Modeling reality with virtual worlds.

Virtual worlds are computer based online community environments  which are designed and shared by individuals so that they can interact in a custom built simulated world using avatars.

Virtual worlds is are really cool and can be used for many things like education, gaming, health care, socializing etc. According to the Forbes article by Jacki Morie virtual worlds are especially good for children because the "roaming radius" we grant them has shrunk to less that a block. Years ago children were able to play freely with everyone on the street. Today virtual worlds give them that access to connect, learn and explore.

Many large companies also use virtual worlds. In a CNN article by Mark Tutton he talks about how because of  travel budgets companies are seeking cost efficient ways to bring employees together and virtual community second life is seeking to tap into that market by allowing business to have virtual meetings on their own computer networks.

Virtual worlds have many pros but also do have cons. In the CNN article by Mark Tutton according to Surinder Kahai a university professor at Binghampton university he explains that he has seen people mess up completely because they think that what works in person will work in the virtual world and says that one problem is that virtual teams may not share national and  organizational cultures.

As technology is being improved over the years I would say that we can expect and increase in the use of virtual wolrds in the near future.

Morie.J, "after second life, can virtual worlds get a reboot?" NY times, april 2013.
Tutton. M "going to the virtual office in second life" CNN.com, November 2009.