Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

      Virtual Worlds is a place where one can create an avatar in a computer simulated environment to do anything you'd like and meet other people who created their own avatar. As time passes by people are using the virtual world for many purposes, whether it is to recreate something in real life, or just to play games. It is becoming more acceptable and I think this will change our future.
      One way a virtual world can be used it for gaming purposes. A big game today is Minecraft. This is a virtual world where you get together with your friends to create or destroy anything of your imagination like a building or a cave. A lot of kids enjoy playing this game because it is simple and fun. They are able to do anything they want and there are no adults to tell them their limits. This will foster creativity because the kids are learning to create things at a young age. I have a nephew that loves playing Minecraft and he has ended up building ships, buildings, etc. He even told me that he would want to become an architect and he's only 7 years old. I would have never expected someone at a young age to find their life passion through a minecraft. According to After Second Life, Can Virtual Worlds Get a Reboot "there are about 2 billion accounts registered for the 100 or so virtual worlds and children age 5-15 own about half of them. This goes to show that the newer generation are using these worlds to find other children that enjoys playing the same games. Another way the virtual world can be used is to host meetings, or conduct training for a job. According to Linden Lab more than 1400 organizations are doing this.
     There are many benefits for using Virtual Worlds. One, you'll never feel alone ever again if you have access to it. Lets take Minecraft as an example. Since so many people play it all over the world, if you were feeling lonely you can log into Minecraft at 4am in the morning and you would still find people to play with. This helps us meet people around the world and learn how to socialize with people. Two, it will save people money. Many companies would fly to another country and host a meeting for a job. However, with virtual worlds you can just do it from the office and don't have to pay for the traveling fee.
    The negative effects of virtual worlds is that people will end up forgetting what human interactions would feel like. If so many kids are using virtual worlds, they are probably at home on their computer. Their way of "hanging out" would probably be in the virtual worlds and only go out when they have to go to school. Another negative effect is learning what you are able to do in the virtual world but not in a face-to-face conversation.  There are other factors like culture in the real world that people will need to account for, but not account for in the virtual world.
     I think the future of virtual worlds will change greatly. If kids are getting use to virtual worlds at such a young age, when they grow up they will think of new ways to make it better. Universities may also end up using virtual worlds as an online course. The professor gives a set time to come to class, and you log on your avatar and sit in a virtual classroom. I think this idea will be very interesting and I might even try it.

Sources:
Going to the Virtual Office in Second Life, CNN.com: Nov 5, 2009 http://www.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/11/05/second.life.virtual.collaboration/index.html
After Second Life, Can Virtual Worlds Get A Reboot. April 30, 2013. http://www.forbes.com/sites/dianemehta/2013/04/30/after-second-life-can-virtual-worlds-get-a-reboot/