The Disruptive Power of Second Life

How is Second Life a disruptive technology?
According to Dr. Thornburg (Laureate, 2009), disruptive technologies are those that may change the way things are done, but have the same abilities and functions of the old technology while functioning more efficiently and effectively. Second Life was launched in 2003 and it enables the users to interact in virtual worlds and socialize in real-time with user created avatars. Second Life is considered a disruptive technology because it surfaced rather quickly. It applies technology to create virtual worlds that have the can and possible will replace traditional computer games, and possibly change traditional face-to-face and distance learning.

What technology or innovation did it displace? Second Life enhanced the video gaming technology. It allowed the user to become more involved in the process or the game, and the effects of 3D made it more realistic.

How many years do you think Second Life has left before another emerging technology or disruptive technology replaces it?
In 2008, Linden Lab in cooperation with IBM pioneered an open virtual world grid. The avatars that the users created would be able to travel freely between Second Life and OpenSim virtual worlds. According to Livingstone, OpenSim offers institutions greater control over their virtual worlds and greater ability to make backups using virtual assets called XML-based archive formats.
What are the social benefits of Second Life, and what might be the social implications of virtual worlds in your industry?
Second Life gives companies the option to create virtual workplaces to allow employees to meet, hold events, practice corporate communications, collaboration, conduct training sessions in 3D immersive virtual learning environment, simulation of business process, and prototype new products (Wikipedia).

Reference
Laureate Education, Inc. (2009). Emerging and future technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.


Livingstone, D. (2011). Second Life is dead, long live Second Life? Retrieved from
http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Review/EDUCAUSEReviewMagazineVolume46/SecondLifeIsDeadLongLiveSecond/226180

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Second Life. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Life%23Education


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