Interesting hearing on virtual worlds this morning in the US Congress, chaired by internet defender Rep. Ed Markey. I got to watch the hearings from a virtual "Rayburn" conference room with a bunch of press folks and Lindens. I was surprised that the hearing was mostly a bunch of softballs thrown to Second Life boosters…
Category: Real World Places in SL
Tech Museum announces 4 virtual exhibits being rezzed into the real world Tech in San Jose!
A few months ago I blogged about how excited I was to learn that the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose had launched an open competition for new exhibits for their Second Life counterpart "The Virtual Tech". Apparently the open call for exhibits has gone like gangbusters, with dozens of neat creations now visible…
Virtual Harlem: a 3d immersive homage to the Harlem Renaissance
I got a chance to explore briefly the new Virtual Harlem sim last night (teleport link), the latest in a number of New York City recreations in Second Life. The brainchild of Dr. Bryan Carter, an assistant literature professor at Central Missouri State University, Virtual Harlem is a "collaborative learning initiative whose purpose is to…
The San Jose Tech Museum creates… an empty space in Second Life
I just got the news that the Tech Museum of Innovation, aka "The Tech", a science and technology museum based in San Jose, California, has launched The Tech in Second Life. Big deal, you say, lots of real world institutions — from Reuters to Rockefeller Center to the city of Dublin — have created replicas…
Virtual Upper East Side? Someone PLEASE re-create a COOL part of New York
I’m just dying for an authentic, interesting part of New York City to get built in Second Life. Nearly a year ago Versu Richelieu created a simulation of one of the most boring blocks in Manhattan, 39th and Fifth Avenue. Then for Christmas we had a virtual Rockefeller Center designed by Aimee Weber Studios for…
Six suggestions for the virtual Philippines embassy
Ok, I was a bit negative yesterday when I dropped in on the planned Philippines virtual embassy in Second Life. Here are some constructive suggestions for how the Philippine government should use their first virtual presence: Expose people to the richness of Filipino culture: How about creating a tinikling dance animation? Or selling/giving away Filipino…
“Baghdad Streets” virtual exhibit — a maze of shell-shocked lives
I stopped in briefly to check out the powerful new interactive exhibit "Baghdad Streets" organized by PT Witte on Better World Island (teleport SLURL). "Baghdad Streets" is an extension of the PT’s real-life-work "bringing the truth of life in the killing zone of Baghdad" to the awareness of as many people as possible. Walking through…
Virtual Aloft to be given away in June!
The refurbished Virtual Aloft hotel in Second Life re-opened today. I stopped by and checked it out this afternoon. It’s really nicely done in pleasing greys and pastels, just like I remembered it a few months ago when I first did my quasi-illicit visit. I frankly can’t see much of a big change from the…
The New New York: makes me almost miss the graffiti in the subway stations
I just popped over to the New New York sim (teleport SLURL). It’s not quite finished yet, but I love the design motif so far. Sort of a mix of cartoony garishness and gritty realism. I swear I saw a virtual rat scamper down the street.
Video tour of Roma (ancient Roman Second Life sim)
In January, I posted some comments about and pictures of the impressive "Roma" ancient Rome build created by Torin Golding (teleport SLURL). Since then, I've received a request to create a video showing the historic sim for those who aren't in Second Life. I threw this video together over the weekend. (The video might take…