds too much they may hinder their abilities to conduct in face-to-face interaction. Some say that society has already been consumed by technology that has limited face-to-face communication and virtual worlds will add to this reliance on computer interactions.
Virtual worlds can foster creativity within the population of users. It is obvious that bringing different people together that come from different parts of the world can bring new ideas to the table, because of many diverse perspectives and knowledge. These people with creative ideas now have a simulation that they can use to create their own environment and social life. This technology is a creative tool that people can use to design a life that they desire. A user of a virtual world must create an image, style, name, and appearance of their avatar and the environment that it lives in. The person must also coordinate the mannerisms of the avatar and conduct conversations with other people. The individual participating in this must be significantly creative to make this as realistic as possible. The article "I've Been in That Club, Just Not in Real Life" by Dave Itzkoff explains that there is a thin line between real life interactions and virtual world interactions, and this line is fading. In order for this to be true the users must be creative and envision themselves in the world that is simulated on their computer screens. Creativity of users is the foundation that makes for effective virtual interactions.
I think that in the future virtual worlds will gain popularity and attract more users. Some of these virtual worlds may look like a complete fantasy environment, but continue utilizing the fundamental functions allowing users to communicate and interact using avatars. Virtual worlds may one day be exact replications of large areas such as the entire United States or even the entire world. People may one day have the ability to drive across the country, fly to another country, or walk through their favorite park all in a virtual world on their computers. This type of virtual world can give people the chance to see things they have never seen before that actually exist in the real world, meet people they have never met before, and experience what the world has to offer all in a virtual world.
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