Virtual worlds are increasing by today’s advanced
technology. Virtual worlds are designed and shared by individuals therefore people
can interact in a custom-built, simulated world. Users interact with each other
with two-dimensional or three-dimensional avatars. Users control their avatars
by using the keyboard and mouse. Today’s virtual worlds are purpose-built for
entertainment, social, educational, training and other purposes.
There are both pros and cons to virtual worlds. For instance,
in the article “After second life, can virtual worlds get a reboot?”, virtual worlds
can be used for educational purposes, delivery services, or advanced form of
telehealthcare. It can also be a psychological healing space for some. It can
give us social connectivity, built-in support groups and ways to avoid being alone.
Though, this can be both a pro and a con. Virtual worlds are not real. Human interaction
is not fully there. This can take away from reality.
In the article “Avatar II: The Hospital”, Dr. Greci stated
that “virtual world allows much more immersive experience and doesn’t interrupt
a hospital’s regular business.” Second Life is gradually being used to train
medical and nursing students in clinical skills. Every student can take on a
nurse or doctor avatar and practice interviewing virtual patients, filling in
medical charts and making diagnoses. As for cons, not everyone has a computer
that can support the Second Life system or have great internet connection.
Virtual worlds foster creativity through a various use of
systems and interactions. For instance, Minecraft, it is a Legos game for
children to exercise their imagination and to connect with other children,
create and build, harvest and find materials. Not only is it on computers, you
can play it on consoles, for example Xbox.
The future of virtual worlds will look very similar to real
life. Today’s virtual worlds are already looking realistic. There may be a lot
more advanced features to virtual world in the near future. Virtual world may
not be called virtual world anymore.
I couldn't find any cons to Virtual Reality either: Obviously it can get addicting. The pros for Virtual Reality outweigh the cons as VR has a lot of practical and versatile applications.
ReplyDeleteHey Annie, I like your thought about the future for virtual worlds. With technology rapidly advancing, I agree that perhaps one day, virtual worlds may be become so improved, it might closely resemble our real world.
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