One of the most common knocks against the virtual worlds and the avatars we use to negotiate our way though them is that they cause us, and especially young people, to disengage from real life.

Well it turns out that this may not actually be the case.

The Academics on the Inter-Life project created “Virtual Worlds” that were meant to act as private communities where young people would be able to interact in shared activities using avatars. The project was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and was created to offer the possibility of realistic interactive environments that could also go beyond typical curriculum.

Students were encouraged to undertake projects like film-making and project activities with the virtual environment.

The project’s lead researcher, Professor Victor Lally, said: “We demonstrated that you can plan activities with kids and get them working in 3D worlds with commitment, energy and emotional involvement, over a significant period of time.”

“It’s a highly engaging medium that could have a major impact in extending education and training beyond geographical locations,” Professor Lally added. “3D worlds seem to do this in a much more powerful way than many other social tools currently available on the internet. When appropriately configured, this virtual environment can offer safe spaces to experience new learning opportunities that seemed unfeasible only 15 years ago.”

via PhysOrg

The project is a part of the larger Technology Enhanced Learning research program and looks to help narrow the gap between young people’s experience of learning and the technological world we have to deal with every day.

I don’t know about you but this sounds a lot like Second Life but without the sex.

Avatars could actually be helpful in learning skills is a post from: The Inquisitr

Imperial College London uses the virtual world to let its med students work on “patients” and diagnose them, CNN says. It’s part of a pilot program aiming to bring a “more engaging learning environment” into the training process.

The school has set up a virtual hospital designed to look like its own real-life facility. Students communicate with professors and other colleagues within the world. Everything’s made to mimic the actual experience: If a student doesn’t virtually wash his hands, for example, he loses points.

Luckily, from the sounds of it, the personnel within the hospital are all part of the program — no random Second Lifers taking to the operating table. And, Imperial College says, the virtual training doesn’t replace the physical in-hospital experience. Rather, it’s a supplement to help expand students’ education and connect with their computer-driven lives.

Medical Students Using Second Life For Training is a post from: The Inquisitr

Look most recently served as vice president of software for Pixar and is credited with helping develop its world-famous filmmaking system. His resume also includes a stint at TiVo, where he was vice president of application software and user experience. He played a “key role in defining TiVo’s functionality and user experience,” his bio states. Prior to TiVo, he led the Silicon Graphics team that built the world’s first VRML-based 3D workstation. Not too shabby.

Linden Lab isn’t revealing any specifics yet about what sorts of changes could be coming. The Second Life company does say, however, it intends to make its virtual world “more accessible to more people by making it easier to use, more intuitive, and more joyful.”

This is Linden Lab’s second big name hire in recent months. The company snagged former AOL exec Frank Ambrose as its senior VP of global technology in August. Ambrose was hired to work on expanding the Second Life network.

Linden Lab is based in San Francisco.

Former Pixar Exec Joins Second Life Team is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Japanese woman — or, more accurately, her avatar — had married another player in the online role-playing game “Maple Story.” Apparently, the virtual couple had some real problems. Long story short, he divorced her, she got mad, she killed him. (His character, that is.)

“I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning,” she told investigators, according to CNN. “That made me so angry.”

The woman is being held on suspicion of hacking. Police think she used her pretend hubby’s password to log in to his account and delete him. For that oh-so-heinous act, she could face five years in prison or a fine as high as $5,000. Officers took her a full 620 miles away from her home to detain her in the city where the man lives (also in Japan).

Bet that guy will think twice before he marries some chick just for the cybersex again.

WTF: Woman Arrested For “Virtual Murder” is a post from: The Inquisitr

Showtime’s “The L Word” is teaming up with multimedia developer Electric Sheep to create its own interactive experience. The service will begin testing next month with plans to fully launch in early 2009 — when the show’s new series begins — according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The virtual world will use Electric Sheep’s Webflock platform. Webflock is Flash-based, thereby requiring no end-user downloads or setup prior to use.

“The L Word” virtual world will be the first major usage of Webflock, though Electric Sheep has indicated talks are already underway with other entertainment-oriented clients for future creations. The company has previously built services such as Virtual Laguna Beach, Virtual CSI: NY, and Second Life’s version of “The L Word,” which accompanied the show’s last season.

Electric Sheep To Build Lesbian-Themed Virtual World is a post from: The Inquisitr

The site brings in around 5 million visitors a month, leading to its recognition as the one of the most popular virtual stops for teen net users. The new cash, coming from Institutional Venture Partners, will go toward developing additional features — such as a multiplayer online game set to launch this summer.

The idea of teen virtual worlds may be the next big boom in Web 2.0 development. Users of those types of services are expected to double over the next three years to 20 million, indicating more and more competing sites may start appearing, according to research quoted by CNET.

Teen Virtual World Takes $11 Million is a post from: The Inquisitr

VBusiness Expo is a regular virtual conference dedicated to corporate opportunities in virtual spaces run by Nick Wilson’s Clever Zebra.

The event is entirely hosted within virtual worlds (mostly Second Life), and brings together thought leaders and innovators from across the physical globe to discuss how virtual world technologies are being used in business. Over 170 companies and 511 people attended the first Expo in April, with leading companies such as Sun, IBM, Kelly Services and Gartner speaking on how virtual worlds are changing business.

The next vBusiness Expo is being held July the 29th to August 1st 2008. Attendees can expect to hear from companies “who have experimented in virtual worlds, discover the practical uses and opportunities available to them today, and how to take their first steps into the emergent 3D web.” Interesting content and a serious take on the opportunities virtual worlds provide.

VBusiness Expo Is Talking Virtual Worlds is a post from: The Inquisitr