Topic 1

Lecture: Second Life
After a brief introduction to the course, the first lecture was centered around a documentary screening about Second Life; an internet-based virtual world which enables it's users to interact with each other, buy and sell land, goods and services amongst other things. Being someone who has never had any involvement with Second Life I cannot give an objective opinion on it, but it seems to me that using the internet to create a universe complete with a thriving economy is a huge technological leap but would have obvious downfalls. The ability to create relationships with like minded people would be a positive aspect for some, but would encourage the anti-social to become even more anti-social. The need to exist and function normally in their "first life" diminishing.