Milton Broome's Virtual Psychology Blog

Digital Hybridity

2011-06-17T08:53:00.002+01:00

Today I'm presenting at the 'Digital Hybridity' conference talking about "Three Faces of the Virtual World: Simulation, ‘Stripped-back’ Teaching & Problem-based Learning". This event is hosted by the Digital and Material Arts Research Cente (D-MARC) at the University of Derby in collaboration with EMUA colleagues, and in association with CTRG Creative Technologies Research Group. Their guest speaker is the fantastic STELARC.

As successive software and hardware innovation facilitates crossovers between traditional arts disciplines, Hybridity is becoming a defining feature of the emerging creative digital environment. In this regional university event we wish to interrogate and explore this notion and its implications for the field of arts, design and communications. As boundaries dissolve between traditional practices and aesthetic, theoretical, ethical and technical questions are raised regarding their future alignment, meaning and development. The latest developments in digital technology require that we elaborate new categories of practice and criticism, which also involve rethinking our relationship to the history of traditional practices.

The event will facilitate a range of presentations by arts practitioners and theoreticians to help frame the debate. This full day event is open to acedemics and PhD students from East Midlands Higher Education Institutions. Text taken from http://www.derby.ac.uk/digitalhybridity

Here is my abstract.

The sense of immersion within multi-user virtual environments can provide educators and students with the ability to connect and communicate in ways that greatly enhance the learning experience. These innovative methods of teaching place the student at the centre of the learning by involving them in the experience itself. However, immersive virtual worlds can also offer a non-experiential ‘stripped-back’ platform for teaching that removes distractions from the learner’s environment and focuses on individual sequential learning. Existing pedagogies may not be sufficient to inform good practice in these settings. This presentation will outlined a framework for understanding the relations between the tools, techniques and technology used in learning, support and research in these evolving virtual spaces.

Comments welcome.

Federal Consortium of Virtual Worlds (FCVW) Conference

2011-04-27T09:21:00.001+01:00

It is time for the annual Federal Consortium of Virtual Worlds (FCVW) Conference taking place on May 11 -13, 2011 in Washington, DC and virtually in Second Life.

http://www.ndu.edu/icollege/fcvw/

The Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds annual conference, which is now in its fourth year, was attended by over 350 in-person participants and over 3,200 virtual participants in 2010.

View the trailer for this year’s conference here: http://vimeo.com/20448330?ab

Inquiry Based Learning and Second Life

2011-01-10T01:20:00.000Z

Here's a great talk from experienced SL researcher Shiela Webber (Senior Lecturer in the Information School at the University of Sheffield, UK) given in Second Life 'Inquiry Based Learning and Second Life'.

View Video Here

Her presentation slides are available from Slideshare here:

Inquiry Based Learning and Second Life

View more presentations from Sheila Webber.

Microsoft may bail out Linden Lab if rumors are true.

2010-11-30T15:09:00.002Z

Thursday brought reports that Microsoft may have silently offered to purchase Second Life developer Linden Lab.
The news follows an additional report that Linden Lab is closing its UK office on Thursday, an unsurprising move given that the studio cut 30-percent of its staff back in June. To make matters worse, CEO Mark Kingdon walked away from his position two weeks later.
But according to a current Linden Lab employee, various companies have already offered to purchase the studio, Microsoft being the latest. Purchasing Linden Lab would be an interesting move for Microsoft, as the company could integrate Second Life into Xbox Live--possibly even Games for Windows Live--to offer a service similar to Sony’s PlayStation Home virtual environment on the Playstation 3. Games for Windows Live support would mean that current residents could still enter the virtual world, but only through the stand-alone client.
Linden Lab launched Second Life for the PC back in June 2003. Unlike current MMORPGs, the virtual world offered no quests to fulfill, no characters to level, and didn’t even offer a compelling story. Instead, it was more of a 3D social environment allowing users to create virtual goods and sell their items for real-world cash. Today Second Life is used as both a virtual advertising platform and a way of life for many entrepreneurs.
But if Microsoft were to purchase Linden Lab and take the reigns of Second Life, all that revenue could be gone, possibly converted to Microsoft Points. For now, Microsoft is refusing to comment on rumor.

Text taken from the very excellent Tomshardware.com http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Second-Life-Linden-Lab-Mark-Kingdon-virtual-World-Xbox,11402.html

Opening Up Access In Games, Simulations and Virtual Worlds

2010-10-23T00:55:00.001+01:00

Here's a fantastic presentation by Dan Livingstone from University of West of Scotland looking at Open Educational Resources in virtual worlds.

Opening Up Access In Games, Simulations and Virtual Worlds

View more presentations from Daniel Livingstone.

PREVIEW-Sustain Project

2010-09-29T17:05:00.001+01:00

In an expansion to my PREVIEW-Psych project, in collaboration with Rosemary Horry (University of Derby) and with generous funding from the Higher Education Academy, I'm using the virtual reality platform Second Life to gauge people’s unconscious attitudes towards ‘green’ issues such as recycling.

This video outlines the project. There’s a link here to more information about the project at the University web magazine here. There's also information over at the PREVIEW-Psych sister site here.

If you're interested in Green or 'Education of Sustainable Development (ESD)' issues within Second Life or have a Psychological interest in the area drop me a line, I'd be pleased to hear from you.

Second Life As Science: Studying The Bystander Effect

2010-08-24T16:25:00.000+01:00

Guest Article by Alexis Bonari

Genovese Syndrome, otherwise known as the Bystander Effect, has long been a source of curiosity among both psychologists and laymen alike. In short, the Bystander Effect can be characterized as follows: an individual being assaulted or otherwise attacked is less likely to receive help when numerous observers are present. Cases of murder and physical abuse have occurred with no intervention on densely populated streets in broad daylight. When more people were present, the victim was less likely to receive direct assistance.

Courtesy Xbox 360 Videos

A New Game In Town

Animation experts from Bournemouth University- UK have been given a grant to create a believable virtual world and avatars. These will be used by The University College London to answer the following questions: why does the Bystander Effect happen and under what circumstances is it most likely to occur?

Where Virtual Meets Reality

Previous studies tracking the behaviors of Second Life players have shown a strong correlation between choices made in the game environment, and real-world decisions. It isn’t such a stretch, therefore, to assume that the choices made by online game players could be studied and applied to real-world scenarios.

The Test

Highly detailed avatars, much like those commonly seen in the popular online environment Second Life, will be created and staged in a realistic, virtual world. Participants in the study will be encouraged to interact with other players, building relationships as they would in any social simulation. Then, researchers will use their avatars to commit violent acts against other players in the virtual environment. Levels of protective response, verbal feedback, and other indicators will be tracked and studied to find patterns.

Setting A Precedent

Although the Bournemouth study has yet to produce any results, the use of a digital environment for studying human behavior is groundbreaking. If the results of the experiment prove reliable in the real world, there’s little doubt that future experimental models will include virtual reality elements.

Bio: Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She spends much of her days blogging about Education and CollegeScholarships. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

The Open, Social, Participatory Future of Online Learning

2010-08-11T18:32:00.001+01:00

Educators from around the country are gathering this week to trade ideas at the 26th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning. George Veletsianos is Assistant Professor of Instructional Technology at the University of Texas. His new book Emerging Technologies in Distance Education looks very interesting. The Chronicle of Higher Education interviewed him on the future of online learning and the Wired Campus. The comments on the blog in response to the interview are revealing of some of the attitudes and challenges faced by educators in today's ever changing online teaching environment.

I think virtual worlds and the 3D web have a huge part to play in contributing to this new thinking and practice in online learning. It's clear to see though that there is a long road ahead. Reflected in the discussion are the repeated concerns about the 'reinventing the wheel' attitude of some innovations and the need to have practical solutions to distance and online learning. Check out the article here.

Some text taken from here.

Discussion about Trends in Virtual Worlds by Simon Bignell and Panote Siriaraya

2010-08-04T01:21:00.001+01:00

Panote Siriaraya , Simon Bignell - Trends in Virtual Worlds
Uploaded by NORDICWORLDS. - Technology reviews and science news videos.

Panote Siriaraya and Simon Bignell talk about Trends in Virtual Worlds for the Nordic Virtual Worlds Network Project whilst at a research workshop in Denmark entitled ‘Making Sense of Virtual Worlds and User Driven Innovation', June2010. Comments and discussion are most welcome.

John Underkoffler demos breathtaking computer interface

2010-06-17T03:47:00.003+01:00

The next big leap in human-computer interface was demonstrated recently by John Underkoffler at his TED talk in February. He was one of the science advisers for the Steven Spielberg science-fiction film "Minority Report". Underkoffler suggests that in five years this technology will be built in to new computers as standard. I hope so. The demonstration is breathtaking.

How long after that can we expect this to be integrated with a virtual word or proprietary virtual reality cave? The implications for immersion into the virtual world are profound.

You can view the Spatial operating environment here http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/15/john-underkoffler-ted-tal_n_612842.html

Get a second life

2010-06-13T02:28:00.002+01:00

Last year Christian Jarrett interviewed me (and Milton) for an article in The Psychologist (The monthly magazine of the British Psychological Society) on the benefits (and dangers) of using virtual worlds in your psychological research, therapy and teaching.

The article is available here.

Making Sense of Virtual Worlds

2010-06-13T01:23:00.002+01:00

Recently I was lucky enough to be invited by Roskilde University to a 3-day cross disciplinary research workshop in Denmark entitled ‘Making Sense of Virtual Worlds and User Driven Innovation”. You can access the slides for my talk on problem-based learning and innovation in virtual worlds here.

On the final day I was thrilled to be in the real life audience for a Metanomics Mixed Reality Broadcast special where host Robert Bloomfield led a Second Life panel including Robin Teigland and Edward Castronova at the event and Tom Boellstorff in Second LIfe as they discussed the purchase of virtual islands, leasing of towns, recruiting avatar employees and more.

Edward Castronova (Professor of Telecommunications, Indianna University)

Robin Teigland (Associate Professor at Stockholm School of Economics)

Tom Boellstorff (Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Irvine)

‘Making Sense of Virtual Worlds and User Driven Innovation’

2010-06-08T17:03:00.001+01:00

I'm currently at the ‘Making Sense of Virtual Worlds and User Driven Innovation’ conference in Denmark looking at ways in which we can explore meaning and content in virtual worlds. The conference is organised by Roskilde University. My 'Pecha Kucha' presentation 'Developing Innovative Problem-based Teaching in Virtual Worlds' is available here.

Keynotes include Mia Consalvo ; Jeremy Hunsinger ; John Lester; Jay David Bolter and a guest lecture by Edward Castronova.

Later today we'll have a mixed reality (Real Life and Second Life) broadcast that will be streamed from the Metanomics site on New Market Dynamics (at 19.00 BST). Also streamed here.

Simon

#VWworkshop

The AVATAR Project

2010-05-04T00:30:00.012+01:00

The AVATAR “Added Value of teAching in a virTuAl woRld” is a two year project (December 2009 - November 2011) co-financed by the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Sub-Programme Comenius. The project is partnered in the UK with University of Hertfordshire.

AVATAR is inspired by the lack of ICT use in schools throughout Europe despite the possible educational benefits and social learning opportunities they promote. The project’s primary aim is to enhance the quality of teaching and education in secondary schools through an innovative virtual world learning earning and co-creation that can help teachers and students take a step closer towards the modernization and future of education.

AVATAR provides an opportunity for both teachers and students to benefit from ICT skill development, social learning opportunities and a resource to help revive the traditional classroom environment, adding value to the learning process. V-learning promotes learning-by-doing that stimulates different learning styles and increases the level of student engagement in different subject matters through technology, integrating textbook, discussion groups and labs.

Some text taken from http://www.avatarproject.eu

2010-04-22T00:25:00.000+01:00

A new film about virtual worlds by New York-based documentary filmmaker Jason Spingarn-Koff.

Every day, across all corners of the globe, hundreds of thousands of users log onto Second Life, a virtual online world not entirely unlike our own. They enter a new reality, whose inhabitants assume alternate personas in the form of avatars—digital alter egos that can be sculpted and manipulated to the heart’s desire, representing reality, fantasy, or a healthy mix of both. Within this alternate landscape, escapism abounds, relationships are formed, and a real-world economy thrives, effectively blurring the lines between reality and "virtual" reality.

