Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

Virtual worlds are online environments that simulate real life in that users create themselves online, known as avatars, and either independently, or alongside others interact in the online environment. According to the lecture notes provided by Ms. Pearl Weisel, virtual worlds are a representation of reality, and they tend to be a lot simpler than reality itself.

There are many different ways virtual worlds are used. They can be used as a leisure activity to pass time and as a means to see places one has never seen before. It can be used to meet the people behind the avatars and perhaps create real-life bonds. Many people who have impairments in functioning in our real-world find virtual worlds to be an environment where they do not have those impairments. Others simply enjoy living in that world, as one Dwight Schrute puts it; life can be so great, that people would want a second one. 

As most things do, the use of virtual worlds has its ups and downs. By that I mean it has both positive and negative consequences on its users. An upside of using a virtual environment can be found in its use as  means of teaching. Many educational institutions have used virtual environments as a tool for learning. This can be very useful for students and teachers by giving them easy and instant access to the virtual 'classroom'. Many students who do not have the ability to physically go to a class, be it for reasons such as health or because they are in another country. This gives them the chance to do so. On the other hand, there can be disadvantages, such as poor connection, which could eventually limit people and stop them from taking part, as well as the chance of getting viruses, as stated by an article called The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Virtual Classroom the Role of the Teacher. 

Furthermore, in thinking about virtual worlds and their pros and cons, one might realize that virtual environments give absolutely anyone a chance to become anything the would like. The hierarchical world that we live in is not necessarily portrayed in the same way in the virtual world. For instance, politicians, who have power and a voice in the real world, do not necessarily have one in the virtual world, and someone who does not have many listeners in real life may have followers and a voice in the virtual world. This of course has its own disadvantages, such as the fact that virtual worlds are different from the real world with regards to law enforcement and safety. This could mean that children are at risk because after all, they are dealing with real people behind the avatars. More about the disadvantages can be read in the Washington Post article At Hearing, Real and Virtual Worlds Collide .

Virtual worlds offer people a chance to do things that they otherwise would not do in real life. This might encourage them to get creative and not fear the consequences, because a lot of the time the consequences do not matter in the real world. This might encourage people to interact with people they normally wouldn't interact with, and come up with collaborative projects that could actually make a difference in the real world. For instance, someone who is in need of help may find someone else in the world who can actually offer that help. This might actually be the future of virtual worlds, where interactions between people of different backgrounds and ages may happen and they could find common ground, and in turn, help others in need. 

This if course is a very optimistic view. After all, virtual worlds may very well take a negative shift in the future, if they haven't already.

For now, let's stay positive!

Thanks for stopping by.

All the best,

Nanar