Linden Lab’s Amanda Van Nuys on Avatars, Las Vegas and Competition

Over the past few weeks, I seem to have suffered from writer’s block.  I’ve read and thought about a whole range of topics, particularly those dealing with 3D immersive learning and Second Life.  So to help get the creative juices flowing again, I thought I’d quote from a very interesting interview that appeared recently on the 3DTLC website.

“Amanda Van Nuys, aka Amanda Linden, wrote a piece on the Working Inworld blog recognizing the “imperative” of work avatars – i.e., a professional-looking avatar – as being a major step in the enterprise adoption of immersive environments and virtual worlds.  The response to this entry, which also included an interview with ThinkBalm’s Sam Driver, was overwhelming, with 150+ comments posted so far.  3DTLC felt an interview with Amanda would be useful to clarify her points.”

In the interview, Amanda  also mentions the official launch of Nebraska, the enterprise, standalone, behind-the-firewall version of Second Life, that will occur during a mixed reality event on Wednesday, November 4.

Happy reading while I continue to focus on some original perspectives and reflections.

EtherPad for collaborative online note-taking: Advantages over Google Docs?

Around a month ago I learned about another web 2.0 application called EtherPad that is currently the only web-based word processor that allows people to work together in real-time.

A no-cost “public pad” can be created instantly without any sign-up.  On the other hand, a “team site” (“group pad”) can be easily created with a few steps and the first three user accounts are free.

I created a “group pad” that had private access where I need to set-up an account for folks I wished to collaborate with.  However, anyone can set-up a public EtherPad, give people the URL and then ask them to comment/collaborate in real time, for example during a presentation or conference, etc.  The big advantage I see over Google Docs is the ability to very quickly create a public document then have people collaborating instantaneously without the need to create logins and invite others (although creating a group is very easy for group/private collaboration).

Additionally, EtherPad has a range of import/export options and you can immediately see all the saved revisions by everyone.  Once a person has written something then they can click “Save Now”.  Color coding and line numbering are also neat features-each person’s changes/additions are in a different color and it is then easy to refer back to certain people making comments at specific lines.

EtherPad does not accommodate presentations and spreadsheets (as does Google Docs).  However, I think the above-mentioned features give EtherPad the advantage over Google docs for word processing.

Second Life: Another Reflection on Virtual Worlds

Last moth I wrote about the Second Life demonstrations I gave at the ASDTDDC Chapter meeting.  I wanted to follow-up with a short post to further the discussion as to the relevance and importance of three dimension (3D) immersive worlds.

I recently read a white paper produce by Robert B. Cohen from Athena Alliance where he states: 

“Virtual Worlds, including Second Life, have the ability to leverage the place, embodiment, and simultaneous collaboration at the core of interactions within virtual worlds.  Place grants both context and organization to conversations, helping an observer to immediately understand relationships between speakers and the topic being discussed.  Avatars, the user’s representation in a virtual world, embody the conversation, allowing real-world cues to flow into the virtual world.  Simultaneous collaboration allows multiple participants to interact in ways not commonly seen on the web, such as musicians in different cities playing a duet to an audience from all over the world.  This real-time exchange is at the core of how content is created within Second Life. The main point about Virtual Worlds is that they enhance collaboration and innovation.“

As the paradigm for life in the digital age quickly shifts from “live to work” to “work to live”, immersive 3D worlds provide an exciting environment to experience life in a multi-sensory environment where anything is possible.  The key is to let our imagination, creativity and transformational thinking surface by asking: What if?  What’s possible? Why not?

Another way to look at SL from a business perspective is to analyze the narrative (the business story) and the economics (the financial drivers) of the SL Business Model.  I propose the following that I created with input from a colleague (John Jamison from Imagilearning, Inc.) who has extensive experience in leveraging SL for learning, education and business:

Narrative:

• Free anytime access to 3D immersive online experiences to explore, join groups, interact with avatars, and create objects in-world.
• Participation in a global social network in which people can interact without traditional barriers on a platform that lets them express raw creativity and emotion (visceral responses) both individually and with others.
• A “PLACE” that draws people back simply because they want to go back.

