COMP 380-003,
Spring 2008
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT:
Virtual Worlds
- Second Life (SL) or Zwinky
Date
Due:
MON APR 21--paper
copy due start of regular class; electronic copy emailed
to pozefsky@cs.unc.edu and cisarano@emil.unc.edu by
6 pm
Read
through EVERYTHING before you start; you will have some choices to
make and lots of questions to think about as you explore your virtual
world.
Many
of you have heard of the virtual
community of Second Life (SL). Some of you may be very familiar
with
it: an almost endless
world of
neighborhoods, houses, shopping centers, playgrounds, landscapes, and
avatars
(the animated people or creatures representing SL
participants), all
created and built by its users. UNC Chapel Hill has islands
there. In SL, you can be anyone or
anything
you like, build yourself a better house, have a better job (or no job),
date,
spend money, fall in love, get married, even have children! You
are
free to
represent yourself exactly as you wish.
SL is
one of a number of virtual worlds that have been
created. It has received a lot of publicity for several
reasons: it
was designed for an adult community, it has been embraced by a number
of
companies and universities, and it is by far the most sophisticated of
the
virtual worlds. Because of all these design points, people have
used
SL for a number of real purposes: holding meetings,
teaching
classes, and earning money. Other systems (such as GaiaOnline,
Zwinky, and There)
have been designed for a younger population. This can be seen in
the
graphics, the environments provided, and the activities that are
provided. For example, game playing is a significant aspect of GaiaOnline or Zwinky, but is
not part of the basic SL environment.
This
assignment
therefore is designed to have you
investigate the issues of virtual worlds and avatars, using either
Second Life or
Zwinky. You rae not required to use both. You
will build an avatar, meet class members, chat with others (via a
chat bar where you type, much like IM), complete a series of tasks, and
reflect on and describe your
experience.
You should plan on spending at least an hour
exploring either SL or Zwinky!
We encourage
you
to try Second Life, which has
many advantages over Zwinky: the
avatars are far more appealing; the virtual environments are much more
sophisticated, with many more places to visit; and you are far more
likely to meet others from around the world who are in your age group,
hopefully providing better interaction and a richer experience all
around.
Unfortunately,
with the sophistication of SL
comes software complexity, and in the past some students have
had problems with
installing and running Second Life
on their machines. If you run into problems installing or running the
SL software on your own computer, another option is to use one of the
computers at the Davis Library computer lab, or at the HSL, SASB, or
SPH computer labs,
where the software is already installed. (Computer lab hours) Just find
the SecondLife icon on the
desktop and
launch it. (Be aware that during busy SL times, the software can
sometimes crash on occasion even at the campus labs.)
If you prefer,
you may
instead choose to use the simpler Zwinky
environment. While Zwinky is much
quicker/simpler to install and to use, you will find the avatars look a
little like paper dolls, and the virtual environments do not have
nearly the visual appeal or richness of SL. In addition, its
activities are created for younger teens--age 13 through 19. On
the other hand, it requires that you download a lot less software.
Zwinky is only an option for Windows users (not Mac or Linux) and
requires that you use Internet Explorer as your browser.
JOIN SECOND LIFE (SL):
CREATE
YOUR ACCOUNT, CREATE YOUR AVATAR,
CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD: You must do steps 1-2, 4-5 even if you are
using the Second Life software in the computer labs.
- Visit: http://sl.nmc.org/create.php
- Follow the instructions on that page to create your avatar's name.
Select a first name that is unusual so it isn't taken yet (e.g., sound
out your real-name initials: if your name is Katie G. Black, your
first SL name could be KayGeeBee).
Once you've created an SL name that is accepted, WRITE IT DOWN.
- YOU MAY DESELECT the "I
wish
to join
the NMC Community in Second Life" button.
- After you've completed all the boxes, click on the Create My Account button.
- You should receive an email confirmation with a very long
password. Copy the
password, then go ahead and download (save!)
and install the SecondLife software on your
computer. Be sure you remember where you are
SAVING the executable file so you can open it to install the
program OK, moving on....
- Next, visit: http://secondlife.com
and log in to your account (Resident Login link,
upper right) with your new SL name and paste in that long password from
the email message.
- Now, CHANGE that long password to something you'll
remember. Look under the right-hand pane under Your Account, and
click on Password.
If
you have problems with this method, registrar through the standard
Second Life site and simply follow those instructions.
LAUNCH
SECOND LIFE AND CHANGE YOUR AVATAR:
- OK, you can now launch the Second Life program-- there
should be a
pale
green icon on your desktop.
- Sign in, using your SL name and new password. Then
click CONNECT.
- You'll see a very plain avatar that you can change by
right-clicking on it and selecting Appearance.
- Personalize your
avatar. To
do so, right-click on your avatar and select "Appearance." Think about it. Does your avatar look
like you or not? Why did you make the choices you made?
CONSIDER THE
FOLLOWING: The
freedom that virtual worlds provide raises a
number of difficult questions. What
happens when people are free to enact desires that wouldn't be
possible in "real" life? What is the nature of identity and
relationship in virtual worlds? What are its dangers and joys? What
role does
anonymity play? What is the relationship between your real life
and your avatar life?
