The Chinese State Administration of Taxation said on its Web site last week that China will impose a personal income tax of 20% on profit from virtual money. See article from WSJ Virtual Money
The proposed tax will also target individuals who use virtual currencies so this might affect transactions in Second Life too.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Now - the virtual career fair
GAX Technologies is organizing a third virtual recruitment event on May 28,2009. Called 'Working Worlds' it will open in Second Life with an international dimension. Some of the biggest employers in Europe will attend and receive candidates in their virtual offices.
This new method of recruitment enables candidates from all over the world to meet potential employees. At this time more than 3,500 candidates from all over Europe have submitted their CVs online. At the last career fair, more than 2,900 visitors attended, 2,767 candidates filed their CVs and 600 official interviews took place. For more information visit Working Worlds.
Update on the College Fair in SL
The virtual world of Second Life was the venue for an international college fair which attracted an estimated 9-12,000 visitors over the week long event. The fair which began on 16 November brought together 37 educational institutions from North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific to provide opportunities for prospective students to explore the many programs on offer and get to know more about the institutions represented. Visitors to the college fair came from many countries, with the majority (47%) from the United States, and significant numbers of attendees from the UK, Germany, Spain, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan.
The first day consisted of virtual seminars given by representatives of some of the institutions, with the remainder of the weekend available for individual consultations with college representatives. Universities and colleges were able to create informational displays about their institutions and meet informally to talk with visitors. The organizers (University of Kentucky, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Johnson & Wales University) said that attendance was strong throughout the fair period and their survey of participants indicated that, ‘representatives appreciated the large display size, the quality of the displays created by each institution, the opportunity to “network” with other educators involved in Second Life, the presentations, and the support provided by fair organizers.’
The School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University was pleased to take part in this innovative event, and to join other institutions such as Cornell University, Georgia State University, Ohio State University, University of Florida and the University of West Scotland. As an experiment in promoting ‘real’ educational programs in the virtual world it was definitely of value, and something to consider repeating in the future, particularly in attracting overseas students to the university.
The first day consisted of virtual seminars given by representatives of some of the institutions, with the remainder of the weekend available for individual consultations with college representatives. Universities and colleges were able to create informational displays about their institutions and meet informally to talk with visitors. The organizers (University of Kentucky, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Johnson & Wales University) said that attendance was strong throughout the fair period and their survey of participants indicated that, ‘representatives appreciated the large display size, the quality of the displays created by each institution, the opportunity to “network” with other educators involved in Second Life, the presentations, and the support provided by fair organizers.’
The School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University was pleased to take part in this innovative event, and to join other institutions such as Cornell University, Georgia State University, Ohio State University, University of Florida and the University of West Scotland. As an experiment in promoting ‘real’ educational programs in the virtual world it was definitely of value, and something to consider repeating in the future, particularly in attracting overseas students to the university.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Torley's Guide to Making Movies in Second Life!
A very good guide to making movies in Second Life from Torley. Tutorials cover:
- How to optimize performance
- Which recording tools you can use
- Hiding the interface
- Changing sky + water settings
- Avatar movement
- Where to host your video
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Creating Engaging and Interactive Online Nursing, Medical, and other Courses
A very helpful posting from John Miller on Creating Engaging and Interactive Online Nursing, Medical, and other Courses
John mentions the use of different Web 2.0 tools to engage the students as well as his use of Second Life.
John mentions the use of different Web 2.0 tools to engage the students as well as his use of Second Life.
College Fair - Second Life
College Fair at Alliance Virtual Library! 
Hong PolyU, along with almost 40 colleges and universities set up their exhibition booths on Info Island on Sunday November 16th to meet potential students. Students came to discuss course offerings, admission and financial aid requirements, college life and other information to help them with the college selection process. The fair was held at: Alliance Virtual Library
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/128/128/2
PARTICIPANTS:
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Hotel & Tourism Management
- The University of Akron
- East Tennessee State University
- St John’s University
- Berkeley College
- NY College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Penn State World Campus
- Darton College
- University of North Carolina at Pembroke
- University of the West of Scotland
- Rio Salado College
- University of the Incarnate Word
- Saint Leo University
- Great Northern Way Campus
- Jacksonville State University
- Seton Hall Law School
- University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign
- Bradford College (UKRC)
- Liverpool John Moores University, UK
- University of Wisconsin Wisconsin Oshkosh College of Nursing Accelerated Program
- University of Florida
- Ohio State University, Dept Women’s Studies
- Johnson & Wales University
- Georgia State University
- University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, College of Nursing
- University of Kentucky
- University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Information Sciences and Technologies
- University of Kansas - Art Dept.
