Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

The virtual world seems like a different dimension, where we could log in and out of, or stay connected for long periods of time.  There are different rules that govern the virtual world as oppose to our own world. The virtual world could be very useful in a sense where we could use it to simulate situations that could happen in real life.  In the article Avatar II: The Hospital, a virtual world was used to simulate a situation where nurses had to quarantine patients who were heavily infected with disease.  This help nurses be better prepared when an actually outbreak happens.  It is also very cost effective.  To perform some of the medical tasks not only can be  costly in a monetary sense, but also costly in a human lives.  Another useful purpose a virtual world could provide is communication.  In the article Going to the Virtual Office in Second Life, companies could use the virtual world to assemble meetings.  It makes it easier for company employees who travel very often.  They could attend a company meeting with out physically being in a meeting room.  They could just log on to a Second Life account that is connected to the company and attend the meeting from half way across the globe.

The virtual world second life allows users to customize their characters and allows people to socialize over the internet.  This could allow sexual predators to take advantage of the virtual world.  There could also be hackers who would get information on users who spend a lot of money on the second life game.  The virtual world maybe great for simulating a situation at a hospital, but it is not hands on.  The nurses are not really put in a high pressure situation where their reaction time could be crucial.

The virtual world allows people to be really creative.  It allows people to create scenarios with their imagination.  In fact people could probably create a cure for cancer or non cancerous cigarettes. There are endless possibilities.  The virtual world could continue to grow. Since almost everyone is using the internet, it is only a matter of time until everyone stumbles into the virtual world.