Director Jason Spingarn-Koff digs deeply into the core of basic human interaction by assuming his own avatar and immersing himself in the worlds of Second Life residents, whose real lives have been drastically transformed by the new lives they lead in cyberspace. In doing so, he manages to create an intimate, character-based drama that forces us to question not only who we are, but who we long to be.

-from the Sundance Film Festival Film Guide

Preview HERE

Virtual Worlds in Education...Why?

2010-04-20T20:50:00.000+01:00

A really nice presentation given to the Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield, in April 2010 by John from Virtual World Watch (VWW). They produce regular reports on ’who’ is doing ’what’ with virtual worlds in UK universities and colleges.

Sheffield April 2010

View more presentations from Virtual World Watch.

CNN article on Autism and Virtual Worlds

2010-04-07T12:48:00.000+01:00

I've been asked by several readers about the CNN interview I did some time ago talking about virtual worlds and Autism. Here is a repost of the accompanying video from the telephone interview. If you have any comments please post here.

SL-Labs at Derby University Virtual campus

2010-04-06T01:42:00.002+01:00

Here's a sneek preview of some of the developments happening at Derby University's virtual (Second Life) campus. You can get to the virtual campus by following this link after you've installed Second Life. http://tinyurl.com/4n6lmo

Here is the area under the main SL-Labs building. It features various activity offices, virtual lecture theatre and Psychology laboratories.

Here's the PREVIEW-Psych project build. The project was a collaboration between Derby and Aston University and funded by JISC and HEA-Psychology Network. This is just part of the virtual build where students take part in problem-based learning for Psychology. The project website can be accessed at: www.previewpsych.org

Here is the Information area on the project site. You can get here by installing Second Life and following this link. http://tinyurl.com/yf372yq

The Virtual Revolution

2010-03-11T15:02:00.001Z

There's was a great 4-part BBC series on TV and web recently presented by Aleks Krotoski (avatar: Mynci Gorky in Second Life) . 'The Virtual Revolution' investigates the how the past 20 years of the web has reshaped our lives.

About the programme: 20 years on from the invention of the World Wide Web Dr Aleks Krotoski explores how it is reshaping almost every aspect of our lives. Joined by some of the web's biggest names including the founders of Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft and the web's inventor - she explores how far the web has lived up to its early promise. The founding father of the Web, Tim Berners-Lee, believed his invention would remain an open frontier that nobody could own, and that it would take power from the few and give it to the many. Now, in a provocative, strongly authored argument, presenter Aleks Krotoski will re-assess utopian claims like these, made over many years by the digital revolution's key innovators - and test them against the hard realities of the emerging Web today, exploring how the possibilities of the pure technology have been constrained, even distorted by the limitations of human nature.

'The Virtual Revolution' was previously known as Digital Revolution (working title). It was also a radical change for BBC documentary making - an open and collaborative production, which asked the web audience to debate programme themes, suggest and send questions for interviewees, watch and comment on interview and graphics clips, and download clips for personal use and re-editing, all months before broadcast. Last but not least, the name of the series itself was up for debate. Stephen Fry helped to launch our Twitter namestorm, and after hundreds of suggestions, the final name was a mashup "between us and you" – a fitting way to round off the experiment.

The BBC have also provided a great way to navigate the content from the series with their 3D explorer. This allows you to take a 3D tour of the videos and interviews from the series and associated web sites at your own pace: http://www.bbc.co.uk/virtualrevolution/3dexplorer_start.shtml

There's also a fantastic web site for the series here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/virtualrevolution/ There's also a review over at Virtual Worlds Research blog http://worlds.ruc.dk/archives/2209

Richard Dawkins interviews Derren Brown

2010-02-28T14:24:00.000Z

These two people have qualities that I admire that are very different. Richard Dawkins has the ability to question and Derren Brown the ability to expose, yet in their work each tempers the skill in which the other excels. This is what makes this such a compelling interview. Dawkins could persist at exposing the methods and faulty reasoning of the religious extremist and Brown could question the beliefs and ideology of the tricksters and psychic fakers but each respectfully restricts within them the capacity at which the other excels. To combine the approaches and intellects of Dawkins and Brown would perhaps present the ultimate sceptic but would seem arrogant and less entertaining. The power of each of their perspectives is that the observer is free to pass judgment on the validity of their targets’ position. Rightly so, neither exposes the full severity of their skill directly. They bring down the prey whilst we devour the victim. However much of a free lunch this might seem I’m left with the feeling that I wanted to at least give some chase in the argument, to contribute in some way to the intellectual battering of the pseudo-science and this inspires me to listen to their arguments all the more.

Six sections from the interview.

Episode 3 of 6 has for some reason been taken down. I'l try to get this from elsewhere.

Second Life Viewer 2 Beta, Now Available

2010-02-24T01:08:00.001Z

Very exciting! The long awaited Second Life Viewer 2 Beta is now available. It’s the ‘web on prim’ every developer has been talking about for years. Content creators can now place Web pages, video, Flash content, and other web media, onto any surface in Second Life. For educationalists this means a qualitatively different way is now possible to access content. Seemingly, a server can now push pages directly into the virtual world on any prim surface. We should see a new level of educational and experimentation developments from this breakthrough upgrade to the Second Life viewer. Check out the official video below for more information. Improvements include:

A browser-like navigation bar with forward and back buttons. You can even save favourites and review your teleport history.
A sliding right-hand panel that surfaces the most frequently-used features and makes managing your profile, contacts, groups, landmarks, inventory, and appearance easy.
Improved Search, powered by Google Search Appliance technology, makes it easier to find friends, places, and cool stuff to buy.
A superior alternative to invisiprims for non-human avatars. In Viewer 2, a new wearable type, called Alpha Masks, allow you to "mask out" parts of your base avatar to make entire body parts disappear.
And, you'll enjoy the new contextual help to help you acclimate to the new viewer experience.

We’ll be testing the possibilities and will blog updates here.

Download the beta viewer here: http://www.secondlife.com/beta-viewer

UPDATE 24/2/10: This latest offering looks pretty nasty even for a beta version. The user interface is unintuitive and lacks commonly used functions previously at hand. The graphics engine seems to have been modified in some way as Viewer 2 has crashed every PC I've used it on so far. There doesn't seem to be a way in 'Preferences' to use full screen and even on the lowest settings produces lock-ups on stable high-end systems. Many of the promised features are troublesome or not as claimed as well, according to community feedback so far. Given time I think this could be a success but those familiar with the most recent 1.x viewers or favorite third party viewers won't be moving over to this version until the many glitches have been ironed out.

Using Virtual Worlds to Learn About This One

2010-02-23T14:57:00.000Z

This guest post is contributed by Pamelia Brown, who writes for the blog associate degree. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: pamelia.brown@gmail.com.

Second Life has already proven to be a valuable way to teach psychology students to diagnose mental health ailments and interact with avatars that can mimic real-world problems. But virtual psychology isn't the only area being utilized by the program.

The University of Arkansas is using Second Life to design model hospitals that might one day be used to guide the layout and building of real-world counterparts. Spearheaded by Dr. Craig Thompson of the computer science and engineering department and Dr. Fran Hagstrom of the rehabilitation, human resources and communication disorders department, the movement seeks to use a Second Life hospital as a way to track and monitor the hundreds of hypothetical situations that face real doctors and nurses every day. For instance, the SL hospital could be used to monitor how inventory is used and how storage closets are designed for nurses and aides. That's the kind of thing that would be expensive and almost impossible to measure in the real world, but the cost-free SL hospital only needs the investment of time before its results can yield dividends.

Similarly, Arkansas State University bought a chunk of land (digital islands cost real-world cash) to re-create its campus online and teach a variety of classes including art history. The methods used are similar to the ones I've noted when it comes to teaching psychology: By pushing students to create situations they'd face in the real world, they wind up with a better understanding of the concepts.

These are just the beginnings of what it will mean to teach via a virtual world, but it's clear that the future of the field is a bright one.

Best Practices in Virtual Worlds Teaching Guide 2.0 now available

2010-02-10T00:18:00.002Z

Our Best Practices in Virtual Worlds Teaching Guide produced by University of Derby and Aston University in collaboration and funding from the Higher Education Academy Psychology Network and JISC is now available in soft and hard copy. The guide features tips and advice on setting up teaching in virtual worlds using problem-based learning methods. It’s designed primarily for those teaching Psychology, humanities and the social sciences but will be useful to anyone starting out teaching using virtual worlds.

It is available as a free download at the project website http://previewpsych.org or direct from this link http://previewpsych.org/BPD2.0.pdf

Virtual World Watch: Surveying virtual world use in UK universities and colleges

2010-02-09T23:49:00.001Z

Virtual World Watch features the latest

teaching and learning activities in virtual worlds, they use a series of Snapshot surveys from across

higher education establishments to gain insight into the actual use of virtual worlds such as Second Life for teaching and learning. Access the web page and download the regular reports here: http://virtualworldwatch.net/

Virtual World Watch is funded by Eduserv. The research is being carried out by John Kirriemuir.

Virtual World Watch maintains a presence on the following social networks.
Facebook: A Facebook group, Virtual World Watch, for occasional news and picture updates, as well as providing a comment forum for HE/FE virtual world users.
Flickr: The Flickr group Virtual World use in UK Education is a place where people can upload and share screen images of their SL installation. Please read and follow the instructions for consistent tagging of images.
Twitter: Short news and other updates (140 characters or less) are provided by the Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/V_World_Watch.

Exploring Your Mind… In Another Life!

2010-01-18T14:48:00.000Z

Some of the world’s first psychology degree lectures have taken place in the virtual reality software platform Second Life. Psychology academics at the University of Derby see the technological environment as an ideal place to test students’ problem-solving skills. Students studying on the BSc (Hons) Psychology degree were asked to handle challenging situations such as identifying and managing the welfare of people with a variety of mental health problems as part of problem solving exercises.

See the full article HERE.

Links from across cyberspace

2010-01-18T14:29:00.006Z

Here are some interesting links from across cyberspace:

Will Avatar Work?

2010-01-18T13:54:00.001Z

Guest Article by Susan White

This post is written by Susan White, who writes on the topic of Becoming a Radiologist. She welcomes your comments at her email id: susan.white33@gmail.com .

Will Avatar Work?

My friends loved it; I didn’t think it was any great shakes; no matter what the reaction of individuals however, there’s no doubt that James Cameron’s Avatar is making history at the box office with its unprecedented success. People are raving about the visual effects that are best experienced in IMAX and 3D, and how Cameron has outdone himself with the theme of the movie and the wonderful world of Pandora that he has created.

While I wasn’t too thrilled with the visual effects (even though they were stunning), what really intrigued me was the process of two bodies sharing one mind and one soul, exactly what an avatar is. The western world grasped the eastern concept of rebirth through avatars because of online environments like Second Life and other virtual games where you have a separate online persona that take on characteristics of their own and are actually quite different from the way you are in real life.

In the movie, the hero is a cripple confined to a wheelchair, until he gets into his Na’vi avatar that is; then he is transformed into a tall blue creature with ears and tails that has some human characteristics and is able to survive on distant Pandora, a moon with an environment hostile to earthlings. The avatar project is the innovation of a scientist on earth – simply put, you have two bodies, your own and the one created using your gene sequence and Na’vi properties; your mind and soul transfer from one body to the other with the switch of a button.

As far as the movie is concerned, the concept of mind travel (if I can call it that) is what is mind-blowing, not the visual effects that have been conjured up by Cameron and his gang. The film is set in the year 2154, and technology has advanced by so many years as well. We have more than a century to get this far ahead in time, but technology is advancing more rapidly than we realize. There may soon come a day when fiction becomes fact and we’re able to step into a different body, and if that happens, then the term “identity crisis” takes on a whole new meaning. There could be chaos and confusion as people switch bodies at will, and the world as we know it will be totally changed.

But that is all far away in the distant future, if it is even a possibility. But even so, we have to be responsible in the way we develop and use technology, else we’re bound to see the total disintegration of society.

see this LINK also for related AVATAR post.

Browser-based virtual worlds gets upgrade: MellaniuM environment

2009-12-21T14:26:00.015Z

There’s recently been a recent innovation in the ability to import vast amounts of 3D-model data into virtual worlds. Specifically, the development is in the exiting new area of browser-based virtual worlds; these seem to be one of the ways that multi-user virtual worlds are evolving. These improvements to graphics quality and ease of use can only assist in narrowing the perceptual distance between the virtual world and the real world. Combined with other immersive devices such as head-mounted tracking, stereoscopy, haptic feedback and photo-realistic avatars will it be long before immersive virtual technology transforms our online experience?

