similarities and differences of RL and SL exhibit possibilities

Second Life to Real Life Exhibit comments

      This is an important time to explore the kind of images and concepts people use to decide how to respect human rights, and what might lead to the choice to abuse them.

      Because of advances in technology, there is the chance for more people to share real life stories about human rights issues from around the world, and learn how their actions toward others may be influenced by their mental images and concepts.

      A museum exhibit offers a unique place to present this kind of information, as people from diverse backgrounds can interact in this setting.

Similarities and Differences in the Exhibit for Real Life and Second Life

1. Design of exhibit space

    The exhibit design from SL could be used for RL with the interactive table top computer and the three wall screens. The RL setting might offer a more open community center experience, and as human rights are essential for any endeavor, this exhibit can help integrate the different areas of the urban marketplace, such as equality, health, education, environment and economic development.

2. Technology

    The technology represented on SL is available in RL and can be substituted, for the SL artifacts, like a video camera instead of machinima, a surface top touch screen computer, and wall screens that display video images. With new technology continually being invented in these areas, the exhibit could try some of them out, such as the different shapes and display possibilities in “flexible” computers and more organic user interfaces.

3. Disability access

    In RL would need wheelchair space, and access to the interactive part of the exhibit in ways not necessary for SL, as physical disabilities can be assisted by the person’s SL Avatar. New types of interfaces for people who are blind could be explored in both SL and RL.

4 Avatars and Real pictures

     The use of Avatars by the general public is a recent form of interaction, and could be explored in the RL setting if people would prefer to design one for the picture they will work with in the exhibit, or use their real life picture that would be taken at the exhibit.

5.  Communal Image display

    The community pictures created on SL and RL could be transferred to each setting, so that images  from SL can be displayed on the RL wall screen and vice versa. This will gradually build an international community image that could be seen in San Jose, CA in RL and globally on SL Virtual Tech.

6. Take away experience

   Both exhibit experiences should offer the chance for people to learn more about human rights in our present global society, and to explore their own images and ideas about how individuals can create a community experience that respects the rights of all people.

   Besides the educational and personal experience, both settings could offer a copy of the community image created at the time the visitor was at the exhibit.  There could also be  gift items related to the exhibit in RL and SL.