Linux News: Virtual Worlds

Thursday - May 8, 2008

Second Life is no place for kids, a Republican congressman declared Monday. U.S. Representative Mark Kirk has sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission requesting a consumer alert warning about the dangers of Second Life, which he charges could expose kids to child predators and registered sex offenders. "Sites like Second Life offer no protections to keep kids from virtual 'rape rooms,' brothels and drug stores," Kirk said. "If sites like Second Life won't protect kids from obviously inappropriate content, the Congress will." [More...]

The Social Side of Fund-Raising Online

Sunday - May 4, 2008

Online social networks used to be just gathering places for friends and long-lost acquaintances. Then the marketers arrived, followed by politicians and job recruiters -- all looking to tap into a growing mass of young people who are spending much of their time on the Web. [More...]

Helping Addicts Cope Through Virtual Immersion

Friday - May 2, 2008

Scientists believe that virtual worlds can help patients in therapy to overcome addictions. A new study by University of Houston associate professor Patrick Bordnick reveals that a virtual reality environment can provide a safe haven in which patients can practice how to say "no" when offered drugs or alcohol. [More...]

Virtual Real Estate: Building on an Imaginary Foundation

Wednesday - April 30, 2008

No less true today than it has been since the notion of private property became one of the main pillars of Western society, investing in real estate is one of the most popular means of amassing wealth. Now, a new breed of "virtual" real estate investors and developers is emerging. [More...]

No Going Home Yet for PS3 Fans

Tuesday - April 22, 2008

Sony Computer Entertainment pushed back its open beta test for the launch of Playstation's Home, a 3-D virtual world, from the summer to the fall, marking the second time the company has delayed the launch of the product. Unlike traditional games, Home is a sandbox world designed to allow players the flexibility to build, create and interact with other players without directed goals. [More...]

Face Time Instead of Facebook Time

Saturday - April 19, 2008

Some people blame the Internet for a decline in social interaction. They say that even as we use online technology to join groups and communicate with others around the globe, we isolate ourselves and ignore the personal and social rewards derived only from face-to-face interaction. [More...]

Second Life: A Lot Like Kindergarten

Friday - April 18, 2008

Virtual worlds such as Second Life are like kindergarten playgrounds. That's not because the developers and devotees of those worlds are childish -- far from it -- but because basics of interpersonal relationships are still being worked out there. As businesses expand in those 3-D online environments, the potential for squabbling grows. [More...]

Taking a Second Look at How Business Is Done

Tuesday - April 8, 2008

As a tax pro for H&R Block, Kathy Burlison has helped countless traditional customers. She's also helped vampires, cartoon characters and a knight doing the tango in a full suit of armor. The nontraditional visitors see Burlison Tuesday and Thursday nights as avatars inside the Internet world of Second Life. [More...]

Big Blue's Secure Second Life Fortress

Friday - April 4, 2008

IBM is putting its heft behind a project that could morph into new way of doing business in Second Life, Linden Lab's virtual 3-D community. The two have partnered to build a protected enclave in Second Life where the company can conduct serious business without fear of marauders. [More...]

House Committee Explores Commerce, Safety in Virtual Worlds

Tuesday - April 1, 2008

Some House lawmakers on Tuesday deliberately stepped into another realm of existence for a look-see at commerce and safety issues in virtual universes. A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee held a hearing on the increasing popularity of 3-D virtual worlds, such as Second Life, There and Zwinky. The hearing, scheduled for 9:30 a.m. EDT Tuesday, was simulcast on Second Life with a 20-second delay. [More...]

Second Life Sex Toy Suit Settled

Friday - March 28, 2008

A dispute over sales of virtual sex toys has resulted in a real-life slap on the wrist for a Texas teenager. Eros LLC, a Tampa Bay-area company that creates virtual sex scripts in the online world Second Life, sued Robert Leatherwood, 19, last year claiming he copied, displayed or distributed Eros products without permission. [More...]

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