Virtual Worlds
Jessica Kuhn
Laura Lacher
Zach Riggins
Andrew Rooks
History
Sensorama machine in 1962
– Used senses to create world
Virtual reality simulators
Gaming world
– Spacewar 1962; 1st multi-player game on
PDP-1
– Maze 1974
– MUD 1978
Habitat developed in 1987
– LucasFilm Games
– Ran on Quantum Link service
More History
First virtual worlds on Internet
– Chat rooms
Cybertown
– First prototype in 1993
– Launched 1995
Everquest 1999-1st massive multi-player online
video game, created by Sony
Whyville 1999-Designed specifically for education
Sims on-line 2002
World of Warcraft 2004
Purpose
Move user (avatar) through sight
– 2D or 3D
– In a world that is not financially possible
or safest to be
– Can communicate between avatars
Some worlds have sense of smell and
touch
General Uses
Entertainment
– Video games, Webkins (www.webkinz.com)
Social
– Meet new people while playing
– www.fantage.com; www.secondlife.com
Medical
– Dentist offices for relaxation
Business
– Have virtual meeting (www.gotomeeting.com)
General Uses Cont.
Home Life
– Chores (www.handipoints.com)
Military
– Helps with tactical skills
– Flight simulators for pilots
Education
– Makes learning more enjoyable and less
monotonous
Student Applications
Able to access lessons, from home,
that are taught by the teacher
World where student can interact and
decide where game/story is going
– Each will react and decide differently
– Math, music, and reading worlds
– http://toonstunes.com
Student Applications
Gives financially lower-level schools
same advantage as others
– Lets students use equipment school
cannot afford
Allows students to do hands-on work
– Science labs (Biology, Chemistry)
Teacher Applications
Allows more in depth access to other
cultures to help teachers plan lessons
for multi-cultural students
World adapts and grows to different
user needs
Challenges students to think
individually and progress on own level
Teacher Applications
http://www.rezed.org
– Guide for new users
– Overview for virtual worlds
http://www.moodle.org
– Virtual learning environment
– Online courses
Questions