- Blogger Peter Stindberg from “Shopping Cart Disco” looks at the potential security and privacy risks posed by Second Life’s new Viewer 2.0. The shared media function inadvertently allows IP tracking of users, which could lead to in-world identity theft and real-world abuse.
- The Chronicle of Higher Education talks about the users of Viewer 2.0 for educators. Early reviews from the field say the easy of use and shared media functions will make it a much more attractive tool for teachers looking to utilize virtual reality in the classroom.
- New World Notes wonders what Linden Lab’s association with the 3D software company Endorphin could mean for the next generation of avatars. Endorphin is refining software that allows what it calls “adaptive behavior,” allowing avatars to essentially self-animate when interacting with other avatars. Includes video.
- A South Korean couple apparently allowed their three-month-old daughter to starve to death while they spent 12 hours a day playing Prius, a popular Asian MMORPG. New World Notes penned a thoughtful essay about the responsibility of online communities to prevent these and other real-world tragedies.
- Just for fun: A video of 1,000 avatars in just three minutes. It’s a dizzying array of fantastic (and just plain fantastical) faces.
For updates on all the Second Life and virtual world news, follow @B2PBetaTech on Twitter, or join our Facebook page.
