What I feel about Second Life

I  first did not know what to expect, and did not even know what Second Life was. I felt it was more like a video game. The more involved I realized Second Life was a virtual world that people can create and interact with different people from around the world. We engage in a range of activities for fun and learn.

You cannot believe I was screaming when I saw those amazed masterpieces in International Spaceflight museum: the numerous examples of rich media and interactivity including a solar system simulator, a planetarium, and a rocket ride into space. 

With Second Life and new technical skills, I started to see themselves in a real place, and see myself as a confidence actor in this social space. When I walked through this week in Second Life, it really did feel it was real.

Second Life provides us not only can create 3D artifacts and buildings, but also is a social space where people can interact all over the world.

Pairs 1900

I yearn for France, for Pairs, I have not given it up. My dream is to stroll beneath one of the world's most famous astounding Eiffel Tower. So on my sixth day in Second Life, I visited Pairs 1900.

 Selfie in Pairs 1900

Notecard: Theatre Sarah Bernhardt

 Moulin de la Galette

Walking down the streets of Pairs 1900, there are a number of cafes, nightclubs, museums, period cars, information kiosks, and shops selling fashionable clothing. Pairs 1900 features a small art gallery. 

 Moulin Rouge 

Inside the Moulin Rouge

The entrance of the Moulin Rouge is a place to pick up a few souvenirs and browse old photographic memorabilia. The large elephant stands in the courtyard. 

 Caroussel 1900

 Tour Eiffel

Walking straight down the street of Champs-Elysees, I eventually see the most famous landmark in Pairs - La Tour Eiffel. The base of the tower is surrounded by gardens with sculptures. When I fly to the top of the Eiffel Tower, I find a box of free parachutes for visitors to jump off the top of the tower and parachute to the ground. Unfortunately, I couldn't not get one because of my low internet spped. 

Arc De Triomphe

At the end of the Champs-Elysees is the arched landmark - Arc De Tripmphe. The tomb of France's Unknown Soldier is sheltered underneath the arch. It is an eternal flame commemorates the dead of the two world wars. 

 Cathedrale Notre Dame

Grande Roue

In Pairs 1900, I am encouraged to use an underground Metro station  when teleporting to and from the island. I can also drive my own period card, or take a sightseeing bus. 

 My Car

 Tour Bus

Metro

It was a lovely and great experience in Pairs 1900. Come and enjoy its beauty!

International Spaceflight Museum

I love space. I always go to NASSA and Space Museum to visit. So on my fifth day in Second Life, I went to the International Spaceflight Museum. I think this is the best museum I would love to spend more time to explore.

Exhibit of Low Earth Orbit and Solar System

Notecard: Mars Phoenix Lander

Rocket Family

Apollo Lunar Module

The museum exhibition includes lunar landing module, photo galleries, and a larger ring circling the island on which a series of rockets and other spaceflight vehicles are displayed. As I walked around the ring from rocket to rocket, I can witness firsthand the evolution of space exploration technology. In addition, there are numerous examples of media and interactivity such as a solar system simulator, a planetarium, a rocket ride into space. 

 Inside of Capsule I

  Inside of Capsule II

  Inside of Capsule III

Open-air Auditorium

The museum offers a number of opportunities for social interaction, including a large open-air auditorium for lectures and presentations and small conference areas. I think the success of this museum is the combination of detailed exhibits, elaborate multimedia displays, and opportunities for interaction. 

Telescope - NGC 3982

In today's exploration, I have not only learned all different types of rockets and history of rocketry, but also how museums are illustrative of the diversity of content and experience that can be created in Second Life. 

Standford University

Stanford University is a dream college that most students want to attend. On my fourth day in Second Life, I visited the Standford Libraries's Island.

Standford University - Library & Academic Information Recourses

Standford University Island Map

I enjoyed this incredible virtual learning environment. I was impressed by the Island map. They provide the number of the location, I can just right click the name, it will teleport me to the place I want to go. 

GoodFellow Tower

Good Fellow Tower, 2nd Floor

Good Fellow Tower, 4th Floor - Exhibit Hall

Exhibit Hall - Film Trailer of Umm Kulthum

Good Fellow Tower, 3rd Floor - Library Collections

I think GoodFellow Tower is the most remarkable building on the Island. In the tower, there were 5 floors. On the second floor, it had PowerPoint presentation displays. I think these can easily be used for classrooms. On the fourth floor, it's an exhibit of Egyptian movie posters with text that translate into both English and Arabic. I can also access to collections through a number of media, including streaming audio and video. However, the video quality needs some improvement. 

