Second Life is an internet-based programme that was launched in 2003 by Linden Research, Inc, that came to the world's attention in late 2006/early 2007. The participants, "Residents", basically build another life, but online. They can interact with other "Residents" through motional avatars, which forms an advanced form of social networking. The clients can socialized, take part in group activities, trade virtual items: everything you do in life, just on the internet, and therefore more fun.
However, Second Life does not stay in its virtual reality. The currency, named the Linden Dollar, is tradable for real world currency through a marketplace consisting of clients and the "Linden Lab". It makes me wonder what these clients are being sucked into, personally, both mentally and financially.
The whole idea behind Second Life is based on a novel by Neal Stephenson called Snow Crash. The Linden Lab even stated that the goal behind their corporation is to create a world just like the metaverse described by Stephenson. However, this is not to be taken lightly, as this is not a game scenario, there are no characters to play and goals to reach before the finish; this is an ongoing development of a new world, and the name "Second Life" is a very appropriate one.
This is, however, not the only virtual world scenario to have been created, or to have been successful. Others include There, Active Worlds, IMVU and, for the more adult amongst us, the Red Light Center. Second Life itself has over 20 million registered accounts.
I myself was invited to join the site entitled IMVU earlier on today. I explored the options, interested to see what in fact is the attraction of these sites, and found something that, as much as I hate to admit it, actually proved quite endearing. The first step to joining up was to create your 3D avatar. This itself would seem a big attraction, as there were no overweight or greasy-haired choices here. You could create a whole new you. It went on to show choices of residence, you could choose your friends etc. However, I did not take it further than that, not wanting to commit myself to something that, quite frankly, I found a very dodgey idea.