- College of DuPage
- Buena Vista University
- Bowling Green State University
- City College Norwich
- Northwest Vista College
- West Liberty State College
- Mercy College
- Squirrelverse
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Virtual world activity in UK education
Thanks to Virtual World Watch and the Eduserv Foundation who have released the latest snapshot of virtual world activity in UK Higher and Further Education. The report can be downloaded in PDF format here
Summary
This is the first snapshot survey where a significant number of respondents were supported by external, often research-based funding. The spread of funding sources is diverse, including national sources (JISC are mentioned by several respondents), European funding and non-academic sources. Of the other respondents, the majority had institutional support, e.g. from central funds, the department, or a Pro-Vice Chancellor’s fund; such funding is sometimes multi-departmental in nature.
Many respondents had either carried out some kind of teaching and learning activity, or were planning such events for the new academic year. These included collaborative learning and design, seminars, workshops, tutorials and induction courses. Several lecturers and supervisors were using Second Life to hold tutorials, or communicate with remote undergraduate or PhD students. A significant number of universities are carrying out research as to the effectiveness of using Second Life especially in teaching and learning.
Some, but not all, teaching and learning activities were assessed by the academics who carried them out, with no particular method of assessment being predominant. Positive benefits were mentioned by the majority, such as student skill acquisition, ease of communication and the ability to meet peers one would otherwise not meet. Problems such as the amount of work required to run in-world sessions were also reported.
As with previous snapshots, the two issues of obtaining funding for virtual world development, teaching and learning, and technical problems, predominated. Several respondents indicated a need for guides and tutorials, as well as a ready-to-use ‘kit’ of high quality, education-specific resources.
The general reaction of peers and academics to virtual worlds seems to have improved over time. More respondents reported largely positive, or a mixed, attitude locally and in the wider university sector. Some academics who were previously cautious or negative about the use of virtual worlds in education become more positive after using the technology, or seeing the benefits. Funding for research and virtual world projects has also had a positive effect on academic attitudes.
Looking ahead, most respondents who chose to answer thought that virtual worlds were more likely to be a ‘mainstream’ feature of UK education, rather than a ‘niche’ or ‘novelty’. However, several of these respondents felt this would be a gradual long-term development over several years.
Many respondents had used, or were considering examining, virtual worlds and online environments other than Second Life. A dozen such applications were cited. Of these three were mentioned by far the most: Google Lively, Wonderland and OpenSim. Lively was found to be disappointing in terms of education-relevant functionality, Wonderland had considerable communication potential, and OpenSim had attractive options for creating a closed virtual environment.
This theme, that Second Life is not the only option for teaching, learning and other educational activities in virtual environments, will be explored in future snapshots and activities of Virtual World Watch.
Summary
This is the first snapshot survey where a significant number of respondents were supported by external, often research-based funding. The spread of funding sources is diverse, including national sources (JISC are mentioned by several respondents), European funding and non-academic sources. Of the other respondents, the majority had institutional support, e.g. from central funds, the department, or a Pro-Vice Chancellor’s fund; such funding is sometimes multi-departmental in nature.
Many respondents had either carried out some kind of teaching and learning activity, or were planning such events for the new academic year. These included collaborative learning and design, seminars, workshops, tutorials and induction courses. Several lecturers and supervisors were using Second Life to hold tutorials, or communicate with remote undergraduate or PhD students. A significant number of universities are carrying out research as to the effectiveness of using Second Life especially in teaching and learning.
Some, but not all, teaching and learning activities were assessed by the academics who carried them out, with no particular method of assessment being predominant. Positive benefits were mentioned by the majority, such as student skill acquisition, ease of communication and the ability to meet peers one would otherwise not meet. Problems such as the amount of work required to run in-world sessions were also reported.
