Wisdom from the past – fast forward to the Beach Club

I ran into one of our IT Security Officers the other day in the ladies room. She overheard me talking about the the pICTsl Farm’s and the new Beach Club and we got to talking about Second Life and technology in general.
Unlike me, she’s been working in IT and with computers for 30 years. She told me that way back when it was hard getting folks to use computers. They weren’t sure why they should, what the benefit would be, since as far as they were concerned everything was just fine the way it was.

She said it was games and fun things to do with computers that got people into using them. Even in the workplace, people were encouraged to play and play around with computers.

That was a great story, I thought. It confirmed my intuition. Beach Club here we come! Hoo!

Suzanne

Coming Soon – Faculty/Staff Beach Club

Situated behind the SDSU campus and next to the Library, the new Faculty/Staff Beach Club will be a one of a kind in Second Life. A Beach Club, you’re thinking?? What about learning how to teach in SL?

During the Gustav crisis, we received a request to use our SL facilities in case New Orleans’ schools might need emergency locations to conduct classes. I thought, “now that’s a resourceful idea.” I mention it because it reminds me that people create their own uses for technologies and that’s what we’re continuing to do.

We’re going to elevate the entertainment and social value of Second Life and push aside for near future the fact that Second Life is an educational technology. (Read this post and this post for more on SL as an educational technology.)

The Beach Club is about hanging out in SL in our casual San Diego kind of way. It’s about having a fun place to meet, chat and do Second Life kinds of things. It will have the usual SL and real life amenities such as indoor & outdoor lounging areas, a campfire, swings. Swimming, diving, water sports (e.g. jet-skiing, sailing, canoing), music, dancing and cocktails, a gift shop and informational counter.

It’ll be open and available 7/24 to all SDSU faculty and staff. Students are welcome too. If it sounds like play, that’s what we’re inviting you to do. But don’t be mislead  into thinking that’s all it’s about. Are you working on an international project?  With a team of folks spread across the country?  Second Life & 3D environments are used more and more as places to meet, when distance and time is a concern.

Suzanne