First impressions…
The only thing I knew about Second Life before starting this class was what some guy at a bar in Greensboro, NC told me a year ago. He was really excited about it and claimed to be one of the guys that helped create it. He could have easily been lying, making conversation with a stranger in a bar, maybe even trying to impress me, but I didn’t know what he was talking about so I wasn’t impressed. All I really remember from that conversation is that people are buying real estate in Second Life and making lots of money. That’s strange and intriguing, I thought.
Flash forward a year and I’m being reintroduced to Second Life, only this time its a proper introduction. As I sat in my room at my cluttered desk in my way-too-expensive apartment on Avenue B, I downloaded Second Life. Simple, easy. But then I had to come up with a name to use. I thought I would just use a name that I frequently use in the land of cyberspace, Phoenix Day, but I quickly learned that I had to chose a last name from a long list of names given by Second Life. This made things a little trickier.
I scrolled through, stopping randomly to see what was available. I chose the name Kriss Criss. I liked it, simple, has a nice ring to it, it’s a play off my real-life name, Kristy. But it was already taken. So back to the drawing board. I then came across the last name of Saunders. My great grandparents’ last name is Saunders so I decided I would use that. I didn’t flirt with too many first names before I decided on Sayne. Sayne is a combination of both of my parents’ names: Sarah and Wayne.
So I had found my Second Life identity. Now it was time to actually enter the world of Second Life. I was a little intimidated. I didn’t really know what to expect. Was it kind of like the Sims? Or World of War Craft? When I logged on I was plopped in an outdoor area, kind of like a promenade. There were a few other people standing around, but no one was really moving too much. I thought maybe they were in shock like I was about this new found environment. I felt a little nervous as I reminded myself that these little computerized people were actually being controlled by real-life people, people sitting at their computers just as I was. I hoped no one would talk to me, to be completely honest. I just wanted to be left alone while I figured this new world out. So I walked away from the small crowd of strangers.
I walked around a bit, not really sure what I was “supposed” to do. I settled on an empty street positioned between a few tall buildings. I wanted to change the appearance of my avatar. I decided I wanted to make my avatar look as much like me, the real-life me, as possible. I began to adjust facial features, hair color and style, eye color. I was impressed by all the options, but still don’t feel like my avatar actually looks like me.
While I was adjusting the physical features of my “other” self, someone in an all red suit ran me over with some sort of vehicle. I wasn’t sure really what happened, I just realized that I had vanished from the screen. He, or she, then backed up and ran over me again. Why? Why would do that? is all I thought. As I readjusted myself, this menace got into a steam roller and came after me again. A steam roller! He ran me over before I realized what was happening. I didn’t want to run from him, I didn’t want him to think I was joining in on his little game. So I didn’t move, he gave up, ran over some armadillos, and left. I decided I had had enough of Second Life for one day, so I logged off.
I’ve returned to Second Life once since that first encounter. Like the first time, I was run over by a “person” in a vehicle. I’m starting to wonder if there’s just something about “me” that makes people want to enact violent behavior. Fortunately, I don’t have this problem in real-life.
I don’t really appreciate Second Life yet, I think because I haven’t learned the capabilities of the program. I think as I experience this online world even more, I will grow to truly appreciate all that it has to offer. I haven’t spoken with anyone within the realm of Second Life so I still feel like I’m playing a computer game; it’s just me and the computer. I have to remind myself that it is something more than just a computer game–it’s a Second Life.
2.9.08 My First Class Meeting…Sort of…
Second Life hasn’t been going very well for me. Since I’ve been a part of it, I’ve only had about three successful log-ins. Today the class met, or actually, they’re meeting right now. I logged-on half an hour before we planned on meeting to make sure I could work out the problems that I usually face when signing-on to SL. It was successful, surprisingly so. So I just sat around for half an hour, worried that if I tried to do too much it would crash on me.
At two o’clock I received the teleport invite to join my class. I was actually really nervous, more so than when meeting a real-world class for the first time. I think most of my nerves come from working with a program that I’m not familiar with; I’ve never done something like SL before. I’ve never communicated like this before. My reaction to SL is very similar to my parents’ reaction: You mean, a class can meet online and actually vocally communicate with each other? It’s an exciting, radical, strange, and unfamiliar concept.
The first teleport was a successful one. I met up with the class. A problem I was having here was understanding who was speaking and to whom they were speaking. We weren’t actually talking with each other, which I wonder if that helps the situation or if it only makes things more confusing. Unfortunately, I didn’t get chance to find out.
When the class teleported to another location, I encountered a problem. When I came out to the “other side” I fell from the sky, kept going, expecting to just hit the ground, but I fell through the ground. I was left with a close-up image of the ground and unable to see my avatar. I couldn’t fly, or teleport out of it. So I logged off and logged back on. This time I was out of the ground, hovering above the ground at my “home” base, but I was still unable to move anywhere. I logged off and back on again. This time, I was in the ocean, unable to see my avatar and unable to move. So I logged off and back on again. Same problem. Again. Same problem. I tried IM-ing Jason, to let him know my situation. But like I suspected, IM wasn’t working for me. Teleport wasn’t working for me. Flying wasn’t working for me. I continued to log on and off for another thirty minutes without any luck.
