VIRTUAL WORLDS

Let me start off this blog post by being astonished! To my knowledge Virtual Worlds were an idea of creativity and imagination. You know the stuff we see on TV. I was never aware that virtual worlds really do exist and are becoming such an important aspect of the world in which we live. Talk about futuristic! Virtual worlds were thought to be only used in video games but now you can use them to create social networks in 3D form and amazingly enough, these virtual worlds have made their way into the professional work environment. With this futuristic world of networking, there have been many benefits especially in the workplace. The use of virtual worlds in a professional setting has given rise to ability to engage in conferences, conduct training for system implementations, and even prototype new technologies. Additionally, due to virtual worlds being complex users in workplace meetings are able to brainstorm and think of more complex ideas due to the engaging virtual environment. This helps with creativity and more detailed ideas caused by stimulation in a different aspect that the brain has not yet experienced. Virtual worlds may seem like a drug to a first time user. Despite these great uses of virtual worlds however, virtual worlds still lack the human ability to be face to face with another individual. There is no water cooler conversations. This creates a lack of expression, vulnerability, emotion and connection when communicating. It is not as bad as being behind a computer screen, but it still has its downfalls. Another negative to virtual worlds is the fact that in virtual worlds, people can express themselves differently than what they are in real life. This can lead to differences in behavior and reactions when communicating online vs communicating in real life. With the ever so advancing technological environment that the world operates on today, it will be amazing to see and understand how virtual worlds may be used in the future. I did not even believe ideas such as virtual worlds really exist in broad aspects, and the uses of them are already far-reaching. Maybe more things will soon become virtual and help expand on the uses of what we think of virtual worlds. Only time will tell!

http://www.health24.com/Mental-Health/News/Virtual-world-may-impact-real-world-behaviour-20140210

http://www.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/11/05/second.life.virtual.collaboration/index.html