What World Am I In?

Honestly, I have a hard time related to Virtual Worlds. Video games have never really been my thing, whether they were played on a console or the computer, so the draw of digital worlds like Second Life never really reached me. But, I have followed them, and after reading about some of them and their uses, I see their importance.

It's interesting how schools like Yale are using their presence on Second Life to promote education and learning in and outside of the classroom. It's a cool place where collaborative, teamwork can be used and taught, as well as how communities work. I can see Second Life being a great tool in classes for Urban Studies or Development courses. Also, it can be a great tool for students learning about Business because it can address issues such as team building, business making, and community impact. The fact that these companies are worth so much money is a testament to how successful they can be. Another virtual world that would be interesting to look into would be popular game World of Warcraft, which I know is also worth a major amount of money and has users spending a lot of time in.

It's also interesting to see how new technology will embrace various virtual world. With the introduction of Apple's iPad, will virtual world become more common place as the platform by which you access them becomes more and more comfortable? Will virtual worlds like Second Life and Farmville become more of a community when it is more comfortable to access these worlds with your hands and senses?