For Immediate Release: VWBPE 2023 Conference UNCOMMON REALITIES 23 - 25 March 2023 in Second Life®

 

The 16th annual Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference (#vwbpe23), beginning on Thursday, March 23rd, will be an online distributed conference happening in multiple virtual spaces. This conference focuses on the use of immersive virtual environments for educational purposes including virtual and augmented reality. VWBPE provides educational and networking opportunities that are relevant to educational curriculum development utilizing virtual environments and “best practices”. These include - helping to build community through the extension of learning best practices to the practical application of those ideas and techniques; - providing networking opportunities for educators and the communities that help support education; and - providing access to current innovations, trends, ideas, case studies, and other best practices for educators and the communities that help support education. Primarily, the issue being faced by the educational community is how to make the best use of new immersive technologies in a way that is sustainable and accessible based on limited budgets available to both instructors and students. Platforms that are free or open source, or that can be shared across a broad audience are showcased including methods and research around best practices in their use and applicability. VWBPE will again be using Linden Lab’s Second Life® environment as our primary conference venue for presentations, exhibits, roundtables, and discussions. Participants are free to submit proposals and immersive experience tours in any environment for education using technologies for virtual or augmented reality. We actively encourage showcasing multiple technology platforms. This includes practical application, researched papers, and conceptual, and content creation supporting those technologies. Our theme for this year is Uncommon Realities and the exploration of areas outside of our expertise that may be potentially opposed to our current outlook or worldview. As educators, we are having to adjust to more than just a transition from in-person to online methodologies. We are facing urgent challenges in the areas of remote classroom management, outdated policies or policies not designed to be applied to online environments, child psychology and welfare in online environments, health and safety considerations, and personal privacy, among others. This means embracing the ability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances and innovative technologies to their best effect. Additionally, this open and free conference would not be possible without the generous contributions of our VWBPE sponsors. https://www.vwbpe.org/our-sponsors/vwbpe-2023-sponsors. The Rockcliffe Registration Portal is open for people to register new Second Life® avatars and find out more about the VWBPE conference in-world. Go to http://urockcliffe.org/reg/second-life/. The instructions are there to get you and your friends started at this educator-friendly newcomers’ region in Second Life®.

** WEB PAGES ** Conference Information: http://vwbpe.org Registration: http://vwb.pe/register Sponsors: https://www.vwbpe.org/our-sponsors/vwbpe-2023-sponsors Rockcliffe Gateway to Second Life®: http://urockcliffe.com/reg/second-life/

** SOCIAL MEDIA ** Second Life® Group secondlife:///app/group/8b03480a-793d-ba5b-5b6b-dd10afb5d38e/about Discord Channel https://discord.gg/Xjp5nn9D Facebook http://www.facebook.com/vwbpe Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/vwbpe_org/ LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/groups/3754644/ Twitter http://twitter.com/vwbpe YouTube http://www.youtube.com/VWBPE ** MAJOR SPONSORS ** Linden Lab https://www.lindenlab.com/ Rockcliffe University Consortium https://urockcliffe.com/ Hire a Helper https://www.hireahelper.com/ Porch https://porch.com/ VSTE Virtual Environments PLN https://vste.org/ Virtual Ability https://virtualability.org/ Ageless Mind Project https://www.agelessmindproject.org/ Journal of Virtual Studies https://jovs.urockcliffe.press/ Agile Dimensions https://www.agiledimensions.com/blog/ ** CONTACT ** Beth Ghostraven VWBPE Communications Chair marketing@vwbpe.com

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Art in Virtual Worlds Metaphor Reflections Exhibit 2016

The Community Virtual Library in Second Life presents an exhibit of art work in virtual worlds during the fall of 2016.

Overview and Schedule

Grand Opening of Exhibit

Monday Sept. 12th 5-7pm SLT

Participating artists will share about art in virtual worlds at the grand opening.

