Talk given to the Rocky Mountain Internet Users Group in March 2007. A basic overview of Second Life.

1. NOAA’s Adventure into Virtual Worlds Eric Hackathorn, NOAA RMIUG March 13 th , 2007

3. What are Virtual Worlds? … an extension of the traditional 2-D web

6. NOAA’s Virtual Island http://slurl.com/secondlife/Meteroa/177/161/27/

7. NOAA’s Virtual Island Tour Video http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v =is8YX32GAyQ

9. Island Survey Results What is your age bracket? Did you know about NOAA before coming to this island? How did you hear about this island? No 35% Yes 65% Web 20% Search 28% Friends 19% Newspaper 4% NOAA 9% Exploring 8% TV 12%

10. Defining Traffic Funnels & Goals Welcome Area 913 UA 6.3 minutes SOS 478 UA 3.4 minutes Crawford Center 319 UA 4.7 minutes Tsunami Shore 322 UA 5.7 minutes Tsunami Ocean 125 UA 1.2 minutes Weather Map 478 UA 3.6 minutes Balloon Ride 574 UA 2.2 minutes Airplane Ride 500 UA 2.9 minutes Balloon Ride Top 187 UA 12.6 seconds Hurricane 112 UA 11 seconds Glacier 259 UA 3.1 minutes Sub Ride 285 UA 2.5 minutes Hidden Cave 149 UA 36.2 seconds 922 Unique Avatars – data not updated = goal location

11. Spot Traffic Analysis Auditorium seating is not popular Avatars prefer to walk rather than fly The majority of traffic is in the main corridor The second floor is getting high amounts of traffic There is little interest in the lobby Few people use the side exit

12. One Avatar’s Journey This person spent lots of time near the ocean but never got their feet wet This person did not complete the airport exhibits Very little time at “Science on a Sphere” Do most avatars know they can swim? Out of sight, out of mind?

16. Questions? Eric Hackathorn / Hackshaven Harford [email_address] http:// www.esrl.noaa.gov/outreach/sl / Personal Blog: http://www.hackshaven.com/ LinkedIn Profile: http:// www.linkedin.com/in/hackshaven … 92% of those surveyed want NOAA to continue its virtual expansion!