How to better use Second Life as a Public Entity - Part 2
19. May 2009 – 17:28 by POLITECHFollowing to my post “How to better use Second Life as a Public Entity”, let see now what can be the return of investment…
- First, by its presence: the image of the Institution will benefit from the media covering and the influx of public in-world. Its lack of Second Life could be more noticeable, as the new internet tools are spreading, and SL being definitely part of them.
For example, after being selected last October, among the 21 fastest growing communities in the world in ICT, Issy-les-Moulineaux has taken the second step in the “Top 7 Intelligent Community of 2009,” revealed last January 21 by ICF, USA. Issy is the only French city in the running for the distinction of “Intelligent City of the year” which will be awarded May 15th in New York City. https://www.intelligentcommunity.org/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=Top7_2009
Being present in Second Life with a very nice Sim (region) might have added an ICT value.
In Issy-les-Moulineaux Sim, you can contact the Council hall, download publications, assist to City Council, watch IssyTV, and visit the City hall exhibition. I tried the “Contact “button…and as I didn’t have any special questions I just warned the virtual municipality agent that they were a tree right at the arrival point and that we couldn’t see the explanation panels… It worked! Today, the tree is behind the panel!
https://issy.com/index.php/fr/cyber_cite/actualites/la_mairie_d_issy_sur_second_life
- Promotion of activities through Second life/Real life events, invitations to events, to ePetitions, links to ePractices sites, debates, games…
- More direct interaction with Worldwide Citizens. The interaction between visitors and Institutions must be central in this environment.
For example, Weekly Discussion MuniGov2.0 meeting in-world and Web 2.0 Government Discussion Group:
https://sites.google.com/site/munigov20/
https://www.govtech.com/gt/427330
- And maybe marketing of products, some of which could be designed specifically for this vector…
More and more web or SL agencies are turning to this business, so services will emerge gradually, offering development services for RL companies, Administrations and educational Institutions entering SL. They build Sims and content, as well as arrange virtual meetings, conventions, conferences, training or educational classes.
Some latest arrival for France: The Tourism National Comity of the Midi-Pyrénées region and the brand new National Health Agency of the Hauts de Seine region decided to settle in Second Life.
The virtual worlds are part of modern means of communication even for Institutions or Administrations of this scale. Europe should be present!
“Public Institutions should use the virtual worlds (not just SL) the same way they use Facebook or Twitter, like a community that has to be updated and entertained. You can’t only count on the buzz effect.” Says Fred Cameron, who used to write actively in the SLObserver blog, which became https://www.universvirtuels.com/
Watch the Machinima (video) that Linden Lab CEO Philip Linden (creator of SL) presented to Congress, showing how Second Life is being used by government, nonprofits, education and the arts. https://www.silverandgoldie.com/linden_congress.htm
Claire Mercier
POLITECH INSTITUTE
3 Responses to “How to better use Second Life as a Public Entity - Part 2”
By Fraser Henderson on May 23, 2009
I’m still not convinced of the value : I just can’t bring myself to think this is a mainstream eParticipation technology in terms of vertical dialogue.
For example, about 25 Local Authorities use FaceBook in the UK - the average number of ‘fans’ is about the same (the maximum is about 200).
I think SecondLife is useful for implementing 3D landscapes for the purposes of planning, but then there’s Google Sketchup…
I’d argue that the priority is to squeeze the most out of existing Web 1.0 technologies like email.
By Daniel VAN LERBERGHE on May 23, 2009
As the UN, I will argue that Government needs to be where Citizens are to provide an holistic approach to delivering multi-channel services.
The main issue with the Public Presence, as well as in some respect the Private Sector in Second Life is to remember that Second Life is mainly a 3D World and a Game.
Therefore, to maximise your presence, you need to master the Game and its tool for engaging people like any other 2.0 tools.
When mastering the tools and not just the technologies of Second Life you can:
1) use it to undertake surveys of your constituencies at low cost;
2) use it to train your staff at lower cost, especially at national, regional and International (e.g. EU) levels;
3) make them aware and test new and innovative e-services in real-time and amongst a sample of the population (e.g. SAP and new retailing e-services);
4) Use it to promote your touristic and cultural added value such as Dresden museum, Mikonos Island, Greece, Venice etc…
5) Experiment the Cities of tomorrow using alternative energies in real-life environment and conditions …
These are just examples for an effective use of Second Life for Public Authorities, but the key to attract more people is to use the tools available in the Game by mastering them such as groups, voice, action balls, freebies, etc …
The negative side of Second Life compare to other Web 2.0 applications is the real-time aspects of the Game which demands more ressources than maintaining a Facebook presence or a blog.
Web 1.0 technologies are important as it still provides some killer applications as the email, however, the pioneers of the web, will remember the ultimate goal of Web 1.0 was to make an interactive web where technologies will converge to provide us the ultimate user experience.
Second Life embodied this converging and interactive world with a secure single point of entry, a one-stop shop, etc…
The road is still far away from the ultimate environment, but key concepts needs to guide us when reaching out to the public such as:
1) Multichannel services;
2) offering services where the users are and not where we are;
3) Convergenge and complementarity of the technologies and channels (not one replacing the other);
4) Enhance take up activities (why “witchcraft” was the largest group in meet-up when Howard Dean first came to use it? Why Youtube or Myspace are still the most effective eParticipation platform than the ones Public Sector are developing?);
5) Taking into account the generational and cultural divide, when our children are communicating, exchanging and demonstrating using multichannel and converging technologies as their parents generation use to master Telephone and Television.
Let’s ask ourselves like Kennedy not what you can do for your country, but what your country can do for you to be in tune with you!!!
By Fraser on May 27, 2009
Thanks for your thorough reply