Virtual Worlds and ApplicationsTyler Burk & Audrey Byrnes

What is a Virtual World?➔ Computer-based online community environment

shared by individual users◆ Custom-built simulated “world”

➔ Users can interact with one another using text-based chat, or 2D/3D models called “Avatars”◆ Avatars are created through use of CGI◆ Each avatar is personalized by the user

[Avatar] Mark Wein Guitar Lessons. com. Retrieved on 11/19/14 from http://markweinguitarlessons.com/forums/threads/i-need-a-new-avatar.61149/

What is an Avatar?➔ Avatars can be used to interact with other users

in the virtual world and to create/design objects➔ Each avatar is a visual representation of the user

(a “virtual ego”)◆ Avatars can take on any shape or form the

user chooses◆ Men can be women, women can be men, or

avatars can even be animals

Why use a Virtual World?➔ The main reason people use virtual worlds is to experience something outside of

their own reality or life (different lifestyle, job, gender, or even species)➔ Users can engage in social interactions with other real people in new and exciting

ways ◆ They can communicate via text, sound, or even visual gestures

[Avatar] Secondlife.com. Retrieved on 11/18/14 from http://secondlife.com/whatis/avatar/

Different Virtual Worlds➔ Second Life (most popular)

◆ Free virtual world where users can explore the world map and interact with different users/avatars

➔ The Sims➔ Active Worlds➔ Kaneva➔ IMVU

[Second lIfe Video] Youtube.com Retrieved on 11/14/14 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O62GHcIVKS4

Other Uses for Virtual Worlds➔ They can be used for gaming, which

is the most popular approach to virtual worlds

➔ They can also be used as a “virtual classroom,” in which students can learn by interacting with the instructor and other students in a different way than a normal classroom setting

➔ They can also be used for workplace training, team-building exercises, networking, or hypothetical scenarios

[Education in Second Life]. Youtube.com. Retrieved on 11/14/14 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R1SrZua5ww

Virtual Applications➔ An application that

has been optimized to run on a virtual infrastructure

➔ Application software◆ combined inside a virtual

machine● maximizes

performance● minimizes software

performance

[peter potamus] houstonspotters.net. Retrieved on 11/14/14 from http://www.houstonspotters.net/smf/index.php?topic=6943.0

Most Common Use for Virtual Applications

➔ Virtual Application Networks◆ uses virtual applications in a way that

managers can program network attributes◆ users can create templates◆ template goes directly to Application manager

software● applications are cloud ready● creates faster application use

HP Virtual Application Networks

[Daniel Montesanto, HP Networking Discusses Virtual Application Networks at Interop]. Youtube.com. Retrieved on 11/14/14 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btregLVOkNQ

Class Activity➔ Choose a world that

you would like to explore or learn◆ examples

● twinity.com● inworldz.com● secondlife.com● sociotown.com● gaiaonline.com● imvu.com

[Virtual worlds] Personalizemedia.com. Retrieved 11/14/14 from http://www.personalizemedia.com/2008-metaverse-tour-video-the-social-virtual-worlds-a-stage/

Discussion Questions➔ Would you enter a virtual world and what uses

would you find most valuable?

➔ What do you think would be the advantages or disadvantages of virtual worlds?

➔ How do you think you would utilize virtual applications in your future/current career?

Questions?

[Question Question Mark Request]. Pixabay.com. Retrieved on 11/19/14 from http://pixabay.com/en/photos/?q=frage%20OR%20fragezeichen

References➔ HP Enterprise Business. “HP Virtual Application Networks.” Online Video Clip.

YouTube. YouTube. 15 Jan. 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2014

➔ Janssen, Cory. Virtual World. Techopedia. n.d., n.p. Web. 25 Oct. 2014

➔ “Second Life” vrs.org. Virtual Reality. 2009, n.p. Web. 25 Oct. 2014

➔ “Virtual Application.” Wikipedia.org. 30 June 2014, n.p. Web. 25 Oct. 2014

➔ “What are Virtual Worlds?” vrs.org. Virtual Reality. 2009, n.p. Web. 25 Oct. 2014

Thank You

[Thank You Gratitude Appreciation] Pixabay.com. Retrieved on 11/19/14 from http://pixabay.com/en/photos/?q=thank+you&image_type=&cat=&order=best