Modeling Reality With Virtual Worlds

Virtual worlds tends to mimic reality. Depending on the way they are used, they can be good or bad. Virtual reality can be used as an escape from the real world or it can help students learn better. Also, they can help people communicate with each other more easily online. In the article "iReport: 'Naughty Auties' battle autism with virtual interaction," virtual worlds are used to help those with autism  practice social interactions online (Saidi, 2008). Virtual reality has tremendous potential to help so many people.

On the other hand, it can be dangerous as you do not know who the people you talk to are. They can be criminals and you would not know until it is too late. Also, as virtual reality mimics real life, it can get really increasingly hard to tell one world from another. People may stop talking to people in real life as virtual reality makes it easier and quicker to talk with others.

Virtual worlds can be really good for creativity. For example, in the article "In Room 100, It’s Sid and Nancy All Over Again," Michael created a replica of the Hotel Chelsea on Second Life as it was before the former manager was replaced (Knafo, 2009). It creates a nostalgic place for people to hang out in. Virtual worlds such as Second Life can allow people to create a unique spot of their own to hang out in.

In the future, virtual world would probably be hard to distinguish from reality. You would be able to feel like you are right there in the virtual world and interact directly with people. People will increasingly begin to live in the virtual world instead of reality.