As with previous snapshots, the two issues of obtaining funding for virtual world development, teaching and learning, and technical problems, predominated. Several respondents indicated a need for guides and tutorials, as well as a ready-to-use ‘kit’ of high quality, education-specific resources.
The general reaction of peers and academics to virtual worlds seems to have improved over time. More respondents reported largely positive, or a mixed, attitude locally and in the wider university sector. Some academics who were previously cautious or negative about the use of virtual worlds in education become more positive after using the technology, or seeing the benefits. Funding for research and virtual world projects has also had a positive effect on academic attitudes.
Looking ahead, most respondents who chose to answer thought that virtual worlds were more likely to be a ‘mainstream’ feature of UK education, rather than a ‘niche’ or ‘novelty’. However, several of these respondents felt this would be a gradual long-term development over several years.
Many respondents had used, or were considering examining, virtual worlds and online environments other than Second Life. A dozen such applications were cited. Of these three were mentioned by far the most: Google Lively, Wonderland and OpenSim. Lively was found to be disappointing in terms of education-relevant functionality, Wonderland had considerable communication potential, and OpenSim had attractive options for creating a closed virtual environment.
This theme, that Second Life is not the only option for teaching, learning and other educational activities in virtual environments, will be explored in future snapshots and activities of Virtual World Watch.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
The Forbidden City
The Forbidden City: Beyond Space and Time is a partnership between the Palace Museum and IBM. The goal of the project is to provide the means for a world-wide audience to celebrate and explore aspects of Chinese culture and history. The Virtual Forbidden City is a 3-dimensional virtual world where visitors from around the world can experience the Forbidden City in Beijing.
Monday, October 06, 2008
Teaching tools for Second Life
We have compiled a collection of tools we have used for teaching in SL. Some are a bit technical, but all are pretty useful. You are welcome to download here.
Teacher guide
Teacher guide
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Second classroom
Second Classroom is a project to explore ways in which educators can create projects for students using immersive media such as Second Life, MMORPG and social networks to create authentic learning.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Linking virtual worlds
Quite an interesting development in connecting people with one single avatar to many virtual worlds.
Myrl is a cross-world entertainment platform, bringing virtual worlds and their users together on the web. We are building a layer on top of each virtual world, linking them up to create an integrated playground with endless possibilities and applications.
The first release of Myrl is focused on social virtual worlds and connects users from 19 worlds like Second Life, Lively, Entropia and There. Check out the complete map of the worlds supported here.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Student orientation to SL and University Life
We have almost completed an orientation for 400 freshman students joining our Department. Started 3 weeks before the new semester, with 16 SL workshops in our computer lab first, then the last 2 weeks fully in SL.
The program consisted of 7 individual learning activities: learning styles, multiple intelligences, active learning, academic honesty, classroom etiquette, citing references and room design. Plus 3 competitions - parachuting, through the hoops and fashion show, and 8 live sessions on learning challenges, plagiarism, library and open Q&A finishing with a dance night tomorrow after the fashion show.
For details of the program see: http://virtel.shtm.polyu.edu.hk/sotel/ and you are welcome to visit our campus island and have a go at some of the activities. We have been using a couple of chat bots to help with some of the activities and also employed some student helpers to assist and support students on a roster basis so someone was always around from 9am to 9pm every day. Our island is called HKPolyu campus at http://slurl.com/secondlife/HKPolyU%20Campus/123/153/26
The program consisted of 7 individual learning activities: learning styles, multiple intelligences, active learning, academic honesty, classroom etiquette, citing references and room design. Plus 3 competitions - parachuting, through the hoops and fashion show, and 8 live sessions on learning challenges, plagiarism, library and open Q&A finishing with a dance night tomorrow after the fashion show.