SLurl:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bradley%20University/31/182/24

Live Tour of Exhibit

Saturday Oct. 8^th 9-10am SLT

Wearable Art Celebration Party

Wednesday Oct. 12th 6pm SLT

Wear something artistic and join us for a celebration of virtual world art.  Network with other artists, educators, librarians, and friends to connect and share art with virtual world communities.

SLurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bradley%20University/95/44/24

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Flipboard: The Value of Virtual Worlds- David Chalmers

If I build a business in Second Life, is that less meaningful than building a business in the non-virtual world? If I fall in love in virtual reality, is the relationship less significant?...Read more

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Community Virtual Library Celebrates "Summer in the Park"

When: Tuesday, August 2, 2016

6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, US/Pacific

Come celebrate our Summer 2016 Exhibit Grand Finale "Libraries and Librarians in Virtual Worlds" alongside friends, colleagues, librarians, and educators in an immersive learning environment.

Where:  SLurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bradley%20University/95/44/24

 

The Community Virtual Library is open to anyone interested in the future of libraries in 3D immersive spaces.  Librarians from around the globe have been networking and exploring the potential for virtual worlds for a decade at CVL. Our goal is to feature exceptional work in virtual worlds to share at CVL and we are hoping to form collaborative relationships with other virtual world groups.

 

http://www.infoisland.org/news/summerintheparkdancecelebration

All are welcome!

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Community Virtual Library Summer Exhibit 2016

Libraries and Librarians in Virtual Worlds

Grand Finale and TOUR

Date:  Sat. July 30th  9amSLT

Tour the exhibit, meet presenters and colleagues to build your PLN and promote your work in virtual worlds.  All are welcome to attend.  

SLurl:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bradley%20University/31/182/24

http://www.infoisland.org/news/summer2016grandfinaleexhibittour

Valibrarian

Valerie Hill, PhD
President, Community Virtual LIbrary

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Facebook with Privacy: Avatar Social Network is Your Answer

Facebook, https://facebook.com the online phenomenon born in 2004, became part of everyday life in a very short time. Everyone has, or had, a Facebook account at one point. With it's over a billion members, it is a social media icon in online connection. Create a profile with your name, schooling, job history. Find friends, family, share photos, post stuff, and keep in touch with folks. Play games, make new friends in communities of interest, and participate in group activities.

As the internet spreads, it is a free-for-all place to find information—an all-you-can-eat buffet for those that wish to find you, thanks to Facebook, and other social media services, that connect to real life identities. Being found can be good, or, perhaps not good. So, what if you don't want your real life to be exposed, yet still make friends and stay connected in the virtual world?

Among the many platforms (such as Second Life, Inworldz, LittleField Grid, and all the so called Opensim and Hypergrid worlds, or even MMO games like World of Warcraft, EVE_Online, Aion, Rift, etc.), creating an avatar as an alter-ego can allow a full life in a virtual space, without exposing any real life information.

 For many, this alter-ego can feel more you than you! A virtual life can be as rich, or maybe even richer, than a real one. How can you stay in touch with this robust social life via social media? 

There is a great demand to extend the social network outside the confines of specific platforms, as the international community grows. Yet, there is a problem. Facebook and most social media websites require real information if you want their services. If you would use your fictional made-up name, you violate their Terms of Service Agreement. Facebook may delete your account if you do not use your real name and information.

What can all the (estimated in the millions) of virtual world residents and MMO game players do? Where can you go to fulfill the potential of your network? Every platform registry asks for real information nowadays. Collecting information is the norm, even demanded, before service commences. Privacy is hardly an option anymore.

But there is a strong and innovative alternative— a social media website that welcomes every member with any kind of name, look, made up information, fantasy, multiple accounts, several avatars or game characters: Avatar Social Network https://www.avatarsocialnetwork.com. 

As so many internet sites ask for more and more personal details about users, many users wish to enjoy some privacy and to find escape from real life for a spell. Avatar Social Network allows you to enjoy your alternate world. As a member, you can be whomever or whatever you wish to be, privately.

