How to better use Second Life as a Public Entity - Part 2
May 19th, 2009 in Uncategorized by POLITECH
Following 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
