Week 3 and Second Life

As I don't know a lot of things about computers and I've never thought about what www meant before I wanted to gather some information that I gained in the last 3 weeks in case I forget it or get confused...

• so first of all it's important to mention Belbin's and Tuckman's name who both wrote about how groups work, how people play and swap roles online. We might have a closer look at their work in our identity online project.
• we also learned how to create a website by putting a code in a simple notepad. It was much easier than I thought it would be. I've never imagined that I could create a website on my own:P
• I also know what is an open source: a software that everyone can edit.
• We also learned about UNIX a computer operating system, like Windows, that was developed in the 60s but was never an open source.
• LINUX is like UNIX
• I think it’s really important to mention Richard Stallman’s name as he is a hacker and a software developer. He started the GNU project to create a free operating system like UNIX in the 80s.
• we also talked about the 'culture of internet', about the Gift economy: where the credibility is based on the contribution, so if you can contribute you can take from it (like Amazon) and it's not necessarily money based. Shareware: use it for a while(usually games) and you can test it whether you like it or not. If yes you start to pay for it.
• Search engines: There are different search engines like Yahoo, Google, AltaVista etc .We should try different ones: AltaVista is good at image search others might be good in something else.
  
  
  The thing that I was most stunned by was Second Life. Second life is virtual world on the internet where you can sign up free and create a character in the way you want it and become a ‘resident’. You can be whatever you want to be: a lawyer, a furry or even a terrorist. Actually you can have a second life there (probably that’s why it’s called like that:P): you can buy cars, house etc. I find this whole thing crazy. First of all it’s incredible what technology is capable of and at the same time I think it’s insane that some people are really living in that virtual world and not in the “real world” and spend real money on things that are not “real” and they can’t even touch. And the craziest is that people are getting rich by selling their lands!!! I think people who are playing Second Life probably lack something, they aren’t satisfied with their life, want to be someone else or I don’t know, maybe they’re just bored…I mean I wouldn’t even have time for this but of course everyone has the right to do whatever they like!! And probably there are loads of good things about Second Life, as it was mentioned in an article on Times Online, that there are places where you can learn life-saving skills, or show off your paintings, as well as places where you can learn how to be a Jedi Knight! I would love to learn that:) (Second Lives and online utopias, 16 May 2007)