I’d recommend that you check out his online demo of NORTEL's web.alive at the MellaniuM Dome at http://ec3v3.projectchainsaw.com/ . It’s a '1 click and ur in' browser-based virtual world that’s still in beta but offers a look at the future of this technology. The MellaniuM Infohub environment contains almost 2 million polygons and the Titanic model can be examined by zooming using the mouse wheel in the finest of details. When your avatar appears on screen just keep W down to walk and please make sure to hit ESC and click on options to use anti-aliasing and full screen mode, it makes for a huge improvement in quality of experience.

Effectively, this break through in 3D graphics means that all the terabytes of 3D models developed in 3D modelling software packages such as AUTOCAD and 3D Studio Max can be changed into formats suitable for use into UNREAL 2.5 and subsequently NORTEL’s web.alive client. This is not currently easily achievable in the most popular virtual environments such as Second Life.

Some text taken from Rezzable.com at http://rezzable.com/blog/joe-rigby/mellanium-brings-unreal-engine-power-browser-nortels-webalive-virtual-world

Virtual world activity in UK Universities and Colleges

2009-12-16T18:24:00.006Z

Virtual World Watch have been compiling their 7th snapshot of Virtual world activity in UK universities and colleges for Winter 2009. It offers the best available information on the state of UK education in 3D multi-user virtual worlds. The report can be downloaded here (321kb/.pdf).

Psychology at University of Derby is included and I have compiled a list of my comments that feature in the report below.

“It’s an ongoing process of development and rethinking. The use of virtual worlds for education isn’t a linear route to a satisfactory end result. It’s a slow series of increasingly less spectacular failures.”

“We are using virtual worlds for teaching Psychology at undergraduate level. It allows us to provide a custom environment that we can shape quickly for our teaching needs.

We’ve also been developing expertise in problem-based learning using virtual worlds. We’ve constructed a number of avatar-driven scenarios where students can find out about clinical mental health conditions in small groups by interacting with programmed avatars designed to mimic commonly occurring mental health symptoms. We also see the advantage in virtual worlds when it comes to asynchronous learning. We have a number of teaching locations where students can access psychological materials related to teaching content.”

“All of the teaching we have offered in virtual worlds at University of Derby has been a supplementary and optional component of existing teaching modules. If students do not wish to engage with the in-world content they are given an equivalent alternative. We have found that it is easier to teach generic skills than specific knowledge-based content. The traditional teaching formats (lectures and seminars) are, from our experience, still better than virtual world platforms when delivered effectively. The essential component of virtual worlds for teaching is the often-misunderstood notion of interactivity. When the barriers to engagement are removed (e.g. good inductions, suitable hardware, timetabling) students learn in a qualitatively different way than traditional teaching methods allow. Participation becomes an adventure and the activities are often reframed as ‘fun’.

It is still hard to quantify this as an output measure but the students tend to claim they have understood concepts in a different way. I think the learning that is happening in a virtual world activity is more akin to real-world (experiential) learning than academic learning. What comes naturally to us as children is play, discovery, learning by trying things out. These are all essential components of a well-developed three-dimensional multi-user virtual learning environment. Much the same as academics learnt to avoid reading word-for-word from their presentation slides when giving a lecture, we now appreciate that just uploading material to the virtual world and housing it in a pretty building that looks similar to those in which we teach is not adequate.”

The University of Derby, a long-term user of Second Life, is carrying on:

“Yes. It’s an ongoing process of development and rethinking. The use of virtual worlds for education isn’t a linear route to a satisfactory end result. It’s a slow series of increasingly less spectacular failures. This perspective is mirrored by funders such as JISC who view the development cycle as critical in the success of virtual world projects. The point eventually comes when one realises that the skills struggled with at the beginning are less challenging and the problems exist at a higher level; pedagogical considerations rather than implementation issues.”

“We are using Second Life and trialling OpenSim.”

The 100 best blogs for Psychology students

2009-11-16T13:38:00.001Z

There's a very useful resource available on the net that lists the '100 best blogs for Psychology students'. Many of these are related to Psychology on the web. It contains sites such as the awesome 'Mind Hacks', our friends over at 'British Psychological Society Research Digest' and the extensive 'World of Psychology'. Along with 'Virtual Psychology' (this site).

With the availability of so many different blogs and other internet resources, psychology students today have a unique opportunity to gain insights and perspectives not otherwise available to their predecessors.

The site is a click away here:
http://onlinepsychologydegrees.org/100-best-blogs-for-psychology-students/

The Ethics of Conducting Research on the Internet

2009-11-13T12:59:00.001Z

For those researching questions using the internet ethical considerations should be at the forefront of their practice. Issues such as participant protection, confidentiality, verifying identity, informed consent, withdrawal, debriefing and deception are important considerations when working remotely from the participants of investigations and experiments.

In 2007 the British Psychological Society's 'Working Party on Conducting Research on the Internet' issued a set of guidelines for ethical practice in psychological research online. This document, although dated due to advances in information technology since its issue, provides a good starting point for everyone conducting research online. There is no mention of virtual worlds as such but the principles laid down here along with the BPS existing ethical guidelines for research are sound.

Download the document here

Times Higher Education Awards

2009-10-26T20:03:00.000Z

I recently attended the gala Awards dinner for the Times Higher Education Awards at London's Grosvenor House Hotel with Derby University colleagues and saw St George's University collect the award for 'Outstanding ICT Initiative of the Year 2009'. Their Second Life project has been at the forefront of innovation utilising Daden's PIVOTE technology to train paramedics in the virtual world. The project was judged on its demonstration of an ‘innovative, strategic and potentially far-reaching use of ICT in support of the goals of that institution’. Key criteria were innovation, institutional impact and implications for the HE sector.

The award-winning project, launched in October 2008 and developed with the help of David Burden from Daden Ltd, helps to train paramedic students using problem-based learning (PBL) in the virtual world of Second Life. It sees students enter the virtual environment as paramedics on the St George’s Island, where they are immediately called to one of five different emergency scenarios. They work in small groups to assess and treat patients in the same way they would in the real world, before safely transporting them to hospital.

The virtual paramedics are able to replicate real-life tasks such as speaking with the patients, checking vital signs, dressing wounds and administering drugs. The scenario unfolds in response to their actions. Once they have reached the hospital, they submit handover notes on the patients, which are emailed to their real-life tutor for feedback.

Emily Conradi, e-Projects Manager, explained why the project has proved so useful to paramedic students: “Paramedic students spend a lot of time in work placements, which can be based anywhere in the country, so it can be hard for the students to meet face-to-face with each other and with their tutors. The advantage of Second Life is that it feels more real. Students get a sense of being there together and can decide what to do from what they can see in front of them.”

The application, developed by St George’s, is now available free of charge through Google Code to other institutions that wish to develop their own training courses. The universities of Coventry and Greenwich have already trialled the scenarios in their paramedic courses, and the concept has the potential to be used in other disciplines.

We've also used the PIVOTE technology at Derby University to set up Psychology Problem-based Learning scenarios. We plan to extend the technology to incorporated virtual chatbots and rudimentary Artificial Intelligence as the platform becomes more conducive to weaving in other server-based services.

Congratulations to St George's on a well-deserved win.

Note: Some of the above text was taken from St George's webpage

Dawkins on Second Life Sex

2009-10-06T19:17:00.007+01:00

"I could imagine having virtual sex in Second Life for example, which might be very interesting. Erm, so I'm looking forward to... some progress in the technology and I'm glad that people are already doing Second Life because the technology improvements won't happen unless the first steps are, are err... taken."

Prof. Richard Dawkins (6m14s-6m42s).

It's just as well there isn't a God, Richard.

I like the cheeky look just after he realises what he's just said at 6m40s. In all seriousness, Prof. Dawkins here suggests using head tracking with stereoscopy in Second Life which is something we've been working on recently at University of Derby. I'll be reporting results from these studies soon.

Here's a link to Richard's latest book in case there is a God or anyone from the Royal Society happens to read this blog. His website is subtitled 'A clear-thinking oasis' and I agree.

Guest Article: 'Why Online Relationships Work' by Adrienne Carlson

2009-10-01T12:56:00.001+01:00

This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of forensic scientist schools . Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson83@yahoo.com

Why Online Relationships Work

There are times when relationships can drive you up the wall, when you feel both love and hatred for the same person and it confuses you no end. But there are also other times when relationships are the lifeblood of your existence, when they are the reason you are happy and content and peaceful with your life. They’re complex, they’re compelling and they’re contradictory, and relationships are a vital part of our lives. Some are easier than others though, and in my book, online relationships work better than those we maintain face to face, because:

• You are more in control: When you have an online relationship with a friend or a lover, you don’t have the luxury of showing your emotions immediately. This means that you avoid showing even your anger and other negative emotions in the heat of the moment. Instinctive reactions are responsible for more break-ups that you would care to count, and when this option is removed and you have more time to think and reply after a while, you tend to stay together for a longer time without any major arguments or fights. You learn how to control yourself and your mouth (or rather your fingers) the longer you are in an online relationship.

• You are able to stay in touch more regularly: Since the whole world has shifted online, it’s easier to stay in touch when you’re in an online relationship. You’re both on the same social networks, you have dedicated IMs for each other, and emails are reserved for romance and even sex. With all these avenues of communication, it’s easy to keep track of each other and stay together even though you’re far apart.

• It offers the best of both worlds: Online relationships allow you to be as intimate as you want even while giving you your own space and privacy. You always have the option to meet and enjoy each other’s company, but when you want some breathing space, it’s easy to just go back to sitting behind the computer screen. Any relationship thrives only when both partners have their own space, so you can see why online relationships work.

Of course, on the downside, there is the fact that there is no sense of touch or sight in the online world, and you lose out on a lot because of this. There is also the lack of emotions or rather the perception of emotions. But as with everything in life, we have to embrace the advantages while ignoring the disadvantages if we are to enjoy the best it has to offer.

by Adrienne Carlson

Liam Kemp's 3D animation

2009-09-14T18:29:00.006+01:00

I've become a fan of Liam Kemp's skills. He's creating some of the most realistic 3D face renderings I've ever seen. We're very close to passing the point where digital images are indistinguishable from real world images. Here's a clip of his work.

Very nice. Animation. Psychologically we respond to these creations the same as if they were real life images. What are the implications for viewing and controlling the behaviour of extremely realistic 3D avatars? Should there be a code of conduct for avatar behaviour when we set animated characters to roam the 3D world on there own? If an AI controlled bot is inappropriate to a human controlled bot should the AI bot be chastised for his actions just as the human controlled avatar might?

Please take the time to check out this animated movie from Liam in 2002 in two parts. It's a tear jerker that's extremely moving.

Part 1/2

Part 2/2

Toward Semantic Virtual Worlds

2009-07-22T19:42:00.005+01:00

The boffins over at Daden Ltd have long been at the forefront of virtual worlds innovation and were recently made a Linden Lab (creators of Second Life) Gold Solution Provider. They've been working on various projects in virtual worlds including Artificial Intelligence mash-ups with chat bots. David Burden (Daden) has written a think piece here 'Toward Semantic Virtual Worlds' that challenges developers to rethink virtual worlds. It's worth reading if you are interested in virtual worlds development, artificial intelligence, web 2.0 and related issues of the semantic web.
This take on marking-up the virtual world strikes me as a timely bottom-up approach to the problem. I like the shift in perspective and it is useful in keeping the ‘graphics dominated’ focus in check. I feel that ‘non-player characters’ and chatbots, are the missing link in the social evolution of virtual worlds. It strikes me that there is no sense in building a world of zombies with no hope of original thought, however beautiful they may be. If we can begin the work of weaving self-governing behaviour from artificial intelligence programs with the social presence of virtual avatars, then however rudimentary these interactions may be, we have started a worthy journey.

Psychology of Immersive Environments Working Group

2009-07-16T01:39:00.008+01:00

There's a new initiative over at the Media Grid groups; it's called Psychology of Immersive Environments Working Group, or "PIE.TWG" for short. I recently attended their first meeting in Second Life which was enthusiastic and to the point. The group intends to move forward research in the virtual world along a number of separate strands but I think the greatest benefit will be in bringing together Psychologists and related researchers under a single umbrella group.

