Blog - Second Life

This is an interesting concept.  It combines andragogical learning theory (that's learning for adults), with online education, the power of visualization and social networking to help people lose weight.  Folks who are really into the virtual worlds like Second Life often develop an affinity with their avatars, and this weight-loss program harnesses the power of that to help people improve their lives.  Most people create impossibly attractive avatars; this program helps people look more like their avatars in real life.

According to the Club One Island is, "a digital world...a playground...a 12-week program...[and] an effective way to lose weight."  Here are the statistics so far on this fairly new concept, and some "success stories," videos.

It's a bit pricey, but if you're shopping around for gym memberships, this one might be an alternative to at least consider.  Just like the Wii is trying to shatter the stereotype that computer games make families fat, this type of program could soon challenge the notion that social networking is bad for one's health.

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. 
 

By now, most of us have probably seen Jason Alexander and William Shatner in Brad Paisely's video, (I'm so Much Cooler) Online.  Lots of people are actually making that a reality (of sorts) through the 3D virtual world, SecondLife.com. 

The site has places ("Sims") for every imaginable hobby, form of entertainment, interest, or cause.  There are churches, schools, hobby groups, (lots of) shopping malls, and likenesses of many popular travel destinations worldwide.  Artists are able to feature their work, and users can log in just about any time, 24/7 and hear live music from somewhere in the world.

On the dark side, there are also groups and Sims to support and validate every imaginable fetish and deviant behavior...these groups are largely allowed to flourish uncensored, with the logic being this in an imaginary world and no "real people" are being harmed in the process (the debate on that one is still raging).

There is a regular schedule of community events, often for the purpose of raising money for charities, such as the Relay for Life, or just for honoring some real-life event.

To get started, you'll need to go to SecondLife.com, and sign up.  Then, follow the instructions to download the viewer (there are a lot of alternate viewers, but start with the one that is recommended until you know your way around).  A basic membership is free, and if you find you're having fun, you may consider upgrading to the premium membership which has additional benefits.  For more information, see the introductory video above.

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking.