With the advent of Web 2.0 changed the way presentations, publications and information retrieval . Any Internet user can be both an author, publisher, customer, consultant, arbitrator, katalogerem and distributor of information resources. What's more, though still exist and develop their trade and development experts search for information (librarians, infobrokerzy, information architects), Internet users are doing very well for themselves. This is understandable - after all, have at their disposal such powerful tool as Google, and so immense, inexhaustible source of knowledge as a global community of Internet users.
A Web 2.0 tools continue to evolve and still new ones appear. Virtual world of Second Life, though not so entirely new, is an excellent example of how changed in recent years, ways to organize, search and gain information.
***
Ostander Margaret, author of the text Talking, looking, flying, searching: information seeking behavior in Second Life ( Library Hi Tech , 2008, vol 26, no. 4 ), conducted a study of behavior "players" in Second Life looking for information. Her insights, drawn from observations and interviews, show the specificity of the virtual world as a source of information.
Second Life is growing thanks to the creativity of users who contribute to the virtual locations - either individually or collectively, according to the principles and content production (eg Chinatown is a collaboration between programmers and graphic artists from around the world). World of SL is also used for educational purposes - non-profit institutions, including libraries and universities (eg Harvard University), available electronic sources of information, create virtual laboratories, organize conferences, and use the 3D environment to support the learning process.
Margaret Ostander distinguishes five basic categories of information seeking behavior of users in Second Life (1) social contacts, (2) use of technical and graphical interface features SL, (3) accidental discovery, (4) the use of search mechanisms, and SL ( 5) fun.
Social contacts
Ostander Studies show that the vast majority of (75%) "players" when he wants to know something in SL, is assisted by other users. Social contacts are used in different ways: users "talk" to each other, ask questions, observe each other, "peeping" call (which become visible if the person - the avatar will be just 20 meters from the virtual "talking" of people - avatars ), mimic the behavior of other "players", etc. The interface properties of SL, you can find out, using techniques that do not have application in other environments. For example, avatars mimic the movement of hands typing suggested that the players' conduct with each conversation, the contents of which you can see, if approached closer.
social relations constitute an important attribute of Web 2.0 and virtual worlds such as Second Life, almost did not occur during the search of information through traditional search engines. Margaret Ostander study participants emphasized that, for example using Google can not simultaneously communicate with people who are looking for the same information, either jointly see or experience the effects research.
Interestingly, Second Life is seen as a tool to level the playing field in society. One of the respondents - a lover of opera - we are sometimes on the virtual representations of the SL, while in the real world, his social status can not participate in these types of events that are customary in America, "reserved" are wealthy individuals.
use of technical and graphical interface features SL
SL graphical environment allows "players" moving it in different ways: they can walk, hover, fly and teleport to places you would like to visit. Places and objects - or the equivalent simulation of the real world (the Egyptian pyramids, the virtual Paris, a gondola ride in Venice) can be viewed, sightseeing and experienced by people who for various reasons in the real world can not reach to such places.
Flying and to float in the air, SL offers its visitors opportunities for which they usually - in my world - have no access. They can look at the places, structures or objects from different perspectives and look carefully at the normally invisible details. They can "go" inside the building and examine its interior, to participate in the simulation of a phenomenon or process, or to view three-dimensional mapping of objects of interest to them.
Information that in the real world is given in the form of description, in a 3D world becomes an experience.
Accidental discovery
In light of Mr Ostander 17% of the "discoveries" in SL is unintentional. Users learn about an interesting place, building or institution, by accident or on purpose we go to a new location, hoping they will find there something that they are captured. This type of search conducted on their own, without the participation of others.
use of search mechanisms, SL
Only 8% of the respondents used the mechanisms of retrieval SL. Most respondents (60%) negatively to the search engine of SL as a tool to help you in getting information of their interest or location. One statement suggested that missing in the SL service powered by Google, which combines the functionality of the web's most popular search engine with the possibilities of "experience" are looking for information that provides 3D environment.
Fun
According to the respondents world of Second Life is "much more fun" than traditional Internet. For the average Second Life user is associated with good fun - places and objects with no elements of entertainment may be less attractive to visitors.
***
In the same issue of the journal Library Hi Tech article also appeared Kristy Godfrey A New Word for virtual reference . The author recalls how over the centuries, and especially the last decades, have evolved ways to provide information services for librarians. It also shows the new possibilities offered by virtual worlds libraries.
Information Service is inextricably linked to the profession of librarian. From the beginning the information was given orally, based on available resources, collected, compiled and indexed in a way that the average mortal is associated with something fundamentally incomprehensible, and in addition - a deadly dull. Then the phone - at a distance, which was much more convenient for those who submit to the saving of time over personal contact with a guide to sources of information. The next step turned out to be asynchronous tool, allowing a specialist to ask questions no matter what time of day (e-mail, contact forms, service "Ask the Librarian"). And finally, real-time chat, which is equivalent to the honest phone in a digital world: clicking with each other "Caller" must be present and available for everyone at the same time.
Virtual Worlds might become another niche for librarians. They have a chance to find new customers of its services, with the proviso that they must learn to operate in such worlds, and you know exactly how their characteristics. That may be in Second Life, the demand for this type of service, provide free Info Island in the year since the launch of a virtual "library of the island," reported 6,700 members, was granted in 2000 and the information skierowujących 2500 property, of which 287 concerned the real world. As you can see, the vast majority of the information provided is linked thematically with Second Life - "players" want to know how to get to interesting places that offer services or goods to their residents and events currently taking place. Providing this information also requires skills in using tools, search tools SL (and as is clear from the opinion of Margaret Ostander study participants, they are not too friendly) and a thorough knowledge of the technologies used.
Behaviors "players" are different significantly from the behavior of library users in the real world. Visitors are in the form of anonymous avatars, like spy on, watch, listen, check and ask embarrassing questions. It is difficult to estimate the appearance of the avatar's age, education, knowledge, social status, nationality, skin color or even the user. It may also be that just came to ... check the quality of the librarian on duty ;-)