The groups aims as set out in their charter are:

The Psychology of Immersive Environments Working Group (PIE.TWG) is responsible for 1) advancing basic and applied research on the psychology of immersive environments, 2) promoting immersive experiences and programs that are psychologically beneficial, 3) defining best practices for the early identification and assistance of at-risk users of immersive environments and the treatment of individuals currently manifesting symptoms of immersive disorder, and 4) collecting and disseminating scientific and professional information on the psychology of immersive environments.

This sounds like a bold and timely move. I'd recommend a look at their website and if your interested check out their evolving Forums too.

Nurien Social Networking set to blow Second Life out of the water?

2009-06-19T23:15:00.003+01:00

Nurien has announced plans for a brand new high-definition graphics Social Networking service. For those in the know it uses CUDA and PhysX from NVIDIA, which means fantastically realistic movement from photo-realistic avatars. The psychological implications of approaching photo realism is something I've previously blogged on. As we approach photo realism the sense of immersion felt in virtual worlds, that contributes to believing we are 'actually there', increases dramatically. The implications of controlling an avatar that looks as realistic as real life and being able to control their behaviour are significant. One wonders if the sense of identity that each of us posses in the real world will extend to our 'Super Avatars'?

Could this attract a mainstream market that existing 3D multi-user virtual worlds have failed to tap in to? Check out the video.

Psychology on Second Life? Learning, Support and Research in 3D Online Multi-user Virtual Environments.

2009-06-01T12:47:00.006+01:00

Bignell, S.J. (2009). Psychology on Second Life? Learning, Support and Research in 3D Online Multi-user Virtual Environments. Keynote Lecture at McCord Museum. International Conference on the Use of the Internet in Mental Health, McGill University, Canada.

Psychology on Second Life?: Learning, Support and Research in 3D Online Multi-user Virtual Environments.

View more OpenOffice presentations from Simon Bignell.

Abstract:
Multi-user online virtual worlds, such as Second Life™, can provide an accessible and rapidly deployed platform for immersive learning, support groups and virtual research. However, the challenge to these innovative spaces is in realizing their potential without being bogged down in the technology. Educationalists, therapists and an increasing number of researchers are using pseudo-3D 'avatars' and groups to connect virtually with others. Just as the 2D web has broken down barriers to the availability of information, 3D virtual worlds are allowing interactions between people irrespective of location, status or disability. Support groups, educational developments and virtual laboratories for research are utilising the immersive graphically realistic nature of virtual worlds and emerging properties to good effect. This talk outlines a framework for understanding the relations between the tools, techniques and technology used in learning, support and research in these evolving virtual communities.

Teaching and Learning in Online Virtual Worlds.

2009-06-01T12:27:00.006+01:00

Bignell, S.J. (2009). Teaching and Learning in Online Virtual Worlds. Invited Talk. International Conference on the Use of the Internet in Mental Health, McGill University, Canada. May 2009. Videocast: http://tinyurl.com/m5zst6

Teaching and Learning in Online Virtual Worlds.

View more OpenOffice presentations from Simon Bignell.

Abstract:
3D multi-user virtual environments can provide a highly immersive and socially interactive way of enhancing university teaching. Most major universities have ventured into immersive 3D virtual worlds. However, existing teaching and pedagogies may not be sufficient to inform good practice in these settings. Specific skills need to be acquired by teaching professionals to run effective learning and teaching ‘in-world’. The University of Derby evaluated the use of Second Life™ for teaching and learning in Higher Education by developing virtual teaching methods and an extensive virtual world teaching space. When traditional text-based content is blended with innovative student-focused methods, the result seems to be a shift from isolated study and tutor-led instruction to student-led highly interactive group learning. Methods of teaching need to be established that place the student at the centre of the learning by involving them in the experience itself. Virtual worlds are ideal for this and findings suggest they can offer high levels of student engagement and satisfaction although whether the academic benefits of such classes are equivalent to face-to-face or existing e-learning methods is not yet fully established. Teaching in virtual worlds within Higher Education is challenging, requires planning and continual development, needs a flexible attitude towards learning, and possibly requires relinquishing control to the learner at the risk of alienating some students. The potential benefits are increased immersion and engagement with learning activities. Given the existing use of virtual immersive worlds and the impact of the internet on teaching along with the likely expansion, increasingly educationalists have to rethink student – tutor contact in these innovative learning spaces.

Autism Advocacy in the Virtual Online World

2009-05-10T16:41:00.004+01:00

Here's a news article featuring Amanda Baggs (Blog) in the virtual world Second Life. Amanda is an advocate for Autism and has profound Autistic characteristics. The video features her work in virtual worlds and her views on mental health discrimination.

Her group in Second Life is called 'Autistic Liberation Front'. The group title may sound a bit radical but their site is very accessible. I'd recommend checking it out if you're interested. Her most popular video on YouTube gained a lot of attention from the press and raised awareness of some of the classic symptoms of Autism as well as the discrepancy between Autistic communication and verbal language.

International Conference on the Use of the Internet in Mental Health' May 14-16, 2009 in Montreal, Canada

2009-05-10T12:32:00.004+01:00

I'll be giving two invited talks on the use of virtual worlds for teaching and learning at 'The International Conference on the Use of the Internet in Mental Health' May 14-16, 2009 in Montreal, Canada. Conference Website

Here's an introduction to the 3-day conference by the conference President Alain Brunet.

Alain conducts research on the role of the Internet in helping victims of trauma, their loved ones and professionals. More information on this research can be found here.

The conference will bring together people from across the globe to discuss the role of the Internet in Mental Health. I'll make my presentations available in the usual way following the conference. I'll also give backchat updates during the conference via Twitter as 'MiltonBroome'.

The Avatar as Communication

2009-04-12T16:56:00.004+01:00

This is a great presentation by an online friend and researcher, avatar Anya Ixchel. Heterotextual observations from the virtual world.

The Avatar as Communication

View more presentations from anya.

Free Training in Problem-based Learning and Teaching in Virtual Worlds (Second Life) for Psychology. Tuesday 7th April 2009 at University of Derby.

2009-03-26T13:31:00.010Z

We have now confirmed the date of the Upskilling Day and you are most welcome to register to attend. Please distribute this email to colleagues that you feel may also be interested in attending the UK-based event.

The JISC-funded PREVIEW-Psych project (http://preview-psych.org) is a 3D virtual world educational collaboration between University of Derby, Aston University and The Higher Education Academy Psychology Network. We are transferring problem-based learning techniques and technologies from Coventry University’s PREVIEW project to the Psychology subject group. The project is developing Psychology scenarios and virtual teaching techniques within the 3D virtual world Second Life.

You are invited to a free ‘Upskilling Day’ at University of Derby on Tuesday 7th April 10am-4pm. We will provide a series of hands-on workshops, guest lectures and interactive training in problem-based learning methods for effective online teaching in Second Life. No previous experience of Second Life or virtual worlds is required and all resources are provided. Buffet lunch and refreshments are also provided.

If you are involved in teaching and learning in Psychology or a related subject group and would like to attend the Upskilling Day or would like to find out more, please download a flyer and register online at the project website http://preview-psych.org or email Simon Bignell (University of Derby) at s.bignell@derby.ac.uk .

Please download the event flyer http://previewpsych.org/Upskilling%20Day%20Flyer.pdf

Regards,

Simon Bignell (Avatar: Milton Broome)
Lecturer in Psychology – University of Derby

Back to Virtuality

2009-03-13T00:03:00.004Z

Here's a link to a review of a lecture I gave in Second Life last year by a fellow Blogger. Some time on and it's nice to see a lot of what we were working on at that time has been completed.

Back to Virtuality

PIVOTE Open Source Code Released

2009-03-10T16:22:00.000Z

Virtual Worlds development company Daden have just released the open source code for PIVOTE (Previously MVP player). PIVOTE is a virtual learning authoring system for virtual worlds based on the Medbiquitous Virtual Patient standard. It was developed as part of the JISC funded PREVIEW project, where it was used to develop training material for Paramedic students at St George's Hospital and Kingston University. We've been using the player at University of Derby to 'rez' teaching objects in the virtual world Second Life for our PREVIEW-Psych project. We've integrated it into our problem-based learning scenarios and the results are fantastic.

Find out more at http://www.pivote.info/.

Food for thought for virtual worlds

2009-03-01T02:59:00.002Z

PREVIEW-Psych Project Website Launched

2008-11-19T00:55:00.003Z

Problem-based Learning in Virtual Interactive Educational Worlds for Psychology (PREVIEW-Psych)

Simon Bignell from the University of Derby is project leading a new JISC-funded £38,000 research project called PREVIEW-Psych. The project is a collaboration between University of Derby, Aston University, Coventry University and The Higher Education Academy Psychology Network.

We are transferring problem-based learning techniques and technologies from the PREVIEW project for the Psychology subject group. The project is developing Psychology scenarios and ‘intelligent avatar’ technology within the virtual world Second Life.

More information is available at the project website http://previewpsych.org We will be running a free to attend 'Upskilling day' at University of Derby in March 09 where we will provide training in the use of problem-based learning techniques within virtual worlds for the Psychology subject group. We will also be providing a mentoring scheme to around six institutions from Psychology and related subjects for more intense tutoring, coaching and seminars to enable practitioners to develop their own Second Life teaching and learning initiatives.

If you are working in teaching and learning in the Psychology subject group and would like to attend the Upskilling day or would like to find out more about the mentoring scheme please email Simon Bignell (University of Derby) at s.bignell@derby.ac.uk or contact his avatar Milton Broome in Second Life.

Open University host Virtual World Conference - ReLIVE08

2008-11-19T00:34:00.005Z

Researching Learning in Virtual Environments - ReLIVE08

With researchers and practitioners attending from around the globe, this excellent opportunity for networking promises an interesting, stimulating and exciting 2 days. The conference will begin with a reception on the evening of the 19th November, and the first full day will see the opening keynote from Edward Castronova and a varied programme of paper presentations, symposia and workshops with presenters from around the world.

The conference gala reception and dinner will be supported by a variety of entertainment including a digital caricaturist, live music and the internationally renowned Terry Waite CBE as our after dinner speaker. The second day begins with an invited panel Question Time debate including Edward Castronova, Roo Reynolds, Bill Thompson and Claudia L'Amoreaux, chaired by Ren Reynolds, founder of the Virtual Policy Network. This is followed by more presentations and workshops with a networking lunch. We end the second day on a high with a keynote plenary led by Roo Reynolds. (text taken from the ReLIVE08 website)

The conference cafe is available inworld .

There is also a ReLIVE08 Facebook group.

Check out the conference webpage ReLIVE08

Loebner Prize for artificial intelligence announced

2008-10-19T23:41:00.003+01:00

Can machines think? That's the question Alan Turing put to the world and one which scientists and philosophers are still pondering. At the 18th Loebner Prize for artificial intelligence (AI), held at the weekend, Elbot, an artificial intelligence program, convinced three of the 12 human interrogators he was indistinguishable from them.

The modern day Turing test continues to show us just how far away we are from a convincing human AI program. Psychological insights into how thoughts and concepts are represented in the mind are increasingly being used to refine such AI programs.

See the BBC News coverage for the full story.

See the Loebner Prize website for more details of the challenge.

Please Ignore - Test Only

2008-10-11T06:05:00.002+01:00

Test video embed video from Xfire.

'Treating cancer' in a virtual world

2008-10-11T03:59:00.003+01:00

Kingston University in the UK are using a innovative new 3D method for Radiography. Utilising a 3D virtual environment they are teaching students how to treat cancer patients. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7648170.stm

Hands Free 3D: Second Life Navigation Demo

2008-10-08T13:36:00.000+01:00

Check out this video on YouTube. It's the latest hands free
development for virtual worlds. If this technology could be integrated
with some of the 3D projection innovations we've seen coming out from
Italy recently we begin to reach a position of genuine complete
immersion. 3D immersive reality then need only take the next leap to
perfecting stimulatory physical feedback for the psychological
experience to be convincing enough for genuine (interactive/immersive)
experimentation. I'll continue to monitor and report on these ventures
as they impact Psychology.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t52gkAwJq8

Sent from my iPhone.

