Hello all,
Here is a clip one of my student groups at the University of Hong Kong made in the virtual world of Second Life to illustrate their views on the issue of sustainable urban waste management:
Note: they edited the raw video footage using Camtasia video editing software.
What do you think? Is this virtual world technology useful for illustrating the issue? Compare it to the process of creating a similar video using real life people, garbage, fish, etc!
If you want to try experiencing the virtual world of Second Life, you can start by clicking this link to select an avatar, fill out the short form with your email, and select free SL account, and then download the free SL viewer software.
After you have created your account and downloaded the software, you can then click this link to bring up a map on a browser and click the orange button "Visit this location", then switch back to Second Life and click "Teleport" to transport to the simulation of Venice I have constructed on HKU Education Island and Lingnan Drama Island in SL. That location is on the famous "Ponte de Rialto" bridge, and near the Duke's Palace.......I'm also building a replica of the Salute church, which is closer to this location. I'm 3 months into it and I'm still not finished, but hey, the real one took over 50 years! ;)
You can also try the research project I'm working on to explore the gamification of education, by playing a game I set up near the Salute church called "Pirate Ship Battle". Can you fire the 52 cannons on the big moving pirate ship to sink all 6 of the little ships within 60 seconds, and unlock the next level? The game is designed to require users to learn camera controls, and to collaborate on a group strategy with teammates!
If you get SL working, let me know how well it worked for you, and what you think of this technology!
Brant
