Virtual world is a replicated environment which is accessible
by many users. The content of this virtual world is almost the same as of our
real world, including buildings and objects. The world allows many users to participate at
once taking place in real time. A real
sense of community is being formed with various groups and neighborhoods. The world
continues to exist regardless of the user participating at that given moment. Second
Life is a computer program that lets online users construct settings and hang
out in them, using video-game-like characters called avatars. There are pros
and cons about virtual worlds and as researcher Simon Bignell says: “Second
Life is an uncharted but promising area for new applied psychological research.
Virtual reality can be used to simulate new environments for people on the
autistic spectrum” (cnn.com). Many
individuals using this program are not capable of living a normal lifestyle and
the virtual world allows them to create and image a world where everything is
possible. Some of the cons involve individuals being so attracted or addicted
to this virtual world that they forget to live in the real world. As mentioned
in NY Times article the players trade real money for virtual currencies to buy
products .This has become a revenue to the creators of virtual worlds, so people
are spending money on something they can’t really touch. “About 70,000
Therebucks on There.com, or 10,000 Lindens in Second Life, each about $40, can
buy a choice of simulated wares, from several pairs of thigh-high boots to a
plot of land” (nytimes.com). There, SecondLife and IMVU are all simulated
universe or a world that allows a user to create an avatar and control his or
her role on the social network sites. Individuals lose a grip of reality and
are willing to pay a price for this world which does not represent truth. The future
of virtual worlds could turn disastrous, since we have more and more people joining
these social groups online and not realizing who they are. This could lead to
multi personality disorders, or even individuals forgetting who they are and
confusing the two worlds.
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