Am I supposed to make real exhibits or virtual exhibits?

The goal is to create the best REAL exhibits possible for The Tech.  To get there, we encourage you to use Second Life to prototype your exhibits in the virtual space, much as you would design an exhibit in Autocad or any other 3D visualization tool.

What if my exhibit works better in Second Life than it does in real life?

If you please, you can make exhibits that are Second Life-specific, and we will display them in the virtual Tech in Second Life.  However, unless they have a real life analog, they will not be considered viable for contests to have them realized at The Tech as real exhibits.

How closely does my Second Life prototype have to reflect my real life concept?

Your Second Life prototype must convey the core "big idea" of the exhibit, so that a museum exhibit fabricator could look at it and say, "Ah, I see what it's supposed to do."  You are not expected to use real world physics and or entirely physical hands-on interactions.  However, the Second Life prototype must convey the basic concept of the exhibit, the basic strategy for interactivity, and the glimmer of coolness.  In other words, it's fine to have a real exhibit "inspired by" a Second Life exhibit rather than 100% designed in the virtual environment.

What if I don't want to make a prototype in Second Life?

It's important to have some representation of your project in Second Life, so that it can be viewed and discussed by others in a 3D environment.  However, if you do not have the skills or desire to enter Second Life, you have two options:

1. Post a request for Second Life building/scripting support in your project description, so that browsing Second Life experts can help you.
   
2. Send an email to info@thetechvirtual.org with your request and we will create your Second Life presence for you with sketches, images, etc. supplied by you.
3. Take a leap of faith and use the How to Get Started in Second Life tutorial to try it out!