For details of the program see: http://virtel.shtm.polyu.edu.hk/sotel/ and you are welcome to visit our campus island and have a go at some of the activities. We have been using a couple of chat bots to help with some of the activities and also employed some student helpers to assist and support students on a roster basis so someone was always around from 9am to 9pm every day. Our island is called HKPolyu campus at http://slurl.com/secondlife/HKPolyU%20Campus/123/153/26
Monday, August 04, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Flying to the moon - Teleporting across virtual worlds
"Staff of Linden Labs, the creators of virtual world Second Life, and IBM announced last night that they have achieved the first recorded teleport of their avatars from one virtual world into another. Researchers from the two companies teleported avatars from the Second Life Preview Grid to an OpenSim virtual world." This could be the beginning of a real interaction between virtual worlds and make it possible for many of the millions of users/avatars to experience other virtual environments.
"While unaffiliated parties have created versions of this process before, Linden says theirs is the first effort to achieve trans-world teleportation without logging out of one world and logging in to the other. No virtual goods were transported across the barrier, a major concern for Second Lifers concerned with virtual property theft and rapid depreciation of their assets' value." (from Linden Labs reported in Read Write Web
"While unaffiliated parties have created versions of this process before, Linden says theirs is the first effort to achieve trans-world teleportation without logging out of one world and logging in to the other. No virtual goods were transported across the barrier, a major concern for Second Lifers concerned with virtual property theft and rapid depreciation of their assets' value." (from Linden Labs reported in Read Write Web
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Journal of Virtual Worlds Research
This looks to be a very useful source of research in VW:
The Journal of Virtual Worlds Research has just launched its first issue. "JVWR is an online, open access academic journal that adheres to the highest standards of peer review and engages established and emerging scholars from anywhere in the world. The Journal of Virtual Worlds Research is a transdisciplinary journal that engages a wide spectrum of scholarship and welcomes contributions from the many disciplines and approaches that intersect virtual worlds research."
Vol 1, No 1: Virtual Worlds Research: Past, Present and Future. This is the inaugural edition of the Journal of Virtual Worlds Research and is published by the Texas Digital Library with Jeremy Kemp editor.
Chapters that interest me include:
3rd Issue: Culture of Virtual Worlds
Well done Jeremy for getting this going
The Journal of Virtual Worlds Research has just launched its first issue. "JVWR is an online, open access academic journal that adheres to the highest standards of peer review and engages established and emerging scholars from anywhere in the world. The Journal of Virtual Worlds Research is a transdisciplinary journal that engages a wide spectrum of scholarship and welcomes contributions from the many disciplines and approaches that intersect virtual worlds research."
Vol 1, No 1: Virtual Worlds Research: Past, Present and Future. This is the inaugural edition of the Journal of Virtual Worlds Research and is published by the Texas Digital Library with Jeremy Kemp editor.
Chapters that interest me include:
- Toward a definition of virtual worlds
- Avatars Are For Real: Virtual Communities and Public Spheres
- A Typology of Virtual Worlds: Historical Overview and Future Directions
- Virtual communities - exchanging ideas through computer bulletin boards
- 3D3C Real Virtual Worlds Defined: The Immense Potential of Merging 3D, Community, Creation, and Commerce
- How Open Source Software Will Affect Virtual Worlds
3rd Issue: Culture of Virtual Worlds
Well done Jeremy for getting this going
Friday, May 16, 2008
Virtual Plants on Mobile Phones
This project is called the "green tamagotchi project". The idea is to take care of a plant on your mobile phone - change light, put water, some fertilizer, and see the growth of a virtual plant. After some days you'll get a beautiful plant with green leaves and flowers. You could then send it to your wife for her birthday...
See the story here: Virtual Worlds
See the story here: Virtual Worlds
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Monday, April 07, 2008
Private, Secure Sims & Open Source
MUVE Forward by Topher Zwiers: A New Hype Curve for SL: Private, Secure Sims & Open Source
An interesting post by 'Topher Zwiers' on MUVE Forward blog. He discusses the opening up of SL to commercial enterprizes for collaborative work. He says "this move by Linden Lab and IBM focuses on the collaboration potential of Second Life for global organizations: reducing travel costs, increasing communication, establishing deeper relationships within an organization, etc."
An interesting post by 'Topher Zwiers' on MUVE Forward blog. He discusses the opening up of SL to commercial enterprizes for collaborative work. He says "this move by Linden Lab and IBM focuses on the collaboration potential of Second Life for global organizations: reducing travel costs, increasing communication, establishing deeper relationships within an organization, etc."
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