Future of Virtual Worlds

It is difficult to predict what the future of virtual worlds will look like, simply because my mind is not that technologically advanced to be able to think about the potential for this type of technology. I am always amazed to see what comes out in the future.
Virtual worlds of the future may exist where the user can interact using their own bodies and movements without the use of controllers or computer keyboards. I know that there are video games now where the user puts on some type of helmet and is able to control their character in the game just by moving. Again, I am older and am not really up to date on all of the new age types of technology.
I don't see how they could be made any more real like, but I predict that virtual worlds will be so realistic in the future that you will not even have to use controls just your own imagination. They will probably be utilized more by college students and businesses. Virtual worlds will be great learning tools because you can really learn how to work through real life situations using virtual reality.

Resources
www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/28/tech/cnettechnews/main6151438.shtml
www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/the-future-of-virtual-worlds/5825
www.news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10443265-52.html

Mr. Nale's Virtual Classroom

Easy to manipulate (3)
This site was very easy to manipulate and was setup differently than the others. The activity  through this site was very interactive where the user would choose the area of interest and link to different sites and activities to perform. There were no avatars to create but there were many different links to virtual field trips, the world atlas, and other learning games.

Appealing and entertaining (2)
This site wasn't as appealing and entertaining as the other sites was initially, but once you actually started to visit the different links it was very impressive. For instance, the interactive resource demos that teach time and measurement would be very appealing to children because they are physically involved in the activity and it is entertaining.

Teaches socialization (2)
I can't really say that this site taught socialization between students because there weren't options of requesting friends and building avatars like in the other sites.

Encourages creativity and problem solving (3)

This site was excellent in encouraging creativity and problem solving. There are a lot of different types of activities for children to use their problem solving skills to solve. There are also many links, for example, to The Arts, where children can draw, paint, sculpt, and even design their own cities. The photo to the right is one of Abraham Lincoln's home. Through the Social Studies link, the user can actually visit famous homes and take virtual tours.

Safety (3)
There wasn't much in the area of chat safety, but there were classroom rules posted on the site.

Whyville

Easy to manipulate (3)
The Whyville site was very easy to get around and manipulate. Your character actually walks to the destinations that the user indicates by clicking their mouse. This was a pretty interactive site and would be easily used by children.

Appealing and Entertaining (3)
I found Whyville to be very appealing in color and decor to children as well as entertaining. There were many educational games that could be played by the user without much assistance from an adult.

Teaches socialization (2)
This site did encourage socialization because the avatars are able to interact with the other avatars through chat. My avatar was names PiaBird (shown below) and also in the picture above.

Encourages creativity and problem solving (3)
This site did encourage creativity because users are able to create their avatars. Users are also able to visit and play many learning activities that encourage them to solve problems. The most interesting thing that I found about this site was that when the user goes to build their home, they actually are given bricks to build the home themselves. This was quite interesting.

Safety (2)
I didn't really notice any safety issues with this site. All in all it appeared to be quite safe and users are given notice of what not to do at registration. An email also has to be given for parental consent to chat.

Dizzywood

Easy to manipulate (2)
Dizzywood was pretty easy to manipulate but children may need some additional assistance in figuring out the what and how's of getting things done.

Appealing and Entertaining (2)

Dizzywood was very entertaining and appealing to a child's eye. I really enjoyed that there was an option to read the story about Dizzywood and how it came about.

Teaches socialization (2)
Dizzywood does teach some socialization because avatars are able to interact with others that are online.

Encourages creativity and problem solving (3)

Dizzywood allow the users to be quite creative and use problem solving skills. In Dizzywood, users can create their characters all their own and name them. There are several different areas to visit and games to play in Dizzywood. My character is PiaBird.

Safety (2)
Dizzywood required the confirmation of a parent's email in order to register and activate your access to the site. There is also a chat option that requires the approval of a parent. There were no clearly visible site rules posted for the users to read.

Tootsville

Easy to manipulate (1)
I didn't find that this site was easy to understand for children, as a matter of fact, I found it to be quite difficult at times (even for an adult) to figure out what to do and how to do things.

Appealing and Entertaining (3)
Tootsville was very colorful and inviting in appearance. There different places to visit and different types of games to play. There were also different sound effects used to enhance the site and music that plays when you are waiting for games to load or just walking around different areas.

Teaches socialization (1)
Tootsville did teach some forms of socialization in that the user could request friends and relate with other users in Tootsville. I didn't really experience much more in the area of socialization.

Encourages creativity (1)
Tootsville did encourage problem solving but didn't really encourage creativity as much as I would have liked for it to. There wasn't much input from the user in the creation of their character. The user basically chooses a character already created from a group of others. The character I chose was Cupid (shown on the right). There were several games and themes that the user could participate in which allowed them to solve problems and play learning games.

Safety (3)
The very first thing that caught my eye when I went to register for a new account in Tootsville was the fact that the registration page consisted of several 'bubbles' of information that went over the safety rules as you are creating a new account. These information bubbles addressed immediately that there was to be no type of indecent or harmful chat and how you must remain respectful of others. For the chat option in Tootsville you have to obtain approval from a parent.

Virtual World Comparison

This assignment challenged me to locate 4 virtual worlds for grades 2-8 and compare them to one another. I also had to construct a chart of the categories I would be using to compare the virtual worlds by. The virtual worlds that I chose to review were Tootsville, Dizzywood, Whyville, and Mr.Nale's Virtual Classroom.

Here is the chart that I created and used as a measuring tool for comparing these sites.

