What is a virtual world? By definition its a is a computer-based online community environment that is designed and shared by individuals so that they can interact in a custom-built, simulated world. They interact with other people by using avatars, which is a three dimensional character.This sounds pretty amazing, and it can be used in a multiple ways.
One way it is being used is in the hospital. There is a given situation such as a black out and the nurses have to perform all the necessary actions to get all the patients what they need. This is a scenario that can happen and when it does the virtual simulated drill will have the nurses prepared for when it does occur. This virtual world can also be used to train medical and nursing students in clinical skills. This makes them prepared for when they have to perform on an actual human being. The cost of each different mannequin is quite expensive, but you cant put a price on an actual human being.
Another way it is being used is by making people spend less money on things they don't need. People are using virtual worlds to create their avatars and buy clothes for them instead of themselves. Crazy right? But statistics have shown, that people who are buying all these clothes for their avatars are spending less money on materialistic goods. This is a means of saving money. People are having a real pleasure when they see their avatar wearing the finest of clothing and jewelry.
The pros of having a virtual world are that it can help you be prepared in certain situations. The cons are that it can consume people and have them live in a screen, which is quite unhealthy.
Virtual worlds can foster creativity like in the example above. They allow people to spend money and customize themselves like they never could. This gives a euphoric feeling. Also it can create new fashion trends.
I believe soon that we will sit in out living rooms all day and be zombies while we do everything in a "virtual world". We would live out our fantasies and not care about how we actually look, but only care about how we look in the "world".
"Avatar II: The Hospital" by Stephanie Simon, The Wall Street Journal, April 13,
No Budget, No Boundaries: It’s the Real You by RUTH LA FERLA, the New York Times, Oct 22, 2009 p. E1. Available
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