I attended a virtual conference in Second Life where avatars from different countries delivered presentations from their offices. The environment was well designed to resemble a real conference, with venues, schedules, and seating. While there were some technical glitches, the audio quality was generally good and participants could easily navigate between sessions. It provided an effective way for speakers in different locations to present without needing to travel.

1. Experience of a Second Life virtual conference www.nextwavemultimedia.com [email_address] Experience of a Second Life virtual conference

2. I was teleported to this place on clicking the Surl (Second Life URL) for the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference. This is the reception area for the Virtual Conference.

3. I was walking around trying to figure out how to get to the session venue. I was soon Approached by an avatar asking me if I needed help and gave me the links to the venue. I only have to click on the link and I can be at the venue.

4. I continued exploring the area and came across this huge display of the conference schedule...

5. The display was so tall, I had to fly up to the top of the board to read.

6. I was a bit confused about event start time as they were not GMT, or IST but SL Time (Second Life Time). I quickly teleported myself to the session venue. Was releived to know I had arrived 15 min before start. It was a beautiful venue. There was a display hanging in mid air announcing the start time.

7. I instintively sat on the bench, though it is virtual and my legs were not going to ache. I managed to look younger and handsome. The board behind me is a teleportation board You could be present in any sesion you choose to be in seconds by clicking on the venues on the board

8. The speakers on stage were from different countries, sitting in their respective desk in their Offices they were puppetering their avatars in 2ndlife and delivering the speach. The audio Quality was good through out.

9. Most preferred to sit than stand. I did not talk to any as I would in real life.

10. The sessions got over and people started moving out of the venue. Some just flew away. There were a few glitches... can you see the image patch right in the middlle?, this happened many times at various sessions.

11. I flew around, to see how it all looked from above. Just like in real life, you can Hear the speakers in the session when your are in the venue. For example you will Not hear a thing if you tried to attend the sessions from where I am now.

12. This the second venue of the conference.

13. The well built guy opposite to me in blue t shirt and black jeans is the security. I wondered What awesome powers he could posses, if I created trouble he can probably make me Invisible or make the event invisible to me or log me out of second life.

14. It was a neat seating arrangement. I assumed that the white display like screens in front of me would display content of the presentation, but it was only decorative

15. This session had 5 speakers on the stage all from different countries and continents, Making the presentation without leaving their respective countries. For the person at the venue it felt as though the speakers were there.

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