What in the World is Second Life?
I am really suprised I did not latch onto this one for further investigation sooner. I had heard it mentioned in passing, yet did not really understand the true scope of this Virtual Reality which has been around for many years, having opened to the public in 2003. It is so exciting to learn just how much one can do in Virtual Worlds as we step forth into advancing technologies.
First of all, I am totally impressed with the amount of activities we can participate in, just as in real life as we imagine it. The fact that there are actual transactions, which can be converted into real money is pretty bizzare and interesting to say the least. And to learn that people are actually earning a living through transactions in a Virtual World enlightens me to the incredible possibilities. It is pretty amazing to realise the lengths people will go to escape this reality into a reality where our imaginations hold no limits!
If you are new to this reality and wish to learn more, here you go…
Second Life® is a 3-D virtual world created by its Residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by millions of Residents from around the globe.
From the moment you enter the World you’ll discover a vast digital continent, teeming with people, entertainment, experiences and opportunity. Once you’ve explored a bit, perhaps you’ll find a perfect parcel of land to build your house or business.
You’ll also be surrounded by the Creations of your fellow Residents. Because Residents retain intellectual property rights in their digital creations, they can buy, sell and trade with other Residents.
The Marketplace currently supports millions of US dollars in monthly transactions. This commerce is handled with the inworld unit of trade, the Linden™ dollar, which can be converted to US dollars at several thriving online Linden dollar exchanges.
There is no limit to what your imagination can create, and as long as you stay within the boundaries of the in-world laws and rules, this can be a great way to expand upon your natural talents. You can travel around and meet people from all over the world, discovering and exploring to your hearts content. Socializing becomes that much easier, if you are shy in your current reality, and this is a chance to let yourself have fun and learn new things along the way. What a great concept to travel through a world imagined and created by us!
Thank goodness Second Life has a basic free account, so I can jump right in and check it out at my leisure. I would like to get some valued opinions from other Virtual World experts before I take too far of a leap, yet I am truly looking forward to this enchanting new experience. Any advice and/or feedback is most welcome! I will be most happy to expand upon this totally cool world after I have had a chance to explore.
It has been a few weeks since I posted here at Virtual World, as we have been out of town. While we were away enjoying nature in some of her most extreme weather changes, going from 109 degrees in the shade to awesome displays by the Thunder Beings, called ‘Wakiyans’ in Lakota, we discovered that one of our Grandmothers enjoys adventuring through the realms of Final Fantasy XI online. Giving myself a few days of acclimatizing myself back into the faster world full of technological wonders, after roughing it for over two weeks, I am now ready to venture forth into this new (at least to me) game, and would love to hear how other folks feel about the Worlds I am about to discover. 
