Virtual book talk

It’s just another sign that the line between the “real” and virtual worlds is blurring. Author and Stanford law professor Larry Lessig gave a book talk in the virtual world, Second Life to promote his book Free Culture and talk about the government’s approach to copyrights, CNET reports.” He took the form of an avatar that looked like him, and he told CNET that, as far as book talks go, it was a freeing experience because, in a discussion about “complex legal, social and technological issues,” he could actually read people’s questions and type out the answers (probably in the comfort of his own home or office). The talk took place in “a digital amphitheater in a section of [Second Life’s] virtual world known as Pooley. The audience [of about 100 avatars] was no normal book tour gathering. Instead, it comprised avatars such as a giant Gumby, a huge white cat, a lion and many other bizarre and unusual characters,” CNET adds. Professor Lessig’s audience was primarily adults, but think how much more appealing information delivered this way would be to kids, and think of the educational applications (I’m sure many educators already have)! BTW, Second Life is not really for kids. See also “Lively alternate lives” and “Second Life for teens.”