Born in Arkad Baxton's mind sometime in 2008, this unique platform became public in 2013 when the growth of multiple virtual worlds took off. He saw there was enough people that needed a private space for virtual alter egos. So he created Avatar Social Network to be the social media website for avatars and gamers.

Facebook makes regular sweeps that deactivates hundreds, or even thousands, of accounts that didn't provide real information or were additional to a real account. Plus Facebook has many other restrictions on growth, sharing, or ways to participate that are not conducive to the virtual lifestyle. Avatar Social Network was developed by learning from the best loved social media features, and expanding upon them. With considerable advantages, more and more members are migrating to this fast-growing website: self-proclaimed even as "Facebook Refugees." 

Once arriving at a world designed more to the needs of the virtual culture, you discover how the site integrates all the media that enhance the virtual experience: links, videos, photos, blogs, list special features here that you are most proud of into the social nucleus that best reaches your community. 

It becomes the center of your immerse experience.  Arkad welcomes new members by saying "Enjoy the freedom this website provides you, as it will not sniff into your real life or limit your fantasy alter ego. Be a man, woman, pink pony, werewolf, vampire, or hairy little bugger, and connect with virtual friends all over the world."

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Avatar Social Network has been Nominated to AviChoice Awards 2015

Avatar Social Network (ASN) was launched to the public in 2013 and ever since it has grown to be the #1 social media website for avatars (ranked by Google), virtual world and MMO gamers, with the richest features, over 400,000 photos and various content is offered to thousands of members and the entire Internet community.

With Facebook enforcing strict rules about real life names, IDs and accounts and Google Plus  plan to be shut down, residents of virtual worlds and players need a website to go to, to keep in touch with their friends outside of their preferred platform and games without jeopardizing their privacy and ASN has been offering just that.

Avatarsocialnetwork.com 's popularity has grown fast and while Avatar Social Network isn't for Second Life residents only, this year it was nominated for an AviChoice Awards http://avichoiceawards.com as best social media website!

 Voting has started and can be placed on many different categories, great places and services related to Second Life. Make sure you visit the website and vote for your favorites.

If you are not an ASN member yet, check it out here:  https://www.avatarsocialnetwork.com and if you, as thousands of members like it too, please place your vote on it.

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An Update Report on Second Life 2.0: Anything new happening with that?-Ceciliarosalie Reporting...

Recently I went back in time visiting SL’s historical locations in Second Life and marveled at our past. This time I researched what the future of Second Life might be with Second Life 2.0 on the minds of residents who wonder what will become of our current virtual world.

Early in 2014 we heard the first rumors about a “new second life” that LL was working on, since then residents started talking more about this new project. I have to admit that my overall impression was that most residents have mixed feelings about this undertaking.

 The dates are set with beta starting late this summer and the final release in 2016. My personal opinion is that this new platform will resemble the already existing open sim ones. We have no information on avatar’s architecture but if you ask me, I don’t think it will be much different from current SL’s starter avatar.

I think LL’s personal goal is to bring back those who have tried SL before and they didn’t stay. The next generation platform, and not SL 2.0, as they prefer to call it will first be revealed to alpha users who know maya and later more and more people will be invited as it will become easier to use.

This new platform is supposed to offer greater possibilities to builders and creators and it will also support tools like blender and more. It will  be mobile compatible from the beginning and more powerful which literally means less lag and the ability to host events for thousands.

According to official claims, the next generation platform is not an ancestor of our virtual world and will not be exactly one, but there will be the ability to build  within the new environment and additionally it will be targeted at age 13+.

FAQ about SL 2.0

Will SL close down?

Definitely not. Linden Labs will continue to improve and support second life even when the new platform is out. The two projects will run in parallel and users should be able to go back and forth.

What about the compatibility with Secondlife contents?

