Virtual World Postcard Project: IdeaCity

No postcard today. Instead, here is the talk I gave at IdeaCity this past June. This talk explores the idea of virtual families. It was part of the inspiration for the Virtual World Postcard Project.

(A clarification: It might sound as though I am speaking on behalf of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. My job as Communications Director at the institute is actually  separate from my research for The Erotic Engine and for this talk. I do my best to keep those worlds from colliding.)

This talk went online just a few days ago. It was well received in some circles, but several experienced Second Life denizens feel I overemphasized the sexual content in that world. I received some constructive thumping on Twitter.

“You are about 4 years too late with how you describe VW’s and SL in particular,” said Draxtor Despres (aka Bernhard Drax), a widely respected reporter on life in Second Life. “These worlds are NOT dominated by sexuality!”

I can certainly appreciate how a technology can move on from its sexual origins – this is one of the main theses of The Erotic Engine. And I certainly never meant to imply that sex was the only thing to do in Second Life. (In fact, the Virtual World Postcard Project is  aimed at everything else.)

My exchanges with Draxtor and others have led to something great: several SLers have offered to help me expand my horizons, guide me around, and introduce me to more of the rich creativity that has become such a draw for Second Lifers. There are more than 8,000 square kilometres of virtual land in Second Life, so we’re not going to run out of things to see any time soon.

Naturally, I will report back here as my explorations continue.