Whooshup Reorganization

To reflect what this blog has become, the format has changed to emphasize the enormous number of useful links to resources we provide. To go to the whooshup blog and conversations about these resources, just scroll to the bottom of the lists of resources!

Monday, December 3, 2007

Textual vs. Virtual Discussion Spaces

It seems that there are now multiple formats available for interacting as a group online. I would like to hear any comments from others about how a purely text-based format like this blog compares to the virtual reality model available at sites like Second Life.

The limitations of this blog site will no doubt quickly become apparent. As a programmer, I am sorely tempted to develop some custom discussion website that would adapt better to the task at hand, but I also know that 90% of success is using the KISS principle wisely. At this point, it is critical to keep everything as simple as possible. So this Google-ized blog seems best for starters.

I have experimented with Second Life, and I think it has great promise for promoting interaction in a more natural setting than posting to an electronic bulletin board. On the other hand, I have been more impressed with the busy trendiness and virtualized materialism of the Second Life paradigm than with its uplifting aspects. But I would like to try it when there are more interested students willing and available for that level of experiment.

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