University purchases another Second Life island

By Jon McDonald

The university is purchasing a second digital island in the virtual reality of Second Life, this one as a sandbox for students and faculty, said director of Media Services Nancy Cutler. The digital deed will be signed within a month.

Students and faculty will be responsible for planning, designing, creating and programming content for the new island, said Mike Ballen, the instructional technology resource specialist who spearheaded Santa Clara Island, the university's first Second Life property.

"They'll build their own vision," Ballen said.

Santa Clara Island opened in November and contained detailed replicas of real-life campus buildings produced by professionals at the New Media Consortium. It is reaching its capacity on objects, which can cause performance problems, said Ballen.

The new sandbox island would be open to anyone with an interest in Second Life.

"I hope it's mostly teaching and learning, but I'd like to see recreational stuff, too -- places to hang out," said Ballen.

So far nine professors have expressed interest in using the new island for education. Ballen's liberal studies class, Technology and Learning, is currently assessing the feasibility of these proposals. Actual development would not begin until next quarter.

"My students initially didn't like Second Life at all," said Ballen. "As they're exploring more educational sites, they're coming to appreciate its value."

Ballen asked Phil Kesten, a physics professor, to help his students learn about physics in Second Life.

"I find the whole idea of Second Life repugnant," said Kesten. "I mean, seriously, people spending their lives in this made-up world -- doesn't that freak you out?"

Second Life uses the Havoc physics engine, which mimics real-life laws. Kesten was impressed by a testing grounds hosted by the Institute of Physics. He said he would work with students to understand the physics available and possibly develop a bowling alley in the virtual reality.

"It may still be repugnant," said Kesten, "but it's at least interesting."

Electrical engineering professor Timothy Healy said he wants to recreate Santa Clara's prize-winning solar house on the new island, complete with tours for amateurs and technical experts.

"It's a very attractive thing to tour. In Washington, D.C., we had 20,000 to 30,000 people walk through and 'ooh' and 'aah,' " said Healy.

The new island will cost $980 initially and require monthly payments of $150, rent owed for the virtual "property." Media Services will cover the cost out of its budget, as well as the monthly rent of $150 for the first island.

A nonrenewable $19,980 grant from the Technology Steering Committee paid for Santa Clara Island's 2007 expenses. This covered the first island's development and one year of rent.

The new island will not need the development that drove up the first one's price tag. Instead, interested students will do what they want with it while Ballen and co-workers Gloria Hofer and James Linehan take the bench.

"What we're leaning towards is a place where people can learn and can explore all the things people can do in Second Life," said Hofer.

Anja Rossinni of the biology department is already hard at work on a virtual anatomy lab for the new island. She said the project will give students in her lab-intensive fitness physiology course online access to lab material.

Rossinni has hired graduate Amarja Lokare to program the lab with a university grant, but other virtual entrepreneurs may choose to do it themselves.

"It's pretty easy to learn how to terraform," said Prano Amjadi, director of public services in Heafey Law Library.

Amjadi is a self-taught Second Life builder and co-owner of Owo & Kun Meditation Island. She also made the balloons and decorations for Santa Clara Island's grand opening in November.

Santa Clara Island's use has slowed since then, but it still gets an average of 30 hits a day, according to Ballen.

"It took a whole year to get it built," said Ballen. "This year, we're trying to get faculty and students involved."

Liz O'Brien contributed to this report. Contact Jon McDonald at (408) 554-4546 or jmcdonald@scu.edu.