SCRIPTING
The programming code used within Second Life is the Linden Scripting Language (LSL), or “scripting” for short.
As Instructables states, “Scripts can make an object move, listen, talk, operate as a vehicle or weapon, change colour, size or shape. A script can make an object (aka “Prim”) listen to your words as well as talk back to you, scripts even let objects talk to each other.” Or as Jeff Barr states, “One of the most important aspects of Second Life is the fact that every prim (building block object) can contain executable code.”
In other words, one may interact with with ANY object within second life. In a true nod to “Alice in Wonderland”, ANYTHING in SL may be animate. Knowing this really keeps one on her toes while exploring the virtual environments.
Since I get bored working in code on my websites (and this blog), I am confident that I will NEVER take the time to script in Second Life. Thankfully, I’ll probably never have to, as there are oodles of free scripts that kind people have left behind in various “buildings” around SL. In my last excursion, I found and added a pulsating red light to my inventory. My reasoning was, “Hey, you never know when a pulsating red light might come in handy…”
If there are any objects or scripts (or objects with scripts) that I might desire, I can purchase it at a virtual store using in-world Linden Dollars (L$). Currently, the exchange rate is roughly 250 L$ to each U.S. dollar. Although money changes hands in SL, one need not spend to play. I selected my own textures for my avatar rather than purchasing clothes, so I have spent a grand total of less than 50 L$ over the past 6 months (mainly to upload images from my computer).
HOLODECK
As I have mentioned in previous entries, I imagine using SL in my future science classes for performing 3D simulation activities in virtual field trips. When cost prohibits traveling to a remote location on the planet, one may still experience the simulated environment in SL. As previously described in the transportation section, one may “teleport” to designated locations within SL. Unfortunately, if one gets separated from the group, she may not have the navigational expertise to rejoin her classmates.
Educationally speaking, one VERY interesting possibility for scripting is the idea of creating a “Holodeck” a la “Star Trek”. The beauty of the Holodeck is that it avoids the risk of getting lost through migration from location to location by requiring students to STAY within the SAME area while the walls of a room change AROUND them.
In order for students to have a rainforest morph into a desert or an animal cell morph into a plant cell around them requires a great deal of scripting in advance by a professional. This would be a costly initial investment; however, it would only need to be purchased once, and could be used repeatedly over time by many. Every Science teacher within a school district could sign up for a specific day in advance and take their classes through each of the Ocean’s Zones from within the district Holodeck. Likewise, History teachers could take their students to famous battle sites or historical cities, and English teachers could take their students into the houses of famous authors.
Simply going to the Second Life Classified Ads can help one get in touch with a person who has the scripting skills to build a holodeck.