I’m not sure what to do to remedy this situation. Since I can’t actually participate in the class discussion, I figured I would blog about the experience. I’m curious to know why I’m the only one having this problem, if I am indeed the only one. I should probably go to Help Island and ask someone for advice there. But I can only transport when I’ve had a successful log-on, and that’s not when I think about asking for help. I want help when I’m currently in need of help. Technology can be so amazing and powerful. But when it’s not working properly, it has the ability to frustrate its user like nothing else.
2.17.08 My Actual First Class Meeting…
Today I was successfully able to join our class meeting! Unfortunately, I didn’t have an external mic to hook up to the computer to actually participate in the class discussion. Since my computer doesn’t allow successful use of Second Life, I’ve decided to use the New School computers. So far so good. The program runs great on their computers.
I was a little worried I wouldn’t be able to make this meeting due to my work schedule, but my boss allowed me to take an extended break so I could join the class. As we sat around Kamran’s house and I listened to the voices of my classmates, I got really excited about Second Life. I was finally able to see what Second Life was capable of and what it was allowing us to do–it was allowing us to meet and communicate with each other, despite the fact that we are scattered across various parts of the globe. I didn’t truly grasp that until today’s meeting.
I did find it challenging, however, not being able to vocally communicate with the class. Even the little things I missed, like laughing at a funny comment or giving a quick word of approval. Some how, a typed laugh of “hahaha” just isn’t as effective as being able to vocally laugh. But laughing is minor as compared to not being able to articulate one’s own ideas fully. But I’ve still made some progress. Hopefully by next week’s meeting I’ll be completely on board and will be an active participant in our research methods class.
3.5.08 Oh the woes of Second Life…
The first meeting that I was actually able to attend didn’t go so great because I didn’t have a microphone, so I couldn’t actually communicate with the class. After the meeting I asked a few of my friends if they owned a microphone headset I could borrow (trying to avoid actually having to pay for one). Not to my surprise, no one owned such a device. I bought the second cheapest headset I could find and went to the New School computer lab feeling pretty confident that everything would go well that day; that that day would be the day I would get this whole Second Life thing up and running.
To my surprise I was able to find an empty classroom where I could use one of the computers to download Second Life. Things were going well, until I realized that the Mac computers in the classroom are not compatible with the headset I had purchased–they have a headphone outlet, but not one for the microphone. I asked the girl working at the information desk if she had any suggestions. She told me that they keep microphones at the desk and that I would be able to check one out. Their mics differ from mine in that they use a USB cable. So I checked one out thinking that this was only a minor bump in the road.
I returned to my computer and waited for Second Life to finish downloading. I set the preferences on the Mac to receive the input of the microphone. Check. All seemed to be working fine. I logged on to Second Life. It asked me if I wanted to enable voice communication. I continued through the series of settings. I reached the point where I was allowed to test my microphone. I expected the little audio lines to light up when I spoke into the mic. Unfortunately, I got no response. I tried a few other options, but still I got nothing.
2 PM rolled around quickly and I was given a teleport invite to join the class. When I landed among the fellow avatars I spoke into my mic, “Can you hear me?” No one responded. “Can you hear me?” I repeated, hoping my voice had just blended in with other voices. That was wishful thinking. My mic wasn’t working properly and I was forced to type out my messages.
Since that class I have returned to the New School lab to test Second Life. I was a little skeptical that it was going to work. I downloaded Second Life and I checked out a mic. I set up the audio settings on the Mac and those within Second Life. This time I saw the mic levels light up! I didn’t do anything any differently than I had done the previous weekend, but I was happy to see an improvement. I’ve since tried a couple other computers in the lab and have had equal success. Hopefully things will continue to go well during the class meeting on Saturday; after all, it’ll be hard to be a discussion leader if I can’t properly communicate with the class. I’m crossing my fingers.
3.11.08 Success!
I ran to the New School computer lab this past weekend, anxiously ready to get Second Life up and running. I was nervous it would be bust yet again, Second Life wouldn’t work or my audio would malfunction. I found a spot in one of the computer labs on campus, one that is generally less crowded. I found a computer off to the side and hoped no one would sit near me. I had to present the readings, so I didn’t want to disturb the people around me who were trying to get work done. I downloaded the program quickly, and easily. I checked out a microphone from the information desk and plugged it into the computer. When I ran Second Life, it recognized the microphone. That was a great sign!
I then teleported to my home-base. I group of people were standing around having a friendly conversation. I spoke eagerly into my mic, “Can you hear me?” Several voices answered, all with distinct Aussie accents. “Yeah we can hear you.” On person advised that I “not eat the microphone.” I back away a couple of inches. “How’s that?” I asked. “Great, sounds great” one of them responded. They then asked me about myself. Was I new to Second Life? I explained my situation. They asked about what I was presenting on. I told them. One of them joked that he wanted to present to them. I politely declined the invitation. They were all very friendly and wished me luck on my presentation.
It was exciting to talk to them, to be able to talk in Second Life at all. To know that I was talking with people on the other side of the world was a profound experience. Now that Second Life is working properly for me after five weeks of frustration, I’ve decided to re-open my mind to it. I don’t think I’ll be putting on my “Top Ten Things That Aggravate Me the Most” List anytime soon.