Economics:

• Modest fees to buy objects created by in-world vendors.
• Premium fees to buy or rent islands (sims).
• “The visceral value of business PLACE”.

PrtSc: Versatile Screen Capture Without the Fuss

Well it’s Friday and time to reflect on another week of learning and experimentation in the 2D-3D immersive spaces.  I’m continually mazed by the plethora of mini applications that are enlivening and enriching our collaborative learning 2.0 and web 2.0 world.  This morning I learned about another excellent (and free) tool from Jane Hart at the Centre for Learning and Performance Technologies in the UK.

Jane highlighted PrtSc which is a free screen capture program that is very easy to use and offeres a range of features, including:
* Capturing the full screen, rectangle selection, freehand selection, or active window
* Capturing the mouse cursor
* Allowing an annotation over the capture, with a smooth, natural mouse drawing
* Saving a capture straight to desktop or to any file, sending it as email, editing, printing or sending to clipboard
* Exporting as a JPG, BMP, or PNG (transparent or opaque) file

I can see multiple purposes for this flexible application, especially using the freehand selection to capture a portion or section of any on-screen image and shortening the time to clean-up that image once it is imported into another sophisticated graphic application such as Gimp or Photoshop.

I also used Screenjelly to make a short video of using PrtSc to take a desktop screenshot.

How may ways can you think of to use this versatile application?

Peaking Interest in Second Life: Demonstrations at ASTD Meeting

On Thursday, August 20, I volunteered to demonstrate Second Life (SL), one of the most popular 3D user-generated virtual immersive environments (worlds) at the ASTD DC Chapter monthly meeting.  The meeting was facilitated by members of our chapter’s Technology Special Interest Group.  Members and guests who attended were treated to a wide range of continuous demonstrations on web 2.0 technologies including Skype, Twitter, Articulate, and Second Life amongst others.

I prepared for the demonstrations by asking myself the question: “What would a person who has never used (or just started to use) SL want to know and be able to easily digest in around 10 minutes?”

I asked a few attendees the question: “Have you ever experienced a new culture in a foreign country where you did not understand the language and customs?”  I then explained that just like the “real world”, the “virtual world” has its own culture where you will see, hear and experience situations that you will not immediately understand (but will over time through coaching and immersion).

I further explained that SL is not a game, although you can play games “in world”.  Rather, SL is a platform for building objects and experiences that can be delivered, revised and reused for an endless variety of engaging and interactive education, learning and business purposes.

I also asked the question: “So why should Organizational Development and Learning and Development professionals care or become involved in SL?”  My explanation covered the following key points:

• Within our very challenging global economic environment, a multi-generational workforce that contains a larger number of Generation Y (“millenials”) is demanding new ways of interacting, collaborating, learning, living and working.
• On the one hand, businesses are seeking innovative solutions for doing more with less and for harnessing the power of informal learning for increased performance and profit.  On the other hand, individuals, teams and communities (both “digital natives” and “digital immigrants”) are seeking new ways to connect, share knowledge, create value and continuously learn in an engaging way.
• The paradigm is quickly shifting from “live to work” to “work to live” (and having fun while you are at it!).

During the demonstrations, some attendees commented on the richness of the experience while others were amazed at the prospect of being able to easily deliver and discuss 2D webinars within a visually-appealing environment.  I also demonstrated artificial intelligence by holding a text chat conversation with a pet parrot (a “bot”) that I had programmed to respond to specific question and to “ad-lib” responses to other questions.  I also steamed my SL activities live to a streaming video site on another computer and attendees were able to compare the two experiences.

I plan to give other SL demonstrations and to continue evangelizing this amazing technology that has real-world application for learning, education, and business.

Cool Video Production with Music/Audio: Animoto

I’m always running trials and experimenting with new web 2.0 technologies to determine how they can be leveraged for learning and business. Last week I heard about Animoto which is an excellent tool to make great videos from your images within minutes. You can add notes to images, insert a voice or music file then email your finished videos or download them. Your videos can also be easily posted directly to Facebook, YouTube, Myspace, Twitter, blogs and more.

