What's SL?
Written on 6.3.08 by Six
Second Life (SL) is a virtual world, and everything in it is created by the residents (people just like you and me!). Unlike many online "games," there is no real goal in second life. You decide what you want to do there much like you would in real life. People build things and design clothes, explore, go to parties, start small businesses, become members of communities...and anything else you can imagine!
When approaching the seemingly limitless world of second life for the first time, it may be a difficult concept to grasp. Think of it as a country which happens to exist on the Internet: real people, real money, real businesses. That's right. People are making real money in SL. Just ask Anshe Chung, described in a 2005 article by CNN Money as a "Virtual Rockerfeller."
You really can do anything you want, and be anyone you want. Meet David, a blonde bombshell entrepreneur in this clip from CNBC.
This video from CNBC spotlights a case study by Linden Labs and IBM. You can read the executive summary on SL's business site, Second Life Grid.
Activity: Getting a handle on virtual money
This YouTube video shows a glimpse into some of the brands who are marketing to the residents of SL.
1. After reading the CNN Money article and watch the CNBC videos above on entrepreneurs and holding meetings and events in SL, answer the following questions with your group:
- What are some of the benefits of having a business presence in SL?
- How do you think the target audience differs from say, someone watching a commercial on TV?
- What are some ways, do you think, that you could make money in SL?
- What are some ways that a business could save money in SL?
2. Explore the SL official website. Then, spend some time exploring SL's business site, Second Life Grid (which has a Twitter feed and a blog you may want to follow).
3. Do some research of your own. Try browsing Google, YouTube and Wikipedia, skimming a few other articles to see what interests you. Choose one thing that you find particularly interesting and talk about it on your Twitter or Blogspot.
4. Get an account. Go to http://secondlife.com/ to create your account. Don't forget your user name and password! If you have a computer that meets the minimum system requirements, you can install it at home for free and begin orientation. I highly reccommend you do this! The more time you spend in SL on your own, the easier it will be to do the business proposal. Consider it "market research."
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