I've always heard of the virtual world and saw a few documentaries on it. I think it's a cool way to interact and socialize online. It can be used in many areas of life believe it or not. We can use it for business to have conferences in real time and for training. In the article Going to the Virtual Office in Second Life, CNN.com: Nov 5, 2009 http://www.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/11/05/second.life.virtual.collaboration/index.html we see virtual meetings and conferences as a means of being cost effective. In today's economy companies are making major budget cuts and can't afford the sometimes exorbitant travel expenses. The virtual world is the next best thing, as the article also stated they can assist in cutting travel time and because of the creative atmosphere brainstorming is more fruitful. One area I find that the virtual world can be most beneficial is in the classroom. It's a great vessel to use to transport students all over the world to have class sessions. It helps them to visualize teaching concepts and to have a deeper understanding. They can have a chance to experience the real world virtually and this can help them to make better decisions in their lives. Students can open their own businesses and invent things which eliminates any actual fear or risk. In another article iReport: 'Naughty Auties' battle autism with virtual interaction by Nicole Saidi, CNN, March 28, 2008. available from:http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/03/28/sl.autism.irpt/index.html#cnnSTCText new ways of helping people with autism has arisen from "second life" as it's aptly named. It offers a safe haven for those affected and helps them to foster communicating skills. Social networking is an area where a virtual world is helpful. Like these people with autism it helps them to handle social situations virtually to minimize any risk first before applying their skills to the real world. Even some otherwise normal people who are a little shy or not very social use virtual living to express themselves in a way they would otherwise have not. Many people get involved in relationships as a result of their interactions. The virtual world is a good way for the military to offer training as well. They can have private forums for them to conduct there events and simulations away from any outside entity. It also is a good environment to recruit people to the military to serve their country.
Their are some negative aspects in living in a false reality. People may spend an inordinate amount of time in this virtual life that they will lose their sense of reality. This can be very damaging on their lives. The lack of real human to human interaction will have a negative impact on socialization. People may have changes in behavior and shut the rest of the world out causing them to be depressed and even suicidal. Living in a virtual world does not mean that one is living an ideal life. Some people online are living a life far from the one they live in reality. They steal, kill, sell drugs and can even rape someone. If these traits transcend to their real lives it would wreak havoc on society. The inability to express emotions is another downfall. Cyberspace is a great escape from the troubles of our lives. It however causes people to lose true relationships by wasting their time playing games and living a fake life.
Creativity is fostered through the ability to create freely. We can fashion our avatar to our liking and create an environment where we can have things that are just not possible in the real world. Our imagination can run freely and we can get input for other users which makes for a better creation. I see more and more people becoming apart of the virtual world in the future. We will find even better uses for it and new innovations will come about as a result.
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