Top 25 Free Learning Professional Tools

2008-09-13T17:01:00.001+01:00

25 Tools

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: learning tools)

'The Avatar' Hollywood movie takes virtual content creation to the next level

2008-09-03T14:52:00.011+01:00

Famed Director James Cameron is in the final stages of making his blockbuster 'The Avatar'. The film has used an innovative film production technique called 'Facial Performance Replacement' amongst a host of other cutting edge digital and performance techniques.

The film, due for release in December 2009, explores multiple psychological themes and is set to further publicise the use of virtual worlds.

Check out a full review of the technology behind the film on THR.com here.

Breaking News of Next Generation Virtual World

2008-08-13T19:02:00.004+01:00

LivePlace.com are apparently working on 'City Space' an advanced 3D multi-user virtual world. News is circulating that movie quality graphics and ultra usability in this platform will be available soon. A video is currently also circulating that shows an extremely impressive urban virtual world with photo quality graphics. The game is running on OTOY, the 3D engine that renders graphics in the cloud. The technology allows relatively weak computers (or even mobile phones) to display incredibly detailed graphics comparable to those seen in Hollywood movies.

See the clip:

Although some bloggers are claiming this footage is fake (i.e., not rendered in real time) the video is convincing. If this footage is real and we can expect to see this quality graphics then the implications for psychological immersion are profound. How long before we reach totality and the physical world is augmented by ultra realistic 3D virtual environments?

The video and some of the above text were clipped from: www.techcrunch.com

UPDATE 10th May 2009... It appears that at least part of the rendering footage is from other sources and therefore the credibility of the venture might be questioned. See this original footage as identified by member deputydog on VideoSift.com

The human body is obsolete

2008-07-27T14:15:00.009+01:00

I've been interested in the futurist performance art of Stelarc (born. Stelios Arcadiou) for a while now. He worked at Nottingham Trent University, which is just down the road from Derby University. His performance art opens up questions that, I believe, traditional Science cannot yet approach. In this sense, Art is leading enquiry, which is nothing new of course. However, Stelarc pushes the boundaries as far as we can follow. His work heavily embraces the concept that the human body is obsolete (biologically inadequate), in this way he looks towards a time where biology is replaced with technology, or perhaps that they are in fact the same thing. In his words, "It is time to question whether a bipedal, breathing body with binocular vision and a 1400cc brain is an adequate biological form.".

As complex biological machines Stelarc's performances challenge notions of identity, psyche, decency, physical augmentation, cyberpscyhology, transhumanism and much more. The work is often profoundly disturbing, but I think important as a tool to push forward ways in which we might consider a virtual or technology-enhanced existence. The performances are often linked to hardware merged with his body and controlled from the web. From a third robot hand, a suspension from hooks, a cell-grown ear grafted to his arm or inside the body sculptures, the work is shocking and though provoking. Psychologically these body-technology mash-ups are confusing. Philosophically they are intriguing. How far can we replace the physical body with technology before it no longer can be though of as human?

Thinking machines and technology-enhanced bodies are the realm of the futurist and traditional thinkers are very resistant to these attempts at provoking thought. For psychologists using virtual worlds the opportunity of opening up these conceptual spaces into interactive virtual environments is now with us. A first foray into virtual 3D space often sees newbies play with the physical appearance of their human-like avatars (no one chooses the Furry avatar option anymore!) and experiencing the associated change in thoughts and behaviour that produces. Nevertheless, in the virtual world we have the opportunity to go even further than Stelarc’s performance art and utilise the space experimentally to open up Psychological questions yet unaddressed.

If you’re interested in these ideas I’d urge you to first check out his ‘Movatar’ project, where the possibility of AI-controlled virtual avatars controlling real-life bodies becomes a distinct reality through advance technology. The video below is a good introduction to Stelarc's output. Please note, the video shows scenes of human suspension art and as such might be unsuitable if you have a weak stomach.

The Heron Sanctuary - empowering people in virtual worlds

2008-07-21T17:32:00.006+01:00

Here's a good video about just how important the virtual world Second Life can be for people with disabilities. It's a video by avatar Gentle Heron who co-founded the Heron Sanctuary. The Heron Sanctuary is a community of support for all disabled people. Their community offers members information, companionship, a way to make a living and to contribute to the community, and a way to have fun. The sanctuary assists in providing for those specific needs that can best be met in the virtual environment of Second Life.

I recently met Gentle and she told me about some of the work they are doing at the Sanctuary. I think many people can benifit from this type of support including those affected by Autism. Thanks to people such as this virtual worlds are beginning to be realised to their full potential. There's a full blog about the story of the Heron Sanctuary by Widget Whiteberry here.

This clip was was featured at the Health 2.0 conference on Web 2.0 technologies in healthcare on March 3-4 2008 in San Diego. For more information on Health 2.0, please visit Health 2.0.

http://www.health2con.com

SL-Labs in San Francisco Chronicle

2008-07-12T18:42:00.005+01:00

SL-Labs recently featured in the San Francisco Chronicle in an article about Second Life healing called, 'Second Life offers healing, therapeutic options for users'. The article outlines various support groups in-world and mentions a variety of people that have contributed group over the years. Autism and Asperger’s are mentioned as well as the work of avatar 'The Sojourner' a multiple stroke survivor who created the "Shockproof Dreams" sim for stroke victims, people with autism and Asperger's syndrome and the people who care for them.

The article is well balanced and offers a glance in to the future of virtual worlds and the way in which they can have value to people real world lives.

Web Article is here: http://tinyurl.com/6oybrd

SL-Labs Video

2008-07-04T04:32:00.001+01:00

Click to Play

A video of SL-Labs at University of Derby Psychology in Second Life.

Virtually Where?

2008-06-28T15:10:00.003+01:00

This was an excellent presentation given by Andy Powell of the Eduserv Foundation recently. Andy (SL: Art Fossett) asked the question "Are 3-D virtual worlds such as Second Life having an impact on learning?" Eduserv is a UK not-for-profit charity that works to realise the effective use of ICT for learners and researchers. The Eduserv Foundation makes grants to the UK education community and undertakes other activities to support this aim.

| View | Upload your own

Fellow Blogger blogs on Autism talk

2008-06-18T22:35:00.003+01:00

I was recently asked by Mariano DiFabio to give a Second Life lecture on Autism in virtual worlds for his New York-based biopharm neetup group. We had about 20 attendees (avatars) at the lecture at SL-Labs and what was planned as a short talk on the potential of virtual environments for people with Autism lasted over an hour. This talk was given using Second Life's voice capability and worked well. There were a number of important questions raised at the end, especially some that opened up the topic of how skills learned in-world might generalise to real life.
I look forward to following up on many of the new projects I found out about and talking with the new freinds I made at the meeting. Here's a link to Mariano's report on the talk. Avelient BioPharm Blog

Autism and Asperger's in Second Life

2008-06-15T23:21:00.005+01:00

| View | Upload your own

A talk about the potential of virtual worlds for Autism research. Given in Second Life in June 2008.

SlideShare Link

Scientific discourse 2.0

2008-06-03T01:09:00.003+01:00

This recent journal article grabbed my attention. It's from Nature.com and is titled "Will your next poster session be in Second Life?" by Huang, Kamel Boulos and Dellavalle in EMBO reports, Vol 9, No. 6. 2008. PDF here.

It looks at expanding technologies of the internet and how they are getting increasingly sophisticated. The trend towards user-oriented content, or web 2.0 has rapidly expanded our ability to communicate and share information with one another over distance and 'supposedly' made us more efficient in the process. The article outlines a number of examples of web 2.0 platforms and includes virtual worlds as one way of providing education.

Stanford Experiments in VR Psychology

2008-05-24T17:58:00.003+01:00

I've long been an admirer of Jeremy Bailenson's research at Stanford University's Virtual Human Interaction Lab. His team are behind many very interesting projects researching the social psychology of digital human representation. Nick Yee especially has produced some excellent research output. Bailenson's theory of Transformed Social Interaction is providing a great framework from which to explain some of the findings coming from virtual worlds social psychology research. Here is his fast-paced talk from Metaverse U conference 2008.

Forward thinking for augmented realities

2008-05-24T14:16:00.004+01:00

Here is an excellent presentation by Mike Liebhold at this 2008 Metaverse U conference that summarises some of the upcoming and existing technology that I think will have significant impact on the way we blend virtual worlds with the real world.

Mike Liebhold provides a glimpse into a near future changed profoundly by augmented reality. This disruptive technology gets us thinking about the impact and challenges we face of the blending of 2D/3D geodata and virtual worlds. Psychologically speaking, dividing the perceived space we navigate across virtual and real worlds may have considerable drain on our ability to differentiate these domains. At some not so distant time in the future will we be able to separate one from the other? How will we come to relate to synthetic lifeforms that navigate this space and will we see digital migration to higher bandwidth virtual/real locations? Mike's talk ponders the challenge of these complex future digital/real environments.

High Resolution Avatars, Objects, and Environments

2008-05-06T00:16:00.008+01:00

We have come a long way since Mario. The impact of high-resolution rendered avatars in 3D multi-user virtual worlds is considerable for our sense of real life identity and engagement with synthetic life forms that are increasingly finding their way into our lives. Psychologically our relations with people may be greatly influenced by our virtual interactions with avatars controlled by advance AI or by real people. The significance of these interactions for us is heavily influenced by the sense of immersion or believability in the virtual world. Our sense of immersion in these worlds is critical for the social relationships that develop. High-resolution graphical representations of people are essential to this.

I think this is an important consideration. The implications are profound when we consider certain scenarios, rather than the more common uses of virtual worlds. For example, how would you respond emotionally and socially to an avatar with a photorealistic face of a long dead parent? How would you respond to the site of a photographically and anatomically accurate 3D virtual spouse flirting or arguing with a virtual representation of yourself or another person? The implications are profound for our social identity and future emotional wellbeing. It is inevitable that as graphics processors allow photorealistic avatars to interact with us in virtual worlds in increasingly realistic ways we will react with complex emotional responses. Where are the ethical boundaries to such research and how far will this diss/embodiment take us towards psychological insight?

I will be exploring these issues further from the end of the year. We'll be looking at the psychological impact of photorealistic synthetic avatars and the implications of their use and the attitudes and (social-emotional) attachments that form from them.

The following meeting in Second Life by the people at Media Grid's 'Immersive Education' initiative may be of value if you are interested in the technology behind such questions. (Friday May 9th, 4-5pm EST / 1pm Second Life time)

Further details from http://immersiveeducation.org/events/

Join us in the graphics sphere http://slurl.com/secondlife/research%20center/122/142/651 at Oddfellow Studios to discuss how high resolution graphics will soon transform Immersive Education. Support for high-resolution avatars, objects and environments is a requirement for the next generation (3rd generation) of Immersive Education that is now under development. During this meeting we’ll discuss and see examples of: high resolution avatars; high resolution objects and environments; photo-based modeling technology that enables high resolution avatars to be automatically created from a photograph of your face; current and next generation graphics rendering engines and game engines; open file formats and open art paths that enable “CREATE ONCE, EXPERIENCE EVERYWHERE”.

Children in Virtual Worlds

2008-05-05T00:17:00.004+01:00

A one-day London conference will explore the role of children in virtual worlds. The conference run from 10.00am - 5.30pm on Thursday 22nd May 2008 at The University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, London.

BBC Children’s and the University of Westminster invite you to the first conference in the UK to draw together producers and researchers working on virtual worlds and immersive gaming environments for children aged 7-11 online.

Keynote speakers include Richard Deverell, Controller, BBC Children's and Dr Adrian Woolard, Head of Innovation, BBC Future Media and Technology. Other speakers include representatives from Club Penguin, Moshi Monsters, Lego Universe, Prof David Gauntlett (University of Westminster), Lizzie Jackson (University of Westminster), Dr Diane Carr (Centre for the Study of Children, Youth and Media), Marc Goodchild (Head of Interactive and On Demand, BBC Children's), Aleks Krotoski (Guardian Unlimited), Tamara Littleton (eModeration.com) and Paul Massey (K&L Gates). In addition to the panels and presentations there will be demonstrations on virtual worlds and 3D technology.

CNN Interview with Milton Broome - Autism in Virtual Worlds

2008-04-11T15:08:00.005+01:00

Milton was recently interviewed in Second Life at SL-Labs by CNN. We spoke in depth about the utility of virtual worlds for helping people with Autism. I'd be interested in feedback from people with Autism and their carers about how they feel Virtual Communities can be of value to them.

