Richard, et al.: Now I get it.
Frankly, my first reaction to all this was "Do these people ever work?" I mean, I can barely manage my own life, much less that of an avatar. Then it dawned on me: this IS work, for lucky people whose job this actually is. For the rest of us poor workacholics, this is the stuff we never have time to explore. Anyway, it sounds intriguing, and I will assign scientific field research to my personal avatar: my 15-year-old. Richard, I look forward to your session! Amalyah ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Urban" <[email protected]> To: "Museum Computer Network Listserv" <mcn-l at mcn.edu> Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 1:56 AM Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Are there any real-life museums on Second Life? > Hi Amalyah, > > I hope that session I'm moderating in Pasadena, "Modding the Museum: > Access to Museum Collections Through Games," will touch on Second > Life. As moderator I can't talk much about my experiments, but I > know some of the panelists have been exploring SL as they have been > developing other game-based museum interactives. > > For me, Second Life is for 3D virtual environments what HTML and > Mosaic were for the Internet in the 1990s. Before Second Life, > developing these environments required expensive software and a > sophisticated development team. With Second Life someone with > common web development skills can learn to build, and anyone with a > broadband connection can enjoy. > > At the moment Second Life is the most developed of these services, > but others are already cropping up (such as There.com) and SL has > already spun off Teen Second Life (for the <18 set). The medium is > far from mature (think of the web in 1993), but is developing > quickly. At this point there is sufficient inertia behind it that it > is something worth keeping an eye on and becoming familiar with. > > I do think there are some advantages for museum collections, which > are often 3 dimensional. In SL you can create replicas using the > primitive 3d building blocks provided or upload 2D photos of > collections (which assume a 3d quality because of the environment). > Like our physical spaces we can create environments that put > artifacts into context. However there also seem to be lots of > pitfalls, such as not learning the lessons we've learned from the > last decade of web development and there are significant usability > and accessibility challenges with the current iteration of SL. I'm > particularly interested to see how our experience with physical > spaces, exhibitions, traffic flow, and visitor experience translates > into these environments. > > More to come. > > Richard Urban > Graduate School of Library and Information Science > University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign > rjurban at uiuc.edu > http://www.inherentvice.net > > > > On Jul 12, 2006, at 3:13 PM, amalyah keshet wrote: > >> Okay. I'm not the only one on this list who has no idea what Second >> Life is. (I checked.) >> May I enter a plea for 1) a VERY brief explanation, and 2) a session >> at the MCN conference, since it sounds like it must be really cool, >> whatever it is, and worth spending time learning about. >> >> Amalyah Keshet >> >> >> At 20:24 11/07/2006, you wrote: >>> It's great to see this whole thread. While I spend most of my time >>> developing exhibits for the International Spy Museum, I'm also >>> involved >>> with the Electric Sheep Company (www.electricsheepcompany.com). They >>> are a fine group of Second Life developers who create all kinds of >>> Second Life builds, experiences, and events for both non-profits and >>> for-profit groups. They built the New Media Consortium campus (which >>> now has both a public and private presence), which includes a library >>> and museum, and have created several private and public builds >>> with an >>> entertainment and education focus. >>> >>> As a museum person, I'm excited to see where museums can go in Second >>> Life. I was surprised that the "museum" in the NMC virtual campus >>> looks >>> and feels like a "standard" art gallery architecturally. The true >>> virtual museum will not look like a museum or a website--it will be >>> something else entirely. There are all kinds of opportunities in >>> virtual space for us to break out of the physical logistics of >>> real-world museums and create content that allows users to naturally >>> interact with each other and with the content in a meaningful way. >>> >>> The Holocaust Museum stands out to me as a museum that physically >>> commands and controls the visitor experience through exemplary >>> design. >>> On the web, it's very challenging to design a 2D site that can >>> evoke the >>> same feelings and reactions as a physical space. Second Life >>> gives us >>> the opportunity to create powerful 3D spaces that are impossible to >>> design in the real world. What does the museum space you've always >>> dreamed of look like? In Second Life, it can be created... >>> >>> As a content developer, I also love the idea of using Second Life >>> as a >>> collaborative tool among museums and partners to share ideas, mock-up >>> real exhibits, and test drive programs. I'd love to be able to go to >>> "science museum world" and see what new kinds of demos educators are >>> doing across the country, whether through streaming video or avatar >>> scripting. >>> >>> To me, the essential question is this: What CAN'T we do in our >>> physical >>> museums--due to space, sensitivity of topics, lack of time, etc.? >>> How >>> can we use Second Life to create new museum experiences? And >>> ultimately, how will those virtual experiences inform the real >>> ones we >>> offer our guests? >>> >>> If there is interest in these topics (and it sounds like there is!), >>> perhaps we could use the Museums in Second Life group to have a >>> meeting >>> sometime in Second Life and discuss our thoughts. >>> >>> Nina Simon >>> nsimon at spymuseum.org >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu] On >>> Behalf Of >>> Beth Kanter >>> Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 5:48 PM >>> To: rjurban at uiuc.edu; 'Museum Computer Network Listserv' >>> Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Are there any real-life museums on Second Life? >>> >>> Thanks Richard! >>> >>> Also, TechSoup is doing an "mixed reality" event - that means the >>> event >>> will >>> take place in the real world at their office as well as inside of >>> Second >>> Life. The two locations will be joined via audio/video/chat. We >>> have >>> some >>> speakers from NPOS lined up to do some presenting and we'll do a >>> little >>> tour >>> if the nonprofit directory. >>> >>> Here's the info: http://upcoming.org/event/88581/ >>> >>> If you want to do the in-world event, RSVP early because they're >>> capping >>> attendance so the place doesn't crash or get too slow. Also, if >>> you're >>> new >>> at this, I'll probably do a newbie orientation sometime next week >>> or on >>> Monday, July 17th. I'll let you all know. >>> >>> Speaking of Museums and Games - there was an interesting panel at the >>> Games >>> for Social Change Conference on that topic as well: >>> http://www.gamesforchange.org/conference/2006/program.asp >>> >>> Beth >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu] On >>> Behalf Of >>> Richard Urban >>> Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 4:44 PM >>> To: 'Museum Computer Network Listserv' >>> Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Are there any real-life museums on Second Life? >>> >>> Hi all, >>> >>> In the spirit of putting heads together I created the "Museums in >>> Second >>> Life" group this spring. I haven't had a chance to do much with it >>> yet, >>> but >>> you can find it by searching the SL groups category. I'm eyeing what >>> Beth & >>> the TechSoup group are doing for examples of how we can do more to >>> interact >>> with each other. >>> >>> I'll also take this opportunity to plug the 2006 MCN conference where >>> I'll >>> be moderating a panel called "Modding the Museum: Accessing >>> Collections >>> through Games" that will feature several panelists who are building >>> game-based museum interactives. Hope to see you in the audience in >>> Pasadena! >>> >>> Richard Urban >>> Graduate School of Library and Information Science >>> University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign >>> rjurban at uiuc.edu >>> http://www.inherentvice.net >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu] On >>> Behalf Of >>> Swiader, Larry >>> Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 3:31 PM >>> To: Museum Computer Network Listserv >>> Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Are there any real-life museums on Second Life? >>> >>> Hi Beth, >>> >>> We've been doing some thinking here at the Holocaust Museum on what a >>> presence on Second Life might be like (and mean). My colleague, >>> David >>> Klevan (dklevan at ushmm.org), our Education Manager for Technology and >>> Distance Learning, is at the forefront of that thinking. >>> >>> It'd be nice to put our heads together..... >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> Larry >>> >>> >>> Lawrence Swiader >>> Deputy Chief Information Officer >>> United States Holocaust Memorial Museum >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu] On >>> Behalf Of >>> Beth >>> Kanter >>> Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 11:48 AM >>> To: 'Museum Computer Network Listserv' >>> Subject: [MCN-L] Are there any real-life museums on Second Life? >>> >>> Hi Folks, >>> >>> I've been researching the possibilities for nonprofits on Second Life >>> (http://www.secondlife.com), the virtual world. I'm participating in >>> some >>> "in-world" projects that TechSoup is organizing around nonprofits >>> in SL. >>> There will be an event later this month and we're starting to >>> compile a >>> directory of nonprofits using it. You can see the directory here >>> (http://www.writely.com/View.aspx?docid=aptcrhmkxkv_bcjvrhrc2vgbq) >>> >>> So far, I've seen some "museums" in second life - created by >>> residents, >>> but >>> not any real life museums there - there may be, but haven't run >>> across >>> it. >>> The San Jose Art Museum is building a virtual Island for display of >>> virtual >>> art works being sought from SL http://www.ludica.org.uk/NewWest/ The >>> event >>> will coincide with ZeroOne Festival http://isea2006.sjsu.edu/Grabbed >>> from >>> comments in blog post here: >>> >>> I'm wondering if any of you are investigating the possibilities or >>> doing >>> any >>> projects. There a huge community of educators (320) from >>> universities, >>> some >>> teen education projects, a library project, and embryonic nonprofit >>> presence. I've written up what I learn on my blog here: >>> http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/npsl/index.html >>> >>> Beth >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum >>> Computer >>> Network (http://www.mcn.edu) >>> >>> To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu >>> >>> To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: >>> http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l >>> _______________________________________________ >>> You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum >>> Computer >>> Network (http://www.mcn.edu) >>> >>> To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu >>> >>> To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: >>> http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum >>> Computer >>> Network (http://www.mcn.edu) >>> >>> To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu >>> >>> To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: >>> http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum >>> Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) >>> >>> To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu >>> >>> To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: >>> http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l >>> _______________________________________________ >>> You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum >>> Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) >>> >>> To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu >>> >>> To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: >>> http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l >> >> Amalyah Keshet >> Head of Image Resources & Copyright Management >> The Israel Museum, Jerusalem >> Tel +972-2-670-8874 >> Fax +972-2-670-8064 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum >> Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) >> >> To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu >> >> To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: >> http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l > > _______________________________________________ > You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer > Network (http://www.mcn.edu) > > To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu > > To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: > http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l >