Exhibit Garden

Standford Archives

In the Exhibit Garden, it displays some of the antique rare books owned by Satndford University Libraries, with large examples of each item (a page from the book). Boxes of items from Stanford's archives also make perfect virtual replicas of the actual boxes sitting on the dusty library shelves. I can view certain items before deciding if it is worth the trip to the library. Unfortunately, most of the links to the Standford University Library page have been moved or deleted. 

Notecard: Merging History and Technology

Standford University Library Island provides collections and exhibits, meeting space and areas for conversation, also online resources and tools. Obviously, Standford in Second Life will have great importance for the future. 

Matoluta Sanctuary

On the third day in Second Life, I went to Matoluta Sanctuary. This is a nature park that dedicated to spreading awareness about the preservation of the Spanish Colonial Horse.

 Notecard: Spanish Colonial Horses

The Legendary Horses

From the board, I learned that the Spanish colonial horse originally bred by the Spanish approximately 400 years ago. These horses are now facing extinction. They no longer live in Spain, as they were bred by the conquistadors. Later, they became the original horses of the Native Americans. In the 1700's they were the most popular horse on the continent. I think Matoluta Sanctuary good educate the visitors about the importance of conserving the homeland of these beautiful horses in present day. 

Elks

Spanish Horses

Badgers Gap

Haskell Ranch

Matoluta Sanctuary offered me a venue for nature, animals and memories. Haskell Ranch brought me back to the early 1900's before it lost in a tornado. And there were so many horses standing in the Horse Faery Circle. I found so many Spanish horses such as 12 year-old Manatou (Spanish Colonial Horse), 1 year-old Tonic (Spanish Mustang), and Kinky lighthouse. 

I enjoyed the experience I had in Matoluta Sanctuary. It is time to ride a horse and have fun!

The Rose Theatre

On my second day of Second Life, I visited the Rose Theatre. I think Rose Theatre is one of the most magnificent builds. It feels like a real building and attract more people to explore and watch performances. I was amazed by all of the rooms are packed with detail and luxurious design, surrounded by the garden and pool.

The Rose Theatre has four wings: West, East, South and Manor Park.
According to Kaya Angel, West Wing is the largest palace in Second Life. It was very cool to see and experience the library, pool, art galleries and so much more!

Ball Room

Baths

Library

When I walked to the Art Galleries, I was impressed by all the fantastic paintings, especially the creative works by Janine Portal. In her biography, I learn that she is a real life artist, also she is one of the most talented and creative artists in SL. Her exhibition called "Afterimage", is an optical illusion of an image that persists in one's vision after the exposure to the original sight has ended.

The Rose Galleries

Notecard: Ranadeep

Gallery 8: Bio of Janine Portal

Janine Portal's Exhibition

I really like the words she posted "Where I stand, today, someone else may have stood, laughed, or cried, or contemplated their god. It's possible they built a house right here, with their bare hands, just 100 years ago. A house already lost to time and decay and progress". Intriguing, isn't it?

After all, I appreciate that Kaya Angel and those geniuses behind the screen offer us these excellences and pure creativity masterpiece.

First Day in Second Life

This is my first blog entry about virtual learning. I am going to share with you my first experience and own thoughts in Second Life.

Second Life is a virtual world, you can be whoever you want to be. When you first log on, you can choose the place you want to go. The bar shows bunches of options, and sort of categories: a place for music, a place for shopping or eating, a place for everything possible that you can think of. When you click on a category, it will show you all the place and how many people are in that place.

When you enter a place, you surrounded by these people, that's when you are engaging in a group chat. Everyone is talking at once. If you turn the volume up, you can even hear people speaking out loud into a microphone. I found out when you chat, everyone chats.

My professor guided us and teleport us to a place. So then at my right hand corner, a little teleporting request comes up. I was so excited because people can teleport you to other places. If I pressed "Accept", she can bring me to another place.

I haven't had time after my first visit in a week. Second Life is not like Facebook that you can go on for five to ten times a day just to see what is going on. It is a time commitment. It is hard to have a Second Life when you have a busy First Life. And eventually, in this week, I set aside out of my time to go on.