1. Virtual Worlds and Applications Tyler Burk & Audrey Byrnes

2. What is a Virtual World? ➔ Computer-based online community environment shared by individual users ◆ Custom-built simulated “world” ➔ Users can interact with one another using text-based chat, or 2D/3D models called “Avatars” ◆ Avatars are created through use of CGI ◆ Each avatar is personalized by the user [Avatar] Mark Wein Guitar Lessons. com. Retrieved on 11/19/14 from http://markweinguitarlessons.com/forums/threads/i-need-a-new-avatar.61149/

3. What is an Avatar? ➔ Avatars can be used to interact with other users in the virtual world and to create/design objects ➔ Each avatar is a visual representation of the user (a “virtual ego”) ◆ Avatars can take on any shape or form the user chooses ◆ Men can be women, women can be men, or avatars can even be animals

4. Why use a Virtual World? ➔ The main reason people use virtual worlds is to experience something outside of their own reality or life (different lifestyle, job, gender, or even species) ➔ Users can engage in social interactions with other real people in new and exciting ways ◆ They can communicate via text, sound, or even visual gestures [Avatar] Secondlife.com. Retrieved on 11/18/14 from http://secondlife.com/whatis/avatar/

5. Different Virtual Worlds ➔ Second Life (most popular) ◆ Free virtual world where users can explore the world map and interact with different users/avatars ➔ The Sims ➔ Active Worlds ➔ Kaneva ➔ IMVU [Second lIfe Video] Youtube.com Retrieved on 11/14/14 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O62GHcIVKS4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O62GHcIVKS4

6. Other Uses for Virtual Worlds ➔ They can be used for gaming, which is the most popular approach to virtual worlds ➔ They can also be used as a “virtual classroom,” in which students can learn by interacting with the instructor and other students in a different way than a normal classroom setting ➔ They can also be used for workplace training, team-building exercises, networking, or hypothetical scenarios [Education in Second Life]. Youtube.com. Retrieved on 11/14/14 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R1SrZua5ww

7. Virtual Applications ➔ An application that has been optimized to run on a virtual infrastructure ➔ Application software ◆ combined inside a virtual machine ●maximizes performance ●minimizes software performance [peter potamus] houstonspotters.net. Retrieved on 11/14/14 from http://www.houstonspotters.net/smf/index.php?topic=6943.0 http://www.houstonspotters.net/smf/index.php?topic=6943.0

8. Most Common Use for Virtual Applications ➔ Virtual Application Networks ◆ uses virtual applications in a way that managers can program network attributes ◆ users can create templates ◆ template goes directly to Application manager software ● applications are cloud ready ● creates faster application use

9. HP Virtual Application Networks [Daniel Montesanto, HP Networking Discusses Virtual Application Networks at Interop]. Youtube.com. Retrieved on 11/14/14 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btregLVOkNQ

10. Class Activity ➔ Choose a world that you would like to explore or learn ◆ examples ●twinity.com ●inworldz.com ●secondlife.com ●sociotown.com ●gaiaonline.com ●imvu.com [Virtual worlds] Personalizemedia.com. Retrieved 11/14/14 from http://www.personalizemedia.com/2008-metaverse-tour-video- the-social-virtual-worlds-a-stage/

11. Discussion Questions ➔ Would you enter a virtual world and what uses would you find most valuable? ➔ What do you think would be the advantages or disadvantages of virtual worlds? ➔ How do you think you would utilize virtual applications in your future/current career?

12. Questions? [Question Question Mark Request]. Pixabay.com. Retrieved on 11/19/14 from http://pixabay.com/en/photos/?q=frage%20OR%20fragezeichen

13. References ➔ HP Enterprise Business. “HP Virtual Application Networks.” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube. 15 Jan. 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2014 ➔ Janssen, Cory. Virtual World. Techopedia. n.d., n.p. Web. 25 Oct. 2014 ➔ “Second Life” vrs.org. Virtual Reality. 2009, n.p. Web. 25 Oct. 2014 ➔ “Virtual Application.” Wikipedia.org. 30 June 2014, n.p. Web. 25 Oct. 2014 ➔ “What are Virtual Worlds?” vrs.org. Virtual Reality. 2009, n.p. Web. 25 Oct. 2014

14. Thank You [Thank You Gratitude Appreciation] Pixabay.com. Retrieved on 11/19/14 from http://pixabay.com/en/photos/?q=thank+you&image_type=&cat=&order=best