Creating an account and developing videos that run up to 30 second is free but each video will have an embedded Animoto logo. However, if you want to created unlimited length videos without the Animoto logo, then the cost is $99 for a three month trial, or $249 for one year.

I created a quick presentation using photos embedded in PowerPoint slides (with captions) then converted the presentation into jpeg format. Subsequently I uploaded the presentation into Animoto and each slide was converted into a separate image. I wanted to add a voice file (actually words and singing) so I recorded this as a memo file on my iPod before uploading it to my computer. As this was in wav format, I first had to convert it into an mp3 file using Audacity (a free audio editing application) before importing into Animoto. I was advised by the program that a 30 second video should use 12 to 15 images. I first used 10 images and once the video was processed, my narration was off-synch with my images and the singing actually faded before the short song had ended. However, in a second trial I used 13 images and the result was better, although the images ran out before the short song was finished.

Please take a look at my efforts with “Waltzing Matilda” on YouTube. Once I had uploaded the video to YouTube, I sent a tweet to alert my Twitter followers and also posted a link to the video for my friends to view on Facebook.

When I use Animoto again, I now know that I need to use at least 15 images for a 30 second soundtrack (whether it is a voice or music file).

This application has unlimited potential for just-in-time learning and for business promotion. Anything that can be captured as an image and as a voice or music file in mp3 format can then be quickly converted into a short, compelling movie. It’s surprising what you can do in 30 seconds or less!

Business Ventures in Second Life: Real Life $$$

Yesterday I was privileged to attend a meeting in Second Life (SL) to hear perspectives from madddyyy Schnook, a real life (RL) entrepreneur “par excelence”.  His business ventures (and hard work) in SL have earned significant RL revenue over the past few years and he now works exclusively in SL.  madddyyy was a RL publisher with a background in telecommunications, marketing and sales who now writes/publishes books and designs sophisticated educational scenarios in SL for corporations around the world.  His SL projects have ranged from designing a simulation of computers to teach technicians PC repairs to medical simulations for healthcare providers in order to enhance patient/doctor/nurse interactions and the diagnosis of medical conditions, management of medications, lifestyle issues, etc.

madddyyy commented that RL businesses and organizations continue to “flock” to SL for RL business applications, particularly utilities that are testing “green” technologies, healthcare corporations (as noted above) and the military who are wanting to attract and retain Generation Y (millenials), test weapons systems/platforms, and simulate and train for battlefield conditions, etc.   SL for these organizations is all about creating interactive experiences that:

• spur branched thinking and multi-path problem-solving,
• engage the learner in an immersive environment that challenges “conventional” wisdom or stove-piped organizational thinking,
• or challenge individuals to implement transformational (outside the corporate culture) leadership behaviors.

SL is already used successfully for conference and events and to increase “foot traffic” to RL websites for business transactions.  madddyyy predicted this trend will continue to grow exponentially.  However, he also sees new business opportunities for companies and organizations that are able to create the “surround” experience by implementing pre- and post-conference activities such as visits to museums and other places of historic and/or cultural interest, or group exploratory learning activities, etc.

madddyyy’s advice for getting people actively involved in SL is to remove all the “comfort zones” before guiding people outside their RL “comfort zones” so they can think and act “outside the box”.  This does not mean initially placing people in uncomfortable or totally unfamiliar environments.  Rather it means guiding and coaching people in SL through some “traditional” settings such as discussions around a conference room table before introducing new concepts and giving them the chance to assimilate over time into their new “world”.  Subsequently they will feel comfortable to experiment with the possibilities through a series of ongoing contextual discussions and skill-building exercises.

Second Life mirrors “Real Life”: Prejudices

As I broaden my experiences in Second Life, it’s fascinating to see ways in which Second Life either mirrors “Real Life” or diverges into another dimension entirely where the imagination takes us beyond confines of the “real (human) world”.