The original video is here and the video can be viewed below.

You can also find a related CNN report on an initiative by David Savill (Avatar Dave Sparrow), a person with Autism, on 'Naughty Auties' a space specifically designed for people with Autism in Second Life. The report is here.

Project Spectrum helps people with Autism

2008-04-11T14:45:00.006+01:00

New 3D design software called Sketchup has been released by Google and is helping people with Autism to express themselves using 3D drawing tools. Project Spectrum is focusing on bringing this freely downloadable software to the Autistic community. I think that this is another good example of how people with high-functioning Autism and Asperger's Disorder can utilise their capacity for visual representation in a creative and therapeutic way.

Second Life allows the same type of interaction with 3D objects but goes one step further in allowing high levels of social (virtual) interactivity in the same space without the associated disabling (real world) anxiety this necessarily involves for people on the Autistic Spectrum. Combining the consistency and fixed nature of virtual 3D structures that people with ASD crave alongside the changing social relations and interactivity of Second Life, we may be able to provide stimulating social learning spaces for people with Autism. Please see this video for more information on Project Spectrum.

Child-like intelligence created in Second Life

2008-03-17T02:46:00.004Z

A new artificial intelligence program has been created in Second life that is claimed to have a rudimentary theory of mind and the intelligence of a four-year-old child. The ‘child’ is a product of logic-based artificial intelligence and complex modelling techniques, and operates on what has been said to be the most powerful university-based supercomputing system in the world.

A creation of researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, four-year-old ‘Eddie’ has his own set of beliefs and the ability to reason about his beliefs to draw conclusions in a manner that matches human children his age. This includes a partially-developed "Theory of Mind", which allows him to understand, predict and manipulate the behaviour of other agents and human Second Life residents, with whom researchers expect the technology to be able to one day interact with in the real, physical world.

Please see HERE for the full article at ITNews.com.

Prototype (real) web browser in Second Life

2008-03-16T00:14:00.010Z

Today I was fortunate to be one of the first people to try out a very early release of a prototype in-world web browser. The tool was announced on the 'Real Life Education in Second Life' group. The latest releases of the SL browser have included a built-in web browser but this has been limited to a single pop up framed window.

This new 'browser' script allows the 'web on prim' technology but with the added advantage of having clickable hyperlinks. Although this function is limited at present, it does appear to work, and it's fast.

The advantages are obvious and, as far as I know, this is the very first instance of this technology in any virtual world. The early prototype has been developed by avatar Kii Lilliehook and is called 'kiibrowser'. Kii has set up a group (html in sl) for those interested in following the development of this long-awaited tool. More updates will follow.

HEA Massively Multi Learner Workshop 2008

2008-03-12T14:41:00.007Z

The HEA Massively Multi Learner Workshop 2008 to be held on March 18th at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.

There is still time to register for this event and it will be a great place to meet, talk about and experience current practice in virtual world education. If you have an SL avatar let us know, if not we will be running an 'introduction' session to get you started. In any case you should bring a headset with mic, and it will be a great opportunity to bring along interested sceptics who need to see what is really going on.

http://www.inspire.anglia.ac.uk/mml08/

http://www.ics.heacademy.ac.uk/events/displayevent.php?id=180

Derby Vice-Chancellor signs contract in Second Life

2008-02-08T22:52:00.002Z

A Memorandum of Understanding contract was recently signed simultaneously in Second Life and real life by the University of Derby and global technology services company EDS. Avatars of Professor John Coyne, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, and Bill Thomas –Executive Vice President of EDS Europe signed the contract in a virtual simulation of the Next-Generation Games Development Suite where our students a taught in Second Life. The deal will serve to develop a stronger partnership between the institutions. The University and EDS chose to sign their new partnership in real life and virtually to signal their joint commitment to pushing the boundaries of new technology.

The memorandum of understanding will provide closer links between the worlds of corporate technology and academia by paving the way for University student placements with EDS, which has a large presence in Derby; further training of 200 EDS project staff in specialist computer skills by University experts; University-based activities for training purposes among senior EDS managers, e.g.: forensic computing and games design at the University’s Kedleston Road main site, or cookery at its Devonshire Campus in Buxton.

Professor Coyne, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “The signing of this memorandum of understanding between the University and EDS, both in reality and in Second Life, is the start of what we hope will be a long and happy association in both worlds. “The experience of simultaneously conducting the University’s business in real life and cyberspace is a first for me. Perhaps this is one way a busy Vice-Chancellor can actually find the time to be in two places at once.”

For more information about the event, visit www.derby.ac.uk/secondlife.

3D Therapy for Asperger's and ADHD

2008-01-22T15:52:00.002Z

This is an interesting video from an American News Channel about an "...innovative new therapy offered at the Center for Brain Health in Dallas. The news report has dummed-down the real work going on here but have a look at the clip and if you look passed the cheesy reporter's clichés, "...funky computer pastime", it's quite interesting. They're practicing social skills in Second Life by running virtual job interviews for people diagnosed with Asperger's.

I think practicing social interactions is something that thousands of people do everyday in Second Life. The persona we adopt in an interview is just another face we choose to show to the world, if not a highly conformed one. This is probably similar to the way anonymous avatars present to the virtual world, it's just that in virtual worlds avatars are free to bend or violate those social rules and in a formal job interview that's probably a bad thing to do.

As a halfway house this seems like a good idea but the assumption behind the 'therapy' is that the skills will be generalised to real life situations. This is one bugbear with behavioural treatments for Autism. It can take a great deal of time to transfer a skill base from one context to another. Behaviourally speaking I'd view this with suspicion until the researchers/practitioners found evidence of effectiveness in the real world. The lack of reinforcing cues such as spontaneous nods, non-verbal cues and body language that are missing in the virtual world would be the essential parts of communication in a job interview. However, they are using real-time voice and the intervention has got to be a good way of reducing the anxiety of a real role-play interview; it can also be done over the internet. I have an open mind on this type of therapy and look forward to reading their findings. I’ll blog more here once I’ve managed to find out more about this work.

I'm resistant to the idea of attributing the label 'Patients' to anyone diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome but at least here we see what looks like a Second Life intervention with some common sense behind it. I'm still not convinced that they are doing ‘Therapy’, perhaps in a loose sense of the term, or even as they claim, “…training the brain to adapt and respond” over and above what we normally do in everyday life. What is special about this intervention, it would seem to me, is that people with Asperger’s are engaging with virtual relationships and benefiting from them.

The video clip of the news report can be viewed at the link below (2mins) as well as the accompanying web page.

“How 'Second Life' therapy helps Asperger's patients.” Web Page News Report.
“Asperger's patients helped using ‘Second Life’ therapy” Video News Report.

Augmented Reality technology challenges notions of consciousness.

2008-01-19T01:12:00.002Z

Two boffins from Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a way to seamlessly integrate virtual world avatars and graphics into real life scenes in real time. http://arsecondlife.gvu.gatech.edu/ . ‘Thinkers’, a Second Life group with over 600 members, will be having an in-world discussion event on this work and its consequences at 11.30pm (GMT)/3.30pm (PST) on 22nd January 2008. http://slurl.com/secondlife/SupportforHealing/199/189/29 Check out this video for a sample of where the technology is right now.

Might we utilise this technology to augment our own consciousness some day? We know that perception is created in the brain so how long before we manipulate the sensory input sufficiently to authentically make the cognitive jump into a blended reality? Psychologically speaking this technology has potentially huge implications for social interaction theory and identity theory. Philosophically, if the avatars we socially interact with and form relations with are non-physical need we be physical too? Perhaps this takes us back to the old, “Can a computer be conscious?” debate. If two avatars met and could realistically pass between the virtual/real worlds where are the boundaries? Is this the first step toward eradicating the separation of real life and virtual worlds? If so, what kind of a world is emerging? Many, many thought experiments from this one. Come along to the event, run by avatar Extropia DaSilva of the Thinkers group, for some high level discussion amongst diverse intellects.

Do Avatars Dream of Civil Rights?

2008-01-16T05:28:00.002Z

MacArthur Series on Philanthropy and Virtual Worlds. The USC Institute for Network Culture and Global Kids present a discussion on Virtual Liberties: Do Avatars Dream of Civil Rights? 12:00p.m. PST on Monday, January 28, 2008.

Please join the USC Institute for Network Culture and Global Kids for the first event in an upcoming series on philanthropy and virtual worlds. The event, "Virtual Liberties: Do Avatars Dream of Civil Rights?" will be held on the USC Annenberg Island http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ilha%20de%20Intercambio/9/22/29 or on the Global Kids estate www.tinyurl.com/2m4dnp on Second Life at 12:00p.m. PST on Monday, January 28, 2008.

Jonathan F. Fanton, President of the MacArthur Foundation, will chair a discussion about the avatar civil liberties. Joining him will be Robin Harper, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Development from Linden Lab, and Jack Balkin, professor of Constitutional Law and the First Amendment at Yale Law School. Prior to their remarks, Douglas Thomas, Professor at USC and Director of the Institute for Network Culture, and Barry Joseph, Director of Global Kids' Online Leadership Program, will give updates on and announce a dramatic series of programs as part of MacArthur's year exploring philanthropy in virtual worlds. Thomas and Joseph are MacArthur grantees.

Science Friday

2008-01-11T23:09:00.001Z

Science Friday is an American public radio show and a gathering in Second Life about SCIENCE. The event takes place in Second Life on FRIDAYs. Simple as the concept is it works a treat. You can find the in-world location by clicking here.

Topics are always stimulating and the show has guests and takes telephone calls from listeners and questions from SL residents. There are often debates about science in education and the topics are varied and interesting.

If you attend the Second Life event you'll get to interact with the constant stream of public text messages that the audience send each other. These vary from the astute and profound to the ignorant and stupid. The audience seem to be comprised of a disproportionate amount of American 'professionals' from a wide range of occupations. Partly I think because of the shows US popularity and partly because of the SL users. Keep your eye out for Lindens (Avatars of those who work for Second Life creators Linden Lab) they are regularly at this event.

The host Ira Flatow (SL:Ira Flatley) who is in-world during the show is entertaining and keeps the show moving along well. He's the guy in the white t-shirt in the centre of the group in the pictures. The 2 hour show/meetings are fun and educational, there's always plenty to learn and I'd very much recommend that you try them on 8pm GMT on Fridays. You can visit the website here.

Milton Gets A New Avatar

2008-01-05T02:15:00.000Z

With a couple of media appearances looming and Milton's old Avatar looking a bit shabby I decided to go for a new look which proved to be an education all of itself. After trying out several looks (including a skeleton and a chimpanzee) I decided to go for a very smart professional look.

My side project that is attempting to get as realistic an avatar as possible of my own appearance has been a partial success so far but still looks a little too freaky for a primary skin. I'm going to continue to perfect that technique before using it. It looks like the best way to map an actual face onto an avatar is to use a blend of original high quality digital photos and Photoshop techniques over a precise template. It's the joins between the photo layers that are particularly hard to get correct and are very much dependent on the avatar's final shape. These will always have to be custom made jobs.

These are some shots of Milton 2.0. He's definitely much slicker than the real life me and looks more intelligent so we'll see how he gets on in the virtual world. I've kitted him out with photorealistic skin, hair and a decent animation override so he moves like a real person as well as looking authentic. It took me a while but these were the best examples I could find in SL and were recommended by some of the best builders and artists in Second Life. The interface between avatar and real life person has always fascinated me I wonder if this will affect the way my students or visitors interact with Milton. I think the end result works well.

Mixed views on Immersive Education

2007-12-19T16:25:00.000Z

Here's an interesting debate in the Chronicle of Higher Education about the value of immersive virtual education.

Link to Article

The idea that we should prevent some education from becoming game like and keep the boundaries separated from each other requires thought. I agree there is just no replacement, at present, for replacing traditional methods of teaching like reading academic books and attending lectures but I think immersive 'serious games' can contribute significantly to the current generation of learners. We certainly can't ignore their appeal, the question, as always, is how they can help our students and is this at least as good as existing methods.

Thanks to Aaron E. Walsh for the link.

Autism and Asperger's Research in Second Life

2007-12-19T15:26:00.001Z

At University of Derby I run a course called 'Autism, Asperger's and ADHD' for Psychology undergraduates. One frequent discussion point is that of the Autistic label and the negative connotations that this has for 'suffers'. What is encouraging is that there is a move to reclaim the label by some Autism advocacy and parent groups. This trend to reframe Autism, not as a disorder, but as a different cognitive style is viewed in different ways across academia and the medical profession.

