Modeling Reality With Virtual Worlds

There are many ways virtual worlds can be used for. They can be used for business purposes to social purposes. Virtual worlds allow people create 3D avatars and connect and communicate online rather in person. Such as how IBM helped a company log into the world called Second Life and create virtual meetings. The meeting on the screen looked like what the room would look like in real life and the 3D avatars would look like the executives. Virtual worlds allow people to actually "be there" but not actually there. People can also create and live however they want to in their second life without financial constraints or limitations. Virtual worlds can also foster creativity. People might find creative ways to make money since there are no boundaries in the virtual world. Although virtual worlds may sound fun, there are also a downside to it.

Sometimes people are too into their second life that they do nothing but investing all their time into their fake life. People may want to just live their second life and not their real one because they can be whoever they want to be behind the screen. This is good for lower self esteem people. However not everyone can be trusted in the second life. Virtual worlds may have real life molesters or kidnappers pretending to be someone who they're not to lure other people in. Some people meet their boyfriend or girlfriend through their second life and may fall in love with the avatar but not the actual person.

Virtual worlds and real worlds are pretty similar in the fact that people need to buy the things they want and need to create and start a family. I feel like virtual worlds will continue to grow in the future. Businesses might use it more to conduct meetings. It can also act as a form of entertainment in gaming or online dating. It will continue to grown and become more popular. Although it may be fun, people should just not be too into it and forget about their real life.

http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2007-12-19/toys-with-a-second-life
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/fashion/22Avatar.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1363759952-GqzAx1BOpAdne%20EDI%20I3MQ
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/nyregion/thecity/03virt.html?_r=1&