TAKE NOTES AS YOU DO THE FOLLOWING:
- Spend some time moving around
in SL. The arrow keys direct
your walking. Type F to fly, C to land
gently. Move the mouse to shift your gaze. (HINT:
to
see your avatar's face, Hold down the ALT key while you press the arrow
keys.)
- Open the Map function and
perform a
search for and visit the following locations: Orientation Island
Public, Help Island Public, UNC-CH. Click
Teleport to visit those
locations. Orientation Island
Public is a great place to start learning about the many
functions of
Second Life: a guided tour leads you through descriptions of many
of
its features. There are guides on Orientation and Help Islands
who are happy to answer your questions.
- Visit at least three locations besides Orientation, Help, and UNC-CH
islands. You can get recommendations on the Second Life Web site or by
typing random search terms into the map's search box, or by simply
flying around. Some interesting places include Free
Dove, Image Reflection, Money Island, and Fisherman Cove. To
look for PLACES
TO VISIT: Click the Search
button, then click the Places
tab. E.g., type UNC
in the search box and see what you
find. Select a place from the list, then click the Teleport
button. Try out different search categories. Explore!
- Strike up conversations (or
respond
to) with at least two other SL inhabitants (excluding COMP 380
people). Ask questions!
- Change
your appearance in a significant way and
explore/strike up additional conversations.
You might make yourself more and then less conventionally
"attractive,"
change your sex or skin color, or try to be less or more
"human"-looking.
- Look at the SL End User License Agreement http://secondlife.com/corporate/cs.php
and other information that SL provides about privacy. Think
about why the EULA is written this way. This is as close to a
virtual world code of ethics as SL has. What do you think of these
standards? You may also find the incident
reports informative: http://secondlife.com/support/incidentreport.php
- Plan to
spend at least an hour exploring different locations and meeting other
avatars BEFORE you come to a session of virtual office hours, and be
prepared to discuss some of the questions and tasks listed in red in this assignment.
- OK, see the VIRTUAL
OFFICE HOURS section, below, and JOIN US for at least ONE SESSION
(required).
To
find out when SL is offline (taken down for maintenance, for
example),
visit http://secondlife.com/status/
Remember
to refresh your browser window.
JOIN ZWINKY:
Even if
you are successful at Second Life, we encourage you to join
Zwinky anyway and do a little
exploring, for fun and for comparison with SL.
CREATE
YOUR ACCOUNT, CREATE YOUR AVATAR
- You must use Internet
Explorer, not Firefox. We strongly recommend you download
the LATEST version of IE before you do anything, and then reboot your
machine**.
- Visit: http://home.zwinky.com/zwinkyhome/main.jhtml
- Follow the Need to
Register link and follow instructions on that page to create
your account and avatar name.
- Close the info window and click on Let's Go! It will ask you to
download some software. You will need to accept the installation
of an ActiveX control. This is a very small piece of software and
among other things will create a toolbar for you, which will give you
quick access back to the site. When it's done, click the Finish button and you'll come to a
page with a number of options. Click on Register now!
- Next, follow the
steps to build an avatar.
- When you save the
outfit, it will take you to a registration page. Select a name
that is unusual so it isn't taken yet. Note that if you enter a
name that is taken and need to try another, the error message will not
clear until you go to the next field. After you've completed all
the boxes, click on the Join Now!
button.
- You should receive an email confirmation with a link to
complete your registration. Receiving this email will take a few
minutes; I recommend that you do something else while waiting.
Once you have completed that task, your account is complete.
- Whenever you want to log
into Zwinky, visit http://home.zwinky.com/zwinkyhome/main.jhtml
and simply log in, then click on the green Go Now!
- When you are ready to enter Zwinktopia, you will need to
choose a server. Because you will want to interact with other
people, I suggest you choose the one with the most people on it.
(To
meet someone in Zwinktopia, you need to be on the same server.
For class meetings, we will use the Entrepreneur
server.)
- You may not see your avatar (often it's hiding behind
another avatar). Just click your mouse somewhere and he/she will
find that spot.
**IF
YOU HAVE TROUBLE using Zwinky: You may need to change some
of your Internet Explorer settings:
- Go to Tools, and
select Internet Options.
- Click the Advanced tab,
and scroll down to Security settings. Check the boxes marked Allow active content to run files on My
Computer, and Disable
Phishing Filter.
SOME INTERESTING POINTS ABOUT ZWINKY:
- In order to change your avatar, you simply create (then
Save) a new outfit.
- You begin with a small amount of money and can earn more
money simply by visiting Zwinktopia and by playing games. You
will find a separate section of games and you will also find them
throughout Zwinktopia. Give a few a try. It's one way to
earn Zwinky money.
CONSIDER THE
FOLLOWING: The
freedom that virtual worlds provide raises a
number of difficult questions. What
happens when people are free to enact desires that wouldn't be
possible in "real" life? What is the nature of identity and
relationship in virtual worlds? What are its dangers and joys? What
role does
anonymity play? What is the relationship between your real life
and your avatar life?
