Features

• visual environment

• 3D

• participants represented by avatars - control of movements & actions

• channels of communication

  • text - proximity

  • (voice) - proximity

  • IM - individual, group - wherever

• spaces, buildings, furniture, objects - all desgnable

• objects scriptable

  • hyperlinks to www, files

  • questions - m/c, y/n, quizzes, polls

  • react to avatar actions

• avatars can move, turn, sit, fly, teleport

• accept/reject 'friends'

Parameters

informal - formal

dynamic - static

open - restricted

synchronous - asynchronous

individual - group

structured - unstructured

Possibilities

language production

communication

imagination

creativity

UoB could buy / rent island (space ? ) to trial

UoB does not allow access as yet

synchronous / asynchronous

teacher-intensive (depending on activity)

? students (art, design, architecture, media ?) could help design spaces, buildings, objects

restricted or open environment

dynamic

informal