Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

A virtual world is a computer-based simulated environment that mimics and models reality, the world can be occupied by many users and unlike the real world it's controlled and adjustable by the admins. Users can create an avatar and the admin creates a world that resembles and reflects the sought after idea.

There are many ways that virtual worlds can be used to improve certain activities and fields, at NASA virtual world is used to mimic the galaxy for astronauts training, in the military virtual worlds are used to enhance training, specifically Airforce. The use of virtual worlds goes beyond science and aviation, it can also be used for psychological treatments, medical procedures, games, and fashion.

As mentioned in "Naughty Auties" CNN article, 22-year-old David Savill who suffers from Asperger syndrome in England created a virtual world for those suffering from autism as a way to communicate and live the life that they can have in the real world and so that they are able to have the social interaction they were denied.

Virtual worlds can be beneficial doing things such as enhancing medicine, military and astronaut training, and the gaming experience and even providing the ability for employees to collaborate remotely. According to a CNN article "Going to the virtual office in second life", employees are able to collaborate via their avatars in a virtual office using second life, an online virtual world that is being used by over 1400 companies and institutions to hold meetings, conduct training and prototype new technologies more efficiently.

On the other hand, virtual worlds being used for gaming and fun experiences can also drive users to be lazy, anti-social in the real world. Virtual worlds being used for medical procedures or aviation training might not be as accurate thus causing problems in the real world upon application, which can lead to complications, disappointments, and deaths.

Virtual worlds offer a platform for creativity and encourage collaboration striving towards innovative results, I see a huge expansion and development happening in the future. The application of Virtual reality is already present at every event and exhibition this will continue to take over in other fields.