Virtual worlds are not a thing of the past anymore. They are used in many different ways including gaming, social meet ups , teaching, and even military training. Students experience this world through online classes and interactions. A virtual platform allows users to experience the nightlife of NYC (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/arts/television/06itzk.html). Soldiers train for the battlefield by being put through virtual war scenarios to be readied for them when faced in reality. Virtual worlds save people time and money and is extremely convenient.
Instead of commuting to school, students can take classes from home and use the saved time more efficiently. Money can be saved by refraining from using electricity in classrooms, etc. Also, having soldiers train in virtual worlds will save a lot of money that would be spent on artilleries, ammo, etc. These worlds can also be adjusted to match a specific situation soldiers might face to prepare them for the future.
The bad thing about virtual worlds is probably the lacking realistic experience. Although technology has improved tremendously over the years, virtual experience still cannot match up to the real thing. Actual classroom interactions and real experiences on the battlefields would be more beneficial than the virtual ones.
Virtual worlds foster creativity by connecting people all over the world. Now, we can virtually meet with people in different nations who may contribute to ideas we have or even enlighten us with an idea. IBM recently started a program called "JAM" that connects over hundreds of thousands of people all over the world to come together and blog about business ideas.
The future of virtual worlds look bright. Companies are already starting to take an initiative to indulge their employees in the virtual world through daily conference calls and meetings online (http://www.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/11/05/second.life.virtual.collaboration/index.html). Technology improves by day and soon enough, virtual worlds will probably become a huge part of everyone's lives.
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