Jonathan,

I've been wanting to check out second life for a while now...Your  
post may make me take the leap into VR!  I've actually heard Kathy  
Schrock speak about using SL in education just a couple months ago  
and ISTE (technology-education-related international org) has an  
island there so I know a place and some people to find, but time is  
my issue...What's your SL identity so I can look for you if I decide  
to join in?

What struck me when I read your post, though, it the possibility of  
VR to open up a world of experiences for kids/adults with  
disabilities that they would otherwise not be able to have.  I mean,  
I certainly can see the use for virtual field trips etc. for the  
masses, but to use it as a way to open the world to those with  
disabilities is a great idea.

 From what I know, though, SL isn't exactly intuitive and you need  
some decent computer knowledge and comfort to get around as there is  
a pretty stiff learning curve.

Congrats on your marriage!

Linda M.
On Jun 23, 2008, at 7:44 PM, Jonathan Rand wrote:

> Does anybody here feel trapped in one place?  If you don't drive a  
> car, and at times, have problems with your powerchair, (or other  
> assistive mobility device), do you feel icky?
>
> I'm describing myself.  Even b4 I became extremely debilitated, I  
> would use a flight simulator to give me the feeling I could go  
> places.  Or I would retreat into the "virtual" world of my  
> imagination to ease the pain of my life in the real world.
>
> I got married at the age of 63, and my life is changed.  I used to  
> wish I could go into virtual reality and leave my yucky  
> disabilities behind, meeting people, exploring etc., etc.!  Now  
> these worlds are beginning to appear online.  I'm gonna take all  
> the ships and planes, and submarines etc., I designed over the  
> years, and build them in a virtual world I  guess.  Maybe I could  
> even make some money selling stuff I design.  And there's a place  
> for my music there too.  Songs I've written, and were lost,  
> (forgotten), when I was really sick, are coming back to me now.  My  
> dream of a virtual band may become a "reality" in this new world!   
> I guess I no longer need VR to make me feel independent.  But I  
> dreamt of this sort of thing for many years.  A virtual world where  
> people with severe physical disabilities could go, and "leave it  
> all behind?"  At least appear able-bodied if they wanted to.  A  
> place where experience-deprived people could have experiences.  A  
> place where anyone could go, to fill whatever void they may have in  
> their "real-world" lives.  Or just a place to have fun...  or make  
> money...  or change yourself into a pussycat  :)
>
>   The virtual world I joined is called "SecondLife."  Anybody heard  
> of it?  I'm in an area created for people with physical  
> disabilities.  If anybody's interested, google "second life," or if  
> it's easier, email mee.  Running SecondLife on your computer might  
> be difficult... and even if you could, if your hands or arms don't  
> work too well, it may be hard moving about in this virtual world,  
> without some kind of help from others.  You might need an assistive  
> device to help you.
>
> For anyone who isn't familiar with this sort of thing, it's virtual  
> reality....  or should I say, virtual, virtual reality!  :)  In  
> full blown virtual reality, (VR), you put on a helmet and gloves.   
> You see the virtual, (computer generated), world through video  
> screens in the helmet...  and you can touch things in this world  
> with the special gloves.  Other people can see you, (or the  
> "avatar" that represents you), and you can see other people, (or  
> their avatars).
>
> SecondLife hasn't reached that level yet, (at least not for the  
> average user).  You just look at a screen.  You talk into a  
> microphone, and listen through headphones, (or you can type into a  
> lil' text window, and read what people are saying).  You move  
> around, using the mouse and keyboard.
>
> So that's it.  (Well that's an introduction anyway!)  Nothing is  
> quite this "simple," that involves human beings.  SecondLife is an  
> actual place, with a real society.  It' s not a game.  You can  
> create games there if you like.  You can create anything.  Houses,  
> cars, islands...?!  Spend money?  Make money.
>
> So anyway, I just wanted to mention this stuff because maybe there  
> are other people besides me, who feel they might get something out  
> of it.
>
> I haven't had time to come to this group.  I'm running at a full  
> clip, trying to keep up with my new life.  :(  :)  Before I met  
> this woman, I was alone, almost unable to take care of myself,  
> waiting for an eviction notice.  Trying to decide how to end my  
> yucky life.  She came literally 3 days before the marshals were due  
> to put me out on the street, (or worse).
> Now I'm trying to put my life back together.  And the virtual  
> reality stuff is a big part of it.
>
>                                    Jonathan Rand
>
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