Click here to receive your FREE subscription to Campus Technology
News
Georgia Tech Librarian, Prof To Loan Land in Second Life
9/17/2007
Georgia Tech librarian Brian Matthews has teamed up with GT computer science professor Blaire MacIntyre to develop a space in the Second Life virtual world from which students could "check out" land parcels in order "to hang out, explore, and learn the basics of the software.""Our [rationale] is that if there is an interest, let's say 20 students or more, then we'll work toward purchasing an island for them," wrote Matthews in his blog, The Ubiquitous Librarian. "The idea is still in the very early stages, but ideally we're following this basic principal: just as [students] can [check out] a book, they can also [check out] a plot of virtual land. In this framework it becomes a discovery experience."
The two academics want to develop the space as a resource for students to burnish their digital design skills and as a place to use just as a creative outlet. "The premise is that since so many of our students use digital design tools for class work, they can also benefit from exposure to Second Life," Matthews wrote.
"Maybe SL isn't sustainable long-term, that's fine, we can just move to another virtual environment. My personal feeling about technology is that everything you learn can be applied elsewhere, therefore the more you know the better."
Read More:
Paul McCloskey is a contributing editor for the Campus Technology group of publications.
Cite this Site
copy text (above) for proper citation
Recommended Reading
- Microsoft Mends Breach in Open Source Sandcastle
Microsoft has released all of the source code used in its Sandcastle project, which is now published at the CodePlex open source developer's Web site, according to a blog. Sandcastle helps developers of managed class libraries create uniform documentation on their projects, using MSDN style.
- Lumens Debuts SXGA Document Camera
Lumens Integration this week debuted a new document camera and presentation system called the DC260 SXGA Digital Visual Presenter. The new gooseneck-style system is the first in Lumens' document camera lineup to support HD output via HDMI.
- U Liverpool Deploys iSCSI in Virtualized SAN
The University of Liverpool Department of Computer Science is moving away from direct-attached RAIDs to a virtualized SAN environment using StorMagic's SM Series iSCSI Storage Area Network.
- Indiana U, Wayne State Teams Capture Wins in Imagine Cup 2008
Winners of the 2008 Imagine Cup technology competition were announced Tuesday in Paris. Student teams from American universities took top honors in two categories and earned achievement awards in other areas. Microsoft, which hosted the event, said it was the most successful run for American teams in the Cup's six-year history.
- IE Is Least-Patched Browser, Report Says
According to a report released last Tuesday, more than 40 percent of Internet surfers don't use browsers with up-to-date security patches--and Internet Explorer users are the biggest culprits.
- Ballmer Wants Board Change at Yahoo
Microsoft's executives have been talking with investor and corporate raider Carl Icahn about renewed plans for Microsoft to acquire part or all of Yahoo, provided that Yahoo's board is replaced. The details were described in an open letter issued Monday by Icahn, which is addressed to Yahoo's shareholders.