Parents seem to be divided on the topic as well. There is the diagnostic use of the term 'Autistic Disorder' as a descriptive category (e.g. DSM-IV, ICD-10), but also the more popular use of the term 'Autism' that means different things to different people. Then there is the often inaccurate way the condition is portrayed by the media. Even the words we use to describe a 'condition' or a 'disorder' are influenced by our thinking and our notion of what 'it' is. That's why for me it is vitally important to know what one is referring to when talking about Autism. Are we trying to describe a cluster of co-occurring symptoms or are we trying to give someone a classification, "He's Autistic" or "He's an Aspie" and what purpose does this serve? For research it's important to deal with the symptoms rather than the label. I'm interested in what it means to have a condition on the Autistic spectrum and how virtual worlds like Second Life might be of use to those diagnosed with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

The Second Life Group 'Autism Research' is now well established and I've had a number of discussions with people over the past few months about the use of the virtual world by people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). There are a very large number of people with ASD in Second Life and what is apparent is that they are using it for a variety of reasons. Some people I've spoken to with Asperger's Syndrome claim that the text-based nature of the social interactions is a better way to communicate whereas others say it's the game-like quality of the platform that is appealing. There are a few papers recently published on this topic.

I'm currently setting up a research project that is investigating the use of the grid by people with these conditions. I'll post further updates here as the project develops.

Edinburgh University Guidelines for Using External Web 2.0 Services

2007-12-14T22:54:00.000Z

The University of Edinburgh has recently released a very useful document that will be of value to those working with Second Life and Web 2.0 applications in an educational context. It highlights many, if not all, of the issues that one must consider with the shift away from University hosted (controlled) web-based applications towards external ones such as social networking sites and Second Life. It makes for interesting reading of some of the possible ethical and legal issues that may come to play a part in the success of teaching and research in 3D virtual worlds. It's a draft document of an ongoing wiki.

http://www.vp.is.ed.ac.uk/content/1/c4/12/45/GuidelinesForUsingExternalWeb2.0Services-20070823.pdf

How to assess the impact of Second Life for educational purposes

2007-11-18T02:22:00.000Z

[Taken from a recent email in which I got carried away on a theme... comments welcome.]
I am a Developmental Psychologist and so my perspective has been to look towards the quality and variation in how we learn over development. As children we look to others and copy them and as adults we utilise these skills for our own independent learning. We have to learn to learn, and this is different across contexts. Second Life looks like a game and thus affords a playful quality to the interactions we have and the things we do in-world. This can be exploited for good because we learn well when we are playing and the skills learnt whilst at play seem to transfer well to other domains. So, if we set up playful environments for learning we should expect that our students will play. However, if we set up learning environments that simulate the teaching environment of the school or university classroom this may not afford the same dynamics and in Second Life we should not expect the same type of learning to take place or interactions to exist. The class is there with the teacher but it is still feels like 'a game'. I think the context of Second Life to learning can be both beneficial and detrimental depending on how it is presented to our students. This has implications for how we assess the impact of 'learning' and what indeed we mean when we try to measure the impact of those activities for educational purposes. If we are trying to enthuse then we necessarily need to make the tasks fun within Second Life. If we are trying to instil knowledge we should look to the platforms unique affordances for conveying this. What is it that we can do in the 3D virtual world that we cannot do out of it, or at least what is it that we can do 'just as well' there. I can attend a formalised teaching session and listen to a tutor but if all the time I want to build a castle or fly across to the other side of the island I will not be concerned with the meaning of the class or activity. If the learning tasks we construct involve building and flying then the learning itself is embedded in the platform's unique affordances. This is educationalists current challenge and our biggest questions surround how we might evolve these learning activities. Very few educationalists are currently involved in this. The majority of those who have attempted this are from the UK I am pleased to say. In this way Second Life presents problems for people unfamiliar with the platform, assuming they initially take to it that is. In my experience, about half of those who are new to Second Life and use it for educational purposes do not find the experience useful at all. Not everyone 'gets' that Second Life is only a game when used for that. It is an educational experience only if we define its usage as such; left undefined it reverts to a game. Although, I think everyone can benefit from using it in an academic context given sufficient guidance. It is easy to see how it might replace VLEs like Blackboard, Moodle and WebCT etc. I get my Psychology undergraduates to build up Psychology reports from prim blocks each representing a paragraph or section and to reconstruct the academic argument or knock-down the structure as they see fit. In this way I am encouraging them to think and build in 3D, so the conceptual space is represented differently from anything they could ever do on the 2D web. Other tasks involve mind mapping in 3D, where my students can construct a mindmap of a Psychology essay and look at how the components of the academic work are interrelated in 3D virtual space. I blend the methods so they use traditional Virtual Learning Environments, 2D and 3D web with multimedia and conventional teaching methods. Sometimes a textbook IS the best resource we have at our disposal. These techniques each afford different methods of assessment and it is hard to tease apart how they can be differentiated from each other to place a quantifiable value on the benefit of multi-user virtual learning environments like Second Life. There is the traditional method of using a questionnaire or survey or class test before and then after a session whilst holding a control group who did not do the lesson or activity in Second Life. However, this approach lends itself to many confounding variables, like the participating students' familiarity with virtual worlds or even just their familiarity with things like social networking. Web 2.0 applications or IT in general. So, tight matching of 'experimental' groups is needed for traditional methodologies like this, which in itself can be problematic. We need a way of assessing our impact in Second Life without influencing the process by the observation itself and allowing our assessments to be both valid and reliable. So many factors influence the route to knowledge exchange and the learning of new skills when we start to use immersive technology to teach. Second Life is VERY distracting and there are many ways in which the tool (SL) can impinge on the learning outcomes of our classes and modules. The platform is engaging and immersive but this must also be directed at the learning outcomes we want to teach. The biggest issue s for educators is probably the classroom dynamic and trying to control the teaching session in the way we would want to in a conventional classroom setting. The voice facility of Second Life has had a big impact on our ability to manage a class or learning activity in world. The best use of Second Life though is not in trying to replicate the dynamic of the classroom but rather to innovate with new ways of teaching and attempt to pass over the activity of learning to our students. This may involve relieving ourselves of control of the student/teacher relationship. Discovery and trial and error work well in Second Life. Prescript lesson structure and imposed control do not. Playful learning is essential for active learning and our student can and do engage when we trust them to learn with just enough guidance from us. Diana Laurillard has written more about this process and some ideas of Vygotsky closely link to it. I think the most appropriate way in which we can assess the impact of using Second Life in an educational context is by using a technique called Action Research. In this method we place ourselves with the learner and run through an iterative process of observation, evaluation and change and repeat this cycle improving our methods and trying out new ways of teaching. Constantly reflecting on our methods and adapting to feedback allow us to influence change in the environment as we use it. So rather than a long drawn out process we run teaching sessions with the students in charge of their own progress and self-paced activities. Following these we ask the students to reflect on the learning and methods with self-reflective diaries as well as questionnaires and direct observation. The next session or iteration is adapted in light of these comments and we then see how the next group of students do. There is more individual variation across students of course, but what comes out of this is a deeper understanding of process rather than outcome. We can find out how students learn rather than if they have learnt. I think that qualitative pedagogical techniques such as Action Research are valuable in the sense that in immersive learning environments we need to embed ourselves as teachers and get involved in the process of understanding. Traditional VLEs lack this engagement. We cannot just set up a learning environment and step back from it. That is why the role of teacher or lecturer is vital in this process. By fostering the learning experience we can utilise the virtual world to produce amazingly effective teaching. Assessment is part of the process because we reflect on what is happening and can change it there and then. The impact comes from the interaction with both the content and each other in this process. It is a qualitatively different form of learning and so cannot be easily compared with non-Second Life methods. Is Second Life better than 2D web-based virtual learning? Not yet, it is too early to say. Will it be better? Yes, almost certainly, because the interactions are richer, the content easier to provide, the platform cheaper, the students can be engaged more readily, the technology is more efficient, assessment is easier, playful learning is afforded and tailored environments can be constructed for specific learning outcomes. In short, multi-user 3D learning environments are here to stay and offer a new way of thinking about the individual processes involved in our students' acquisition of knowledge and skills.

Deep Immersion in Second Life

2007-11-05T16:54:00.000Z

This video illustrates some of the technology that is being explored in moving toward a complete immersion in virtual worlds by University of Milan. Academic interest in Virtual Reality tended to die out towards the end of the 90s and I believe that was mainly due to limitations on hardware. This kind of venture into what is essentially a 'holodeck' has massive implications for the advance of scientific enquiry. Within Psychology alone we are beginning to realise that this technology is opening up uncharted methodologies and raising interesting ethical questions. Thanks to David Orban for the link.

A set of principles for beyond Web 2.0

2007-11-05T16:39:00.000Z

Here's a fantastic presentation about how a company can succeed in today's markets by embracing the web 2.0 principles. This was taken from David Orban's great Blog.

| View | Upload your own

The Second Life of UK Academics

2007-11-05T16:03:00.000Z

As well as getting several mentions about our teaching and research work in Second Life in John Kirriemuir's recently updated review for the Eduserve Foundation '2007 snapshot of UK HE and FE developments in SL', University of Derby's ventures into Second Life have also been noted in the web magazine ARIADNE.

The article is called 'The Second Life of UK Academics' and gives an overview of John's review.

NeuroVR Virtual Reality System

2007-11-03T21:02:00.000Z

NeuroVR is a virtual reality system that has been developed for clinical use. It looks impressive and I'm in the process of trying to get a VR headset to test the deep immersive element of it. Although the software itself is free and the graphics are (fairly) impressive, I don't think it rivals Second Life in any way. HOwever, the system does allow the user to plug in a set of LCD goggles for that extra boost of virtual realism. One of my big problems with Second life is that unless you have a massive monitor and sit very close one's peripheral vision tends to diminish the experience. I'm aiming to get a deeper immersive experience to test some experimental paradigms I'm working on at the moment. The NeuroVR platform itself is pretty basic but it does have a hearty clinical following (CBT, phobia treatment, etc) so I think we'll shortly be able to cross platforms with this technology. Here's a presentation about it.

SlideShare"> | View | Upload your own

Synthetic Avatars

2007-10-30T03:34:00.000Z

Following on from my thoughts about academic avatars I recently decided to spend some valuable personal time on a little experiment. It's turned into yet another project (sighs). I'm interested in creating avatars that not only resemble their owners but in fact are exact replications of their owners. I mean, going beyond the 'out of the box' SL avatars, and indeed beyond so-called 'photo realistic' skins, to photographic replications and anatomical recreations of avatar owners. This means transposing digital images into second life and mapping them onto the avatar framework as skins as well as taking accurate measurements of the physical body to transpose to the avatar. This process of recreation rather than simulation is actually much harder than it seems and somewhat of an art. The result is a realistic (if not spooky) likeness that seems short in comparison to everyone else in Second Life, most avatars being well over the equivalent of 7-foot tall in Second Life (as well as idyllically super-toned, muscular and attractive).

There are one or two services within SL that offer the photographic replication but these are very poor quality and fail to capture the essence of the user. I'll post more details on this as the project develops. The initial results are a little bit freakish and remind me of the film 'AI'. At the very least when I've perfected this technique my students should be able to recognise me properly, rather than having to make the contextual-based leap of similarity with my real self. More pictures to follow as time allows.

Net-G Students & and the Plugged-in Revolution

2007-10-30T01:24:00.000Z

Here's an inspiring video that really presses home the need to engage students of the net-generation. Without the use of modern technology education will find it hard to communicate in a language that the modern student understands. As the language of academia moves more from the written word towards a 'vocabulary of experience', that is 'doing' rather than describing, modern technology can help us engage and motivate students in a way that paper books once did. I'm, of course, playing Devil's advocate here, I love books.