Complete backward compatibility is not LL’s absolute outset, but certain things, such as our identities, friends list, several objects (most likely mesh) and our balances will be transportable. Keep in mind that transportation will be possible from the “old world” to the “new” one and not backwards.

In conclusion, it is obvious that we won’t need a migration plan in the near future, in fact, It could be years before we take the next step and to use this new thing instead of SL.

Dear readers don’t hold your breath, let’s see what happens and cross that bridge when we get there.  

What do you think will happen when Second Life 2.0 launches? Share your thoughts in the comment box below

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Avatar Social Network (ASN) has over 5000 members. Join Today and Connect with other Virtual World Enthusiasts

The website is already the highest ranked among the social media websites for virtual worlds and avatars and while it's not the oldest it has grown and expanded significantly since its public launch in September, 2013.

The unique nature of the website is its secure and reliable technical and community structure that welcomes not only Second Life residents but anyone from different open sim grids, IMVU or other 3D chat platforms and massive multilevel online games, like World of Warcraft and EVE-Online.

Members of ASN have the freedom of not being asked to share any kind of real life information - however it is optional. All members  can maintain their preferred privacy while enjoying the same and even more benefits than what other social media websites offer. Famous SL business owners, bloggers, artists and performers are among the members enjoying both free and paid services on the website to promote their activities, while others are just there to make and keep in touch with friends, post and share photos, music, videos, links and stories.

With over 135,000 main feed posts and 62,000 uploaded photos (March, 2015) Avatar Social Network is the #1 social media website for virtual world residents and online gamers helping members of similar interest to connect. If you are not a member yet, join thousands of happy members today.

www.avatarsocialnetwork.com

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Introducing Epic Gamer Radio in Second Life

Epic Gamer Radio, EGR, is not just any radio station, but an expanding community of volunteers and friends that have grown together as a family. Through years of experience, a small group of friends in the gaming community sought to improve and expand their horizons to new games and heights. A close knit family, these friends who met from within the internet radio industry, gaming, and podcasting, thus created an internet radio station for gamers, by gamers that provided a better choice of music complete with upcoming gaming news releases, great parties, that even gave back to the community and does charity work. A station that operated not just in one game or genre, but in many games and genres that began to expand at a rapid rate. Something this magnanimous could at the time only be described with one word, Epic. Thus Epic Gamer Radio was born. 

Epic Gamer Radio has been up and thriving for just over a year now. In turn we have hosted many events and parties, from the kick off our initial launch, to celebrating Valentines Day, the Canthan New Year event and celebration of Chinese New Year in Guild Wars, the Fourth of July, all the way through to our one year anniversary. EGR has also sponsored the Child's Play organization, a charity that raises money to provide less fortunate children who live in hospital care due to chronic or terminal illness with gaming entertainment in the hospital as gifts during the holidays. Currently, EGR is work on expanding its presence in Second Life, while maintaining its sense of community orientation to all gamers of all walks of life in such games like Guild Wars 2 and Star Trek Online, Epic Gamer Radio's mission at this point is to grow its audience to include many people from many walks of life, and Second Life is that place to be!

As EGR moves forward into this year, expanding the Second Life enterprise will be a task that will include advertisement for Second Life businesses, experience for DJ's needing it, as well as providing great parties, events, and concerts in Second Life. Epic Gamer Radio also owns a mall that needs small businesses to occupy those shops, on an area that has the potential to generate a great amount of traffic. As always EGR will also be looking to expand it's family of volunteers. Epic Gamer Radio is always looking for DJ's, Bloggers, Audio Engineers, Graphic Artists, Event Coordinator's, and other staff positions to fill it's ranks. EGR does not require it's applicants to have any software, hardware, or experience. The training and experience comes with being hired. 

You can go to EpicGamerRadio.com and check out EGR!

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Getting Connected with AvatarHookup.com; a new avatar social network available for virtual worlds- Lanai Jarrico Reporting…

Social Media plays an important role in how many people network and socialize in today’s technological age. It provides a digital place to share information, photo and videos with the masses at the click of a button. 

