As I mentioned in my first post, I'm taking a class called The Internet and the Future of Patient Care. It's taught by a professor of psychiatry at the University of California, Davis (UCD). He is very interested in exploring creative and innovative ways to connect with patients and improve their access to health care. Some feel that one path to this goal is a MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) called Second Life (SL), launched in June, 2003 by Linden Lab. SL is a user designed and modified 3D virtual "experience" that is free at a basic level, but to buy or sell goods, services and "land" requires an account which will cost you. Participation in SL requires that you create an avitar, which is the virtual you who will walk (or fly!) around in SL.
My assignment for the class was to create a basic account and an avitar and to start exploring Second Life and its possible use in doctor-patient relationships. Maybe it's my age or that I'm a girl (apparently most users are young men), or that I don't have experience playing online games, but I had a difficult time even getting started in SL. I found myself actually becoming anxious because I couldn't figure out how to create my avitar, let alone clothe her. But I forged ahead. I solicited the assistance of my 20 something son.
I utilized several of the tutorial guides available on the web site to learn how to navigate this strange and unfamiliar world. I have spent many hours exploring SL hoping to discover the potential that others, including my teacher, see in this form of social media as a communication tool between doctors and patients. Unfortunately, I have not found it yet.
Admittedly, I was not able to participate in the class seminar that I think was designed to get the class participants together in SL to explore its possibilities. I am going to try to do that this week. And since I have developed doubts about SL’s utility for anything other than just another social networking site, I decided to see what others were saying about it. Unfortunately, I found several blogs or articles that described SL as creepy and freaky. And apparently there is quite a bit of virtual sex going on there. I’m glad I didn’t run into anything like that. I couldn’t find any reference to using SL in a more professional manner, or for any educational purpose. Most of these comments about SL were made a few years ago, so perhaps it has changed. This perception of SL would need to change in order for it to become something else.
All of this said, I’m willing to concede that SL could have the potential to be a more useful, professional tool. This virtual world is still very young, and the possibilities are endless. Since all content is user designed, the user could create whatever environment is desired. The drawback is the complexity of the tool which really requires a fairly advanced ability to navigate it. I think it deserves an opportunity to prove itself. I’m willing to give Second Life a second chance.