TAKE NOTES AS YOU DO THE FOLLOWING:
- Personalize your avatar. Think about it. Does your avatar
look like you or not? Why did you make the choices you made?
- Go to Zwinktopia and move around. Simply click on
the world (Map) icon to go to another area of Zwinktopia.
To move
your avatar, simply click on the place or spot you want it to go or
move to. Notice that some of the items in your environment are
clickable, and will open a game.
- Visit at least three different locations in Zwinktopia,
and try some of the activities. Spend some time moving around.
- Strike up conversations (or
respond
to) with at least two other Zwinky inhabitants (excluding COMP
380 people using the chat feature).
Ask questions!
- Change
your appearance in a significant way and
explore/strike up additional conversations.
You might make yourself more and then less conventionally
"attractive,"
change your sex, or try to be less or more
"human"-looking.
- Look at the End User License Agreement (EULA) and other
information that Zwinky provides about privacy. Think about why
the EULA is written this way. This is as close to a virtual world
code of ethics that Zwinky has. Compare this to the code of
ethics for SL: http://secondlife.com/corporate/cs.php
What do you think of
these standards? (You may also find the SL incident
reports informative: http://secondlife.com/support/incidentreport.php
- Time
to learn more about SECOND LIFE and some of the issues that have arisen
there. Specifically, learn about the Second Life
economy at http://secondlife.com/whatis/marketplace.php
What are the implications of a
virtual economy?
- Plan to spend at
least an hour exploring different locations and meeting other avatars
BEFORE you come to a session of virtual office hours, and be prepared
to discuss some of the questions and tasks listed in red in this assignment.
- OK, see the VIRTUAL
OFFICE HOURS section, below, and JOIN US for at least ONE SESSION
(required).
VIRTUAL WORLD OFFICE HOURS (more hours will be POSTED soon--I'll indicate
here when the list is complete)
You are required
to select at least one of
the meeting times listed below and come and join other class members in
the discussion. You must come AT
START TIME to
the office hour session you've chosen--if you choose a 3:30 session,
for example, you must arrive at 3:30 to be marked present--and you
should plan to
stay and take part in the discussion for between 10 and 30
minutes.
You do not need to reveal your real life identity during these
sessions, but you must include your screen name in your paper.
IN SECOND LIFE--MEET AT ONE OF
THE FOLLOWING START TIMES AT THE OLD WELL ON THE UNC ISLAND:
DATE:
|
START
TIMES:
|
TH, Apr 10
|
8:00 pm (Pozefsky) |
SU, Apr 13
|
3:00 pm and 3:30 pm
(Pozefsky)
|
M, Apr 14
|
2:00 pm and 2:30 pm
(Aman)
|
TU, Apr 15
|
7:30 pm and
8:00 pm (Walsh)
|
W, Apr 16
|
11:30 am and 12:00 pm
(Aman)
2:00 pm and 2:30 pm (Tessa)
3:00 pm and
3:30 pm (Walsh)
|
TH, Apr 17 |
4:30 pm, 5:00 pm and 5:30
pm
(Walsh)
8:00 pm and 8:30 pm
(Pozefsky) |
F, Apr 18
|
2:00 pm (Walsh)
4:00 pm and 4:30 pm (Russ)
|
S, Apr 19
|
10:00 am, 10:30 am and
11:00 am (Jason)
4:00 pm, 4:30 pm and 5:00 m (Jason)
|
If you're having trouble getting to the
Old Well, visit:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UNC%20CH/128/128/0
IN ZWINKTOPIA--LOG IN
to the
Entrepreneur Server, and MEET AT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING START TIMES AT
THE JAVA JOLT:
DATE:
|
START
TIME:
|
TH, Apr 10 |
8:30 pm (Pozefsky) |
SU, Apr 13
|
4:00 and 4:30 pm
(Pozefsky)
|
M, Apr 14 |
2:00 pm (Tessa) |
F, Apr 18
|
2:30 pm (Walsh)
|
OUR SCREEN NAMES
IN EITHER VIRTUAL WORLD:
Aman Nadhiri:
Amani Zhora
Tessa Joseph Nicholls: TeeJay Nicholls
J.
Walsh:
Uwharra Paine
D. Pozefsky:
Honest Oceanlane (Second Life),
dianedivine (Zwinktopia)
Russ Gayle:
Echo Hyde
Jason Cisanaro:
Jason Sammet
Note in Zwinktopia, screen
names are shown as ONE word and lower case.
FINALLY,
WRITE YOUR PAPER:
Include
at least three or four
of the questions
posed within this assignment as you develop a
well-integrated 3-4 page
essay. Be as detailed as possible about your experiences. A
successful
essay
will be well-developed, well-organized and coherent, free of mechanical
and
grammatical errors, and show evidence of a thoughtful, analytical
engagement
with your virtual world experience. Please see the rubric
for a more
detailed
description of a successful essay. Remember to include which
world you visited and your avatar's SCREEN NAME!
GRADING RUBRIC
9 April 2008