Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

Virtual Worlds can be used for many purposes. One of the ways Virtual Worlds can be used is to use it to live another life you can't possibly live in the real world. In the Virtual World, you can pretty much be whoever you want to be and live out your dreams. For a lot of people this is a way for them to fulfill what they can't in real life. Contrary, another way Virtual Worlds can be used as a company communication tool. For example, according to the article, Going to the Virtual Office in Second Life, "...more than 1,400 organizations... use Second Life [Virtual World Platform] to hold meetings, conduct training and prototype new technologies more efficiently." Virtual Worlds creates a platform for large organizations to be able to connect and hold meetings without having to travel long distances to meet and negotiate proposals.

The pros for Virtual worlds are definitely it's ability for people to connect easily. It acts as a social media platform, except it has an active avatar that represents you and doing things you would be doing in real life. In a sense, it's the robotic version of yourself in a 2D screen. Virtual worlds also allows you to buy things you wouldn't typically buy in real life. For example, according to the aritcle, No Budgets, No Boundaries: It's the Real You, "In their day to day lives, shoppers... have sharply trimmed their spending. ...But online, their acquisitive lust rages unabated." This shows that there utterly no boundaries or obstacles limiting what you can get in the Virtual World. Nothing will grow old or not fit in the future because it is always their in real life.

The cons of this however, would definitely be the spending. Although, sending money in the Virtual worlds are cheaper than actually buying the products in real life, even bit adds up. People may end up going overboard and invest too much money into their virtual world and forget about reality. Chances are, the money being invested into their virtual worlds is essential to their everyday lives. The money spent in the virtual world can help with rent, next week's groceries, or even an emergency situation where you need the extra quarter to make a phone call home. 

It's pros and cons aside, Virtual Worlds can definitely foster creativity. In the virtual world you can design everything you want. Your dream house, your favorite outfits, hair color, cars, and even jobs. There's no limit to what you can or can't do in a virtual world, you are the one in control, and you would pretty much be able to design your own life. Because of this freedom, I believe that Virtual world would only get more and more popular. Not only because it gives users the freedom to do whatever they desire to, but it's a great platform for large international companies to use to communicate. Imagine how much time and how cost efficient it would be to be able to save the travel expenses used to fly employees out of the countries for meetings. Those money can be used to better and improve the company as a whole.