Virtual Worlds

I don't know that there would be a benefit to using SL in my profession at the library. There are some negative technical aspects to SL that would make it difficult to integrate. In order to appreciate the full experience of SL you really do need a very fast computer with a graphics card that is suitable for gaming. I don't think there are any computers at my workplace that would be optimal for this program. I also think it will take people longer to learn how to use SL effectively than it would be for other Web 2.0 applications. It does take some time to learn how to maneuver your avatar and navigate through SL. Information you might find on SL may be more easily found in other formats on the internet.

Some potential benefits to using SL would be an engaging program for library staff and patrons who are into gaming. It might be an interesting way to put together an educational program. It could be a way for staff to attend a lecture or meeting and have an opportunity to ask questions directly to the presenter. Although other programs like Elluminate have these capabilities.


As far as my personal interests, SL may have communities that I'm interested in that I don't have access to in my real community, but this is probably true of the internet in general. There are art and photo galleries on SL, but the artists may have their work on other websites on the internet that I can also access. One thing that I did find unique about SL is the ability to build objects yourself but also add animation to objects using Using the Linden Scripting Language .
Since I am interested in web development and programming this is one aspect of SL that I may get involved with in the future.


I found the experience with SL interesting, but initially I did have some technical difficulties. I could not use SL on my computer at home because I have an Intel Extreme graphics card on my computer which was not compatible with SL. Since I am a Student Assistant at IT services on campus I have administrative privileges and was able to check out a laptop and install the program. Had I not had admin privileges this would have been a lot trickier for me to access this program.

Some the places I visited on my own on SL were the Cleveland Public Library and the Rescue Park at Canis. The Cleveland Public Library had a really nice exhibit of photographs of ancient chess pieces. The graphics worked well here (perhaps because my avatar was the only one in the library). The Rescue Park at Canis was a dog rescue park where you had virtual dogs you could adopt and pet with your avatar. I found my experience on SL fun, but not particularly educational or informative.

I don't have any concerns using SL. If I had children I would have similar concerns that I would have with children using online sites such as online predators etc...

I think SL would be a program I would use in the future. I'm thinking about buying a MacBook so I would have a computer that would meet the system requirements. SL so far has seemed more like a game to me so it would be something I would consider to be entertainment rather than useful in my profession or hobbies.

Web 2.0 and Ecommerce

Technologies:

Searching for articles on Web 2.0 and ecommerce issues, I found some interesting ones on Jakob Nielsen's useit.com site that are critical of Web 2.0 technologies because they don't necessarily translate into profitability and can confuse web site users. He also says that the more profitable technologies are older and more simple. When I took an HTML class at UAS about a year and a half ago we had some Jakob Nielsen articles about web site useability as assigned reading.

The first article Web 2.0 Can Be Dangerous, states that Web 2.0 technologies are over-hyped and concentrating too much on developing these for your website can take the focus away from older technologies that matter much more to users. Ajax and Mashup sites can actually be confusing to users. Another article, 10 High-Profit Redesign Priorities, discusses technologies and parts of web site design like email newsletters and high-quality photography that actually will translate into higher profits. Also making your site more accessible to senior citizens will increase your profits because many senior citizens are wealthy.

Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization refers to methods web site developers can use to increase traffic to their websites through search engine results. One article I found, How to Herd Organic Search Traffic to Your Blog gives detailed instructions on how to put specific keywords on your site that will increase your rankings in search engines. Even though the article was written for blogs, you could use it for other types of websites as well. Free Keyword Suggestion Tool From Wordtracker is a site that will give you keyword suggestions based on keywords you enter relating to your site.

Marketing Magic

I think a company like Amazon is successful for a variety of reasons. In an interview with Jeff Bezos for Wired magazine, The Zen of Jeff Bezos, Amazon's early success was do to having such a large inventory of books that it spread through word of mouth that Amazon was a good site for hard-to-find titles. Amazon's search engine makes it very easy to find items you are looking for. I often will use the Amazon site at work at the library if a patron is looking for a book but doesn't know the exact title. Often a book will not show up on our online catalog unless you know the exact title or author. Amazon has innovative aspects to their site like the search inside a book function. According to the Wired article, sales of books with the search inside function increase by 9% over books without it.

How Web 2.0 Service Providers Make Money On The Web

28 Ways to Make Money with Your Website describes many ways to make money on the web, mostly through advertising such as Pay Per Click, Banner Ads but also monetization widgets and RSS feed ads. It also covers techniques like creating an email list or newsletter and selling a book.

To be an ecommerce company and be successful in the Web 2.0 environment you need to first create a site that uses technologies such as in the 10 High-Profit Redesign Priorities article that have been proven to increase profits. You should employ techniques to improve Search Engine Optimization through effective use of keywords on your site. You should also develop effective advertising on your website.