Category	3	2	1	0
Easy to manipulate	Site easy to use for age	Site somewhat easy to use	Site somewhat difficult to use	Site not easy to use at all
Visually appealing and Entertaining	Site is very appealing and entertaining	Site is somewhat appealing and entertaining	Site is not very appealing or entertaining	Site not appealing or entertaining at all
Teaches Socialization	Site teaches good socialization skills	Site teaches some socialization skills	Site teaches very minimal socialization skills	Site teaches no socialization skills
Encourages creativity & problem-solving	Site encourages a lot of creativity and problem solving skills	Site encourages some creativity and problem solving skills	Site encourages creativity or problem solving skills but not both	Site doesn’t encourage either creativity r problem solving skills.
Practices safety	Site is very safety conscious	Site shows some areas of safety concern for users	Site shows very little safety concern for users	Site shows no concern for safety of users

Article - Educational Frontiers: Learning in a Virtual World

The Learning in a Virtual World article was very informative and motivating; it really intrigued me and made me want to experience Second Life. The whole virtual life experience in itself is amazing and brings students inside of the learning experience. No longer is learning a sit at your desk type of experience, but one where you can physically be involved. This type of learning definitely expands and enhances traditional learning for students, and at the same time students are learning marketable computer skills. Students from all over the world can participate and work collaboratively with other students from all over the world - imagine the benefits of that! For some students, I can imagine how this could be a very intimidating process. For myself in particular, technology is so confusing to me, but I am so intrigued by it that I have to jump in and try to figure it out.

Learning the Basic Skills of Millsberry

I am not certain that this assignment was intended for my virtual world group, but I am going to compose a reflection about it anyways. I have been having a great time in Millsberry, but it is kind of lonely being the only one in my class completing the Millsberry assignment. Anyways, in Millsberry, the avatar isn't able to walk, fly, etc. as is the avatar in Second Life. I am able to make new friends, find items within my inventory, change my avatars appearance, change clothes, find places to go, find other avatars, and am finally able to take snapshots. This taking picture thing was a big problem for me because I had totally forgotten how to do this. But have since figured it out, and I think I am coming along great now.

Exploring Peabody Park

One of the reasons why I chose to live in Metro Park was because the area was very central to the Headquarters of the Millsberry Gazette and to Peabody Park. Peabody Park was founded by Emily Peabody. This is a great park to go and fish, play basketball, and play ice hockey. I visited Peabody Park today because my neighbor Salman told me of how much fun it was there. He made me promise to visit Bobby's Bait Shack because Bobby is such a cool guy; so I did. I arrived at Bobby's Bait Shack and he was there giving out all kinds of helpful information to his customers about fishing and catching 'the Big One'. Even though I don't fish, I stayed and listened to what he had to say, because he makes it all sound so interesting. It was really good talking to him. What a great guy!

After I left the Bait Shack, I went over to the Slap Shot Shoot to try to win some more money so that I could go shopping later at Studio T's. That is one expensive T-Shirt shop located downtown. I went in there earlier today and tried to buy me a t-shirt, but just one shirt cost $250 and that was just for the plain shirt without any designs. Anyway, Slap Shot Shoot is an ice hockey game and I figure I'm pretty athletic so why not give it a try. I played two rounds and earned a total of 210 points and 3 fitness points. Sweet!

On my way home today, I stopped by the downtown bookstore, Bookends Bookshop. I love to read, so I thought I would pick up something to read this evening when I go to bed. I found this great Biography on Marian Anderson called, " A Fresh Voice". The book cost me $125 bucks but it was worth it. She has to be the greatest African American classical vocalist of all time! I can't wait to get started!

Getting a house

After earning a bit of money, I decided to look for a home. The home that I chose was in Metro Park. My address is 60850-C Lexington Blvd. in Metro Park. In my bedroom I moved in my bed, a chair and my chest for my clothes. In my kitchen I just moved in my sink and my refrigerator. In the bathroom I only have a tub, sink and toilet so far. I also had this beautiful hardwood floor put down in my bedroom that looks very nice. I thought that I would be neighborly and go to visit my neigbors. The first neighbor is Meghanrocks70. She has been living in the neighborhood since May of 2007. She is generous, athletic and smart. She loves football, animals and games. I also love football, so we have something in common. My other neighbor was Salman Khan. His home was very nice. He has been in the neighborhood since December of 2005. He is very sporty and loves rap music. I am also sporty and like to listen to rap sometimes, so we too have something in common.

Day One...

I have signed up to become a citizen of Millsberry by providing login information and a password. Afterwards I was able to create my 'buddy' who I have named Princess Pia. She is medium brown skin-toned with dark brown eyes and long, brown hair. She is dressed in jeans and a t-shirt because she enjoys  being comfortable. The first thing that I did once becomming a citizen was visit the arcade to earn me some money. The arcade was very nice and it had 20 different games in it. I played "Sink the Three" which is a basketball game, because I love basketball. I had make as many shots as possible from 5 different positions on the court in 2 minutes. The first try, I made 8 out of 25 shots. But on the second try, I made 18 out of 25 shots. I earned a total of 451 points in this game. The second game I played was Fruit Gushers and it was very difficult. I had to try to collect all the fruit gushers and their boxes and then make it to the exit before all these other kids caught me - and man were they after me. I finally did it and earned 382 points on this game.

Millsberry Life

Since my computer didn't want to work for me in Second Life, I have been placed in Millsberry. I am quite disappointed, because I was really looking forward to the Second Life experience. The following posts describe my experiences here.

So Upset

Hello this is my first blog. I am so upset because I just found out that I will not be able to participate in the virtual world experiece due to computer issues. This is really upsetting to me.