Is Second Life a disruptive technology? Looking at Dr. David Thornburg’s idea of “wild card” (2009) technology, Second Life does have the characteristic of coming from virtually nowhere. It simply appeared in the world of the web where users can access and create a new world.
Second Life is a virtual world that the user creates and has complete control over; a life where anything is possible. Through technology, a person can create an alter ego and the world in which he/she exists.
What is the purpose of Second Life? What will it replace; games; Social Networks? Philip Rosedale sees second life replacing the web itself.( cite). This bold statement requires Second Life to replace a technology that is so complex and developed that the technology must surpass anything on the web today. This will take time before it can reach this level of advancement.
Dr. Thornburg also requires the disruptive technology replace an existing technology (2009). Second Life has yet to replace any particular technology. Second Life has not usurped any games, social networks or other web programs during its initial inception. In applying this part of the definition Second Life is not a disruptive technology.
Second Life will need time and advancement for it to be a true disruptive technology. Right now it is still in its rough draft stage. Second Life needs to find a way to impress today’s web savvy users to want this to be the new modality of web use or interaction.
References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (2009). Emerging and future technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Rosedale, P. (2008). Philip Rosedale on Second Life [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/the_inspiration_of_second_life.html.
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