Virtual Environments: Is one life enough?

Unfortunately, one of the most interesting field trips of the semester was poorly attended due to a scheduling oversight. It is Reading Week at TU Dublin so many students were off-campus and forgot that classes in Second Life continue. Those who did make it to Virtual Ability Island received a warm welcome from the founder, Gentle Heron. After telling the story of the community and how it began, each team went to a different location with VAI hosts. The conversations within these smaller groups were fascinating and we realised just how valuable a virtual world can be to those who may have little other opportunity for engagement. The community is not merely a side interest or a game: it is a fundamental part of life for the members. Without it they may not have any social interaction.

The generosity of the Virtual Ability community in sharing their stories is wonderful. We heard about people who formed deep friendships, and indeed partnerships, who may never meet in the natural world. There are also those who, having met at Virtual Ability travelled long distances to meet physically. But, the overriding takeaway is that Second Life allows the community members to take part in activities that are not possible for them in the natural world: dancing, running, horse riding, playing golf, meeting friends, talking, learning new skills and much more.

The community also hosts many important information areas, cultural, and social spaces. Cape Able Gallery is a showcase for artists and Health Island provides support for both physical and mental wellbeing. It also organises and hosts two acclaimed international conferences annually. Virtual world communities really can be a substitute for the natural world communities when there is no other option.

The students were particularly interested to hear from so many people with disabilities from different backgrounds. One noted the joy they found in the freedom to appear however they wished through the form of their avatars, relating it to the notion of avatars being a reflection of our natural world selves explored in the class about identity. Another spoke of how there are people from so many different locations around the natural world that have become friends in this virtual one.

The students also enjoyed the fresh perspective on Second Life – while just a place to attend class for them – it can be a community and even provide a career for others. They became very aware of the accessibility afforded by the digital environment and Gentle’s explanation about ensuing that all abilities are considered here: text accompanies voice, images are supported with descriptions, colour is used sensitively to support those with poor vision and so on.

As the visit concluded the students thanked the community, saying how insightful the discussion was and how much they learned from the visit. They were particularly grateful to the volunteers for sharing their stories.

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After class Merino allocated spaces on the Çağ campus (in a skybox) for each team to build their presentation. They can be accessed from the teleporter at the campus meeting circle (see the image on the left below). Do remember that you must have the Cag Student group activated to have permission to build here.