There are a variety of social networks available across the web that provide a presence for free and can certainly replace the high costs of advertising if you know how to use them. Facebook is the most widely used social media network available today but because of their terms of service, many virtual world residents are finding themselves locked out and unable to expand their following because avatars are not considered “real people”. Some would agree that avatars are not while the business side of virtual worlds disagrees as it hinders their ability to grow their business without this vital social media tool.

Xandria Winterwolf created a social media network that was designed to cater to Avatar not such in Second Life but in virtual worlds as a whole. It provides the same concept as the “real world” social media networks but it is a place where an Avatar name is just as important as a real one. Let’s find out more about Avatarhookup.com

Interview with Xandria Winterwolf

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Parallel Universes Part II: OpenSim – Stareyes Galaxy Reporting

Sometimes you hear of veteran Second Lifers (SLers) leave “for bigger things”. Quite often this means OpenSim (OS), or “Open Simulator” grids. OpenSim is a collection of virtual worlds running on Linden Script Language code (LSL) much in a similar way to how SL does. In contrast to SL, OpenSim is an open-source community, which means that the code is shared among developers and contributing to the grid is open to all. 

There are variations with regard to how each grid is run, and the “OSgrids” really make a true “Metaverse”. For Part II of her article series on Parallel Universes, Stareyes Galaxy went over to OpenSim to explore what it is all about.

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Parallel Universes Part I: IMVU – Stareyes Galaxy Reporting

There are many other virtual multiplayer environments than Second Life ©. Stareyes Galaxy starts on a journey to these in a multipart article series. The first one on her list was “IMVU”.

IMVU boasts 100 million accounts and the concurrent logins are at 50 000 level. The company itself is based in the Silicon Valley and they have backing from several well-known venture capital investors. The target demographic for the community is the 18-24 year-old bracket. On sign-up, personal data is required, so some content will be locked for underage users. The minimum sign-up age is 13.

Doing interviews on Second Life (SL) I often have found people who have transferred their online existence from IMVU over to SL. For these new avatars entering SL, the openness and the variety found here is often bewildering but liberating at the same time. I decided to set up an account on IMVU and see what that world is all about, and how the experience compares with SL.

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Virtual Worlds Best Practices In Education Readies For Annual Conference- July 24th-July 27th Nomad Aries Reporting…

In the past I have written about the ways Second Life© has influenced the real world.

I have written about how Governments, the Justice System and the entertainment world is using Second Life to breach distance and time zones in order to reach as many people as possible with information, assistance and entertainment. Second Life has become an invaluable instrument helping people to access services, gain information and provide resolution to real life problems. It has become a workplace, an extension of offices and a global town hall providing services in real time to citizens across the globe. Second Life has also brought together individuals and organizations from around the world, making it easier for collaboration, sharing information and mentoring.

Recently, I learned of yet another important use of Second Life© - education. Education, learning and teaching are being expanded and explored in great depth here on Second Life. The technology of the gaming world is turning into an innovative tool for studying different teaching methods and defining what is teaching. Exploring the ways in which we learn and providing advances in technology, applications, research and access to information. Second Life© has become a global classroom. This month, one of the most extraordinary conferences will, once again, be held on Second Life©, The Virtual Worlds Best Practices In Education Conference. If you can attend one presentation of this conference over the three days it runs, I urge you to do so. You won't want to miss this.

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Exploring Virtual Worlds- Pandora Drezelan Reporting...

Pandora's IMVU Avatar

Second Life has been such a huge part of my real life for just over three years now, when I first signed up in December 2009 I thought that it was the only virtual world, until I started exploring outside of the grid.

Pandora in Second Life

Second Life

For me Second Life is not only my first virtual world it is my second world and I have learnt so much in the time that I have been here. I’ve made many friends, lost people I thought were friends and discovered more about the real life me than I ever knew existed, my Second Life avatar and the real life me are very similar and also a little bit different as well.




InWorldz

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