The week in the amazing immersive learning experience I’m taking with ImagiLearning our group participated in a fascinating discussion with  Hydra Shaftoe, a Second Life Conference Community Leader who is also a social engineer and social media specialist in “real life”.  Hydra’s avatar is a “furry” (a sub-culture within Second Life) and at this meeting his avatar was a cat dressed in a tuxedo.  He also has fox and wolf avatars.  Hydra has been actively involved in Second Life for many years and has faced a number of prejudices in Second Life and “real life” based purely on his appearance and stereotypes in the human world about “furries” (from sensationalized representations on TV shows such as CSI).

Hydra has successfully participated in “real world” social engineering work with international companies such as Nokia which highly value creativity and differences.  However, he also mentioned the prejudice he faced in the “real world” when he applied for a position as a social media specialist and attended job interviews initially conducted in Second Life.  Once one of the company’s executives saw his cat avatar, she immediately made a comment about how the company’s reputation would be tarnished by someone representing themselves as a cat and the unseemly behavior of “furries” as seen on CSI.  Although the company’s president did not agree with his colleague, the perception about “furries” was enough for him to back away from further job interviews with Hydra.

During the meeting, Hydra made the point that he definitely does not have a “deviant” side and always acts totally professionally in Second Life and “real life”.  He mentioned a meeting he had facilitated in Second Life (as a wolf avatar) for US Army generals where he was asked for help to find a wolf avatar for one person so that the general could experience Second Life from a “different perspective”.   The general was definitely willing to be open-minded and to experience divergent views.

Hydra also mentioned that Second Life is all about a culture of “differences” in order to remain competitive.  This is no different from the “real world” where companies, individuals, and groups are always trying to differentiate themselves with new concepts, ideas, strategies, etc. in order to remain competitive.

Why then do some people want to continually perpetuate prejudices in both Second Life and “real life”.  This is an age-old question that will definitely not be solved in this posting.  Nonetheless, if we are prepared to be tolerant and treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves then perhaps every world can be a kinder and more inclusive place where prejudices fade away.

More cool web 2.0 tools!: xtranormal and Procaster

Are you a budding, first time film maker who wants to leverage a free web 2.0 application to create short 3D comedy or dramatic movies using avatar-like characters?  Well, do I have the ideal application for you!

Last week I was introduced to xtranormal and within around 30 minutes had created a short scenario with some rudimentary animations.  This is not a replacement application for serious movie-makers but it is an excellent tool to test your creativity and to share your efforts quickly on Facebook, YouTube or MySpace.  As the front page advertises: “If you can type, you can make movies.”  There is a limited range of free scenarios but enough to practice and hone your skills before paying a monthly fee.

While I was experimenting with xtranormal, I was also investigating  another free web 2.0 application for live streaming video from Livestream.  I now have my own live channel from which I can broadcast my desktop, a video camera connected to my computer, a webcam stream, or a video game connected to my computer, all with 3D effects and high-definition.  You can also promote your stream on Twitter.

I installed Livestream Procaster and obtained my own live web TV URL.  I then ran a test where I was in Second Life undertaking some skills training and broadcasting my desktop.  My wife was able to view my desktop, listen to my comments, and chat with me directly via online chat.  This will be an excellent tool for demonstrating Second Life without actually taking someone “in-world” as an avatar, thereby alleviating any anxiety about how to move and operate within the virtual world.  I’m sure I will find numerous other uses for my internet TV channel.  This is a huge leap forward from 2D webcasting.

Virtual World Possibilities: Fascinating Videos

As I continue to investigate the business and personal applications for leveraging 3D immersive worlds, I never ceased to be amazed by the creativity and vision of different people and groups who have been operating in the  3D “space” for some time.

Today I wanted to highlight two excellent examples that speak for themselves.  Please just watch and listen then let your mind wander.  I guarantee you will “be there” in a flash and will wonder at the possibilities.

Daden Limited’s Second Life simulation of the Apollo 11 Landing (2D and 3D)

US Navy Undersea Warfare Division’s Second Life simulation which includes ideas on the design and configuration of vessels.