Main conference presentation

IA in Second Life

Moderator: Stacy Merrill Surla; Panelists: Lori Bell, Andrew Hinton, Beth Kanter, Peter Allison, Josh Knauer

Sunday March 25 2007, 11:15 - 12:15PM

Second Life (SL) is a highly popular shared online virtual environment. It provides a host of social software tools and connections to APIs that allow real work to get done. E-business is becoming v-business as retailers, educational organizations, corporations, libraries, and non-profits jump from Web 2.0 to Web 3-D.

All the challenges IAs face in creating complex information spaces are present in virtual 3-D worlds. Retailers are using SL as a channel for marketing services and goods. Businesses are taking advantage of group-forming and communications tools to hold real meetings in virtual spaces. Libraries are offering collections, programs, and services that go where the users are. Non-profit organizations are finding SL an inexpensive place to hold events and develop membership. And universities are practicing distance learning in 3 dimensions.

The goal of this panel is to engage participants in exploring two questions: What roles can IAs play in shaping, building, and using these new environments? And what recommendations should we be making on integrating Web 3-D into the work of our businesses, schools, associations, and libraries?

The session will present an overview of Second Life, focusing on how SL is being used in large online library, education, and non-profit projects. The discussion will touch on what works, what's hard, what has failed, and what's next. Attendees will be able to see SL in action, since several of the panelists will be joining from within Second Life. Furthermore, in the days before, during, and after the session, attendees will be able to get hands-on tours of SL, pick up "How Would YOU Solve This" handouts, and see selected in-world case studies by visiting the "IA in Second Life" table in the Flex-track area of the conference.