(Thanks to Eloise Pasteur's blog for putting me on to this video)

Academic Avatars

2007-10-17T09:05:00.000+01:00

I've been thinking about the how academic avatars should differ from our real-life personas in Second Life teaching and research settings. Recently and was fortunate enough to come across Christopher Conway's article on a similar vein. I shall certainly be thinking about Milton's characteristics a little more from now. I'm currently being approached in Second Life on SL-Labs or by email at the rate of about 1 enquiry per day by parents of children with ADHD and/or Autism. It's hard to know how to handle all their questions about these huge topics when there are so many outstanding questions about these fields. A common theme is that there seems to be a huge number of people with Asperger's Syndrome using SL itself for therapeutic purposes or just plain fun. I always try to draw a professional line on advice giving that might influence decisions too much, that's a job for clinicians and multi-practice teams IMHO. But one thing that does strike me is the range of avatars I come across in a professional capacity within SL and how I must appear to them. Milton's AV looks a bit like me and that is the intention; so that students know who he is. I'm wondering if this is really that important. Do we need to have avatars that resemble us in order to be taken seriously? I've always been a little uncomfortable discussing the intricacies of the diagnostic procedure with a 40 year old mum (or dad) dressed up as an anthropomorphic sexy rabbit (or 'Furry'). Am I being prejudice? “Furries have rights too”, I hear you scream. Check out Christopher's article on the Inside Higher Ed pages. I'm just wondering what Goffman would have made of all this?

Virtual Psychology in Second Life

2007-10-12T19:40:00.001+01:00

Over the last month I've been busy preparing a funding bid for Derby University to lead a massive collaboration between Ten different organisations including seven major UK Universities. We plan a community of Virtual Psychology in Second Life to advance knowledge, teaching, and research in virtual worlds via innovation and technology. If successful in acquiring research money, we will take the emerging field of Virtual Psychology to the next level with a variety of innovative projects in the virtual world. It is a very exciting venture and the process of putting the bid together has already led to a number of spin-off projects.

JISC Services Upskilling Event - Oxford

2007-09-05T16:09:00.000+01:00

Last week I gave a talk on behalf of Derby University and Education UK on Second Life to JISC in Oxford at their JISC Services Upskilling Event. This was an internal event and provided delegates with the opportunity to find out a bit more about how Second Life is used. The event was impressive with just under 100 delegates, all it seemed, with wireless laptops. Well, it was meant to be a paperless event I suppose. I did two sessions and got some great questions about the functionality of Second Life as a teaching platform and about the educational use of it now. Thanks to all those who spoke with me about Second Life at this event and those who expressed an interest in research and teaching in Second Life. See you in London on the 20th...

Here is the presentation:

Derby Second Life Teaching on BBC News

2007-08-31T01:37:00.001+01:00

DERBY UNIVERSITY ON BBC TV

Our teaching and research in Second Life was featured in a series of three news articles on BBCs East Midlands Today program on television recently. SL-Labs and John Sear's Games Programming students from Derby University were highlighted as one of the cutting-edge uses of Second Life.

Myself (Simon Bignell) and John Sear (Derby University) were interviewed both in real life and in-world.

The East Midlands Today web page is HERE and you can view the clips below. Derby University students working in Second Life constructed a replica of the East Midlands Today TV studio. The report featured our students at work and showed how the platform can be used for all kinds of educational use.

The journalist (Brady Harron) said: "The bureau is modelled on the main EMT building in Nottingham."

"It even has a replica of our studio so anyone can come in and sit on the famous white chairs usually occupied by Anne and Dom."

The virtual bureau also has links to BBC East Midlands content, including all radio stations and websites. Brady added: "Hopefully any Second Life visitors will have a look around, and maybe get in touch about stories in their first or second lives."

The bureau was built with help from University of Derby students Matthew Brittain and Chris Butler. You can view their work in Second Life at our island called 'Games at DerbyUni'.

View the clips here:
1/3 Second Life and Virtual Worlds

2/3 University of Derby and Virtual Teaching

3/3 On-line Virtual Worlds

Voice Now Active on Derby SL-Labs

2007-08-13T14:05:00.000+01:00

Good news. We have now activated and fully tested the voice function on SL-Labs (our Psychology teaching and research facility on Education UK Island).

The Second Life voice function offers many advantages over the old Ventrillo system that we were using.

This provides the next big leap in teaching Psychology in Second Life and will very much enhance our students learning experience. Teaching is scheduled to start in September 2007.

Some fun

2007-08-06T12:31:00.001+01:00

Click to enlarge.

By Tateru Nino (Accessed on 6th August 2007 from http://www.secondlifeinsider.com/2007/08/03/comic-I-am-not-making-this-up/)

Some Foundations for Second Life Pedagogy

2007-08-06T12:08:00.000+01:00

An excellent article has recently been created by Neil LaChapelle (University of Waterloo) on the 'Educause Connect' website. The article is titled 'Some Foundations for Second Life Pedagogy' and provides a nice reflection on teaching methods in SL and some thoughts on its best uses. Neil writes,
"...the combination of:
- Empathy
- Encounter
- Exploration
* Rules (Logic, conceptual/factual structure)
* Play (Learning activity, processing)
* Culture
...does offer a foundation for some pretty rigorous work on the educational uses of the Second Life platform. It's not the whole story, but it's a great place to start." (Accessed on 6th August 2007 from http://connect.educause.edu/blog/HiredEd/somefoundationsforse/44785?time=1186397357)

It's a good article and well worth a read if you are interested in the educaional use of Second Life. Thanks to Eloise Pasteur's blog post for putting me on to this.

Improvements to SL-Labs

2007-08-06T11:57:00.000+01:00

We've added an additional structure to the SL-Labs build on Education UK Island. A large gazbe with room for up to 8 poster boards will host the Psychology Skills session information. The gazebo is also equipped with seats for students to sit and read through the information provided by the posterboards. Alternatively this information can be taken away as a notecard or it is also possible to 'jump out' to the web and view the 2D module information. A number of activities are palnned that will involve both solitary and small group work in SL. Oh, and did I mention, we've also improved the landscaping and put in a relaxing pond area to sit and read the module materials. Further improvements are palnned over the next few weeks. Please visit our SL-Labs teaching and research space in world whee you'll be able to access additional resources such as RSS feeds and streaming video and audio.

Second Life Working Group @ Derby Uni

2007-07-31T16:56:00.000+01:00

Earlier in the week I met with our Second Life working group at University of Derby. Our aim is to look at how we can utilise the platform to improve the learning experience of our students, both distance learners and campus-based. The group formed after myself and John Sear (Games Development) presented to around 50 University of Derby staff who had expressed an interest in finding out more about SL. We now have more of a direction and some clear objectives about how we will be moving forward with the platform as a virtual learning environment.

With the final build completed of the teaching and research facility (SL-Labs) the empthasis has now shifted to looking in more detail at the available eduactional tools to further enhance the teaching project. We already have excellent support from the people at Education UK and over the next few weeks will be expanding our inventory of tools to enable students to Blog from inside SL and to email out from SL and to message into SL. These technologies are furtherimproving the functionality of SL as an educational tool and it is becoming universally acknowledged as THE state of the art teaching tool. Derby looks forward to playing its part in pushing forward these innovations within education and especially within Psychology in the UK. Exciting times indeed for teaching and research in virtual environments.

July 2007 snapshot of UK HE and FE developments in SL

2007-07-24T13:00:00.000+01:00

Recently an excellent 'snapshot' of UK education in Second Life was publish by John Kirriemuir (Silversprite Helsinki) and the Eduserve Foundation. It provides an up to date (July 2007) authoritative survey of UK educational activity in Second Life and is well worth reading if you are in any way involved with education in Second Life. The report summarises an investigation into the use and uptake of Second Life by UK Higher and Further Education.

The research, carried out in the period up until July 2007, had four main goals:

1) to determine the "state of play" of SL developments within the Higher and Further Education sector.
2) to discover how these developments are supported, in terms of time, funding and other resources.
3) to explore the functionality of these developments, i.e. which types of media or interactive service they incorporate.
4) to establish how "busy", or well-used, the developments have been and discover any impacts resulting from their implementation and use.

You can find a link to the downloadable article below. University of Derby and EducationUK Island get several mentions and shows that we are one of the leading pioneers in teaching and research within Second Life the UK at present. Many thanks to John for putting this together.

A July 2007 "snapshot" of UK Higher and Further Education Developments in Second Life [PDF]

Busy...Busy...Busy

2007-07-24T11:51:00.000+01:00

We have recently extended the SL-Labs University of Derby teaching and research facility on EducationUK Island and are continuing to improve these in preparation for teaching in September. The build has come a long way and we are now joined by volunteer members of Derby Uni staff who are assisting with the build and the teaching preparation. Key members of the team include Biglurch Habercom who is also resident on EducationUK Island and is an experienced builder and scripter.

Derby University has also set up a working party to look into future educational expansion into Second Life. This group will steer ideas at a University level and contribute to the innovative work we are doing in the field of Psychology and Games Development. As these ideas develop we will see the University presence develop further in line with the needs of our students.

Milton Broome's Virtual Psychology Blog

Digital Hybridity

Federal Consortium of Virtual Worlds (FCVW) Conference

Inquiry Based Learning and Second Life

Microsoft may bail out Linden Lab if rumors are true.

Opening Up Access In Games, Simulations and Virtual Worlds

PREVIEW-Sustain Project

Second Life As Science: Studying The Bystander Effect

The Open, Social, Participatory Future of Online Learning

Discussion about Trends in Virtual Worlds by Simon Bignell and Panote Siriaraya

John Underkoffler demos breathtaking computer interface

Get a second life

Making Sense of Virtual Worlds

‘Making Sense of Virtual Worlds and User Driven Innovation’

The AVATAR Project

Virtual Worlds in Education...Why?

CNN article on Autism and Virtual Worlds

SL-Labs at Derby University Virtual campus

The Virtual Revolution

Richard Dawkins interviews Derren Brown

Second Life Viewer 2 Beta, Now Available

Using Virtual Worlds to Learn About This One

Best Practices in Virtual Worlds Teaching Guide 2.0 now available

Virtual World Watch: Surveying virtual world use in UK universities and colleges

Exploring Your Mind… In Another Life!

Links from across cyberspace

'Psychological research in virtual worlds'

'100 Incredible & Educational Virtual Tours You Don’t Want to Miss'

'10 Myths About Schizophrenia'

Will Avatar Work?

Browser-based virtual worlds gets upgrade: MellaniuM environment

Virtual world activity in UK Universities and Colleges

The 100 best blogs for Psychology students

The Ethics of Conducting Research on the Internet

Times Higher Education Awards

Dawkins on Second Life Sex

Guest Article: 'Why Online Relationships Work' by Adrienne Carlson

Liam Kemp's 3D animation

Toward Semantic Virtual Worlds

Psychology of Immersive Environments Working Group

Nurien Social Networking set to blow Second Life out of the water?

Psychology on Second Life? Learning, Support and Research in 3D Online Multi-user Virtual Environments.

Teaching and Learning in Online Virtual Worlds.

Autism Advocacy in the Virtual Online World

International Conference on the Use of the Internet in Mental Health' May 14-16, 2009 in Montreal, Canada

The Avatar as Communication

Free Training in Problem-based Learning and Teaching in Virtual Worlds (Second Life) for Psychology. Tuesday 7th April 2009 at University of Derby.

Back to Virtuality

PIVOTE Open Source Code Released

Food for thought for virtual worlds

PREVIEW-Psych Project Website Launched

Open University host Virtual World Conference - ReLIVE08

Loebner Prize for artificial intelligence announced

Please Ignore - Test Only

'Treating cancer' in a virtual world

Hands Free 3D: Second Life Navigation Demo

Top 25 Free Learning Professional Tools

'The Avatar' Hollywood movie takes virtual content creation to the next level

Breaking News of Next Generation Virtual World

The human body is obsolete

The Heron Sanctuary - empowering people in virtual worlds

SL-Labs in San Francisco Chronicle

SL-Labs Video

Virtually Where?

Fellow Blogger blogs on Autism talk

Autism and Asperger's in Second Life

Scientific discourse 2.0

Stanford Experiments in VR Psychology

Forward thinking for augmented realities

High Resolution Avatars, Objects, and Environments

Children in Virtual Worlds

CNN Interview with Milton Broome - Autism in Virtual Worlds

Project Spectrum helps people with Autism

Child-like intelligence created in Second Life

Prototype (real) web browser in Second Life

HEA Massively Multi Learner Workshop 2008

Derby Vice-Chancellor signs contract in Second Life

3D Therapy for Asperger's and ADHD

Augmented Reality technology challenges notions of consciousness.

Do Avatars Dream of Civil Rights?