By Tony Adams, groupVision AG, and Dan Power, DecisionSupportWorld.com
1. You may want to start by watching “Introduction to Second Life” (4.13 minutes) at YouTube, check URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b72CvvMuD6Q&mode=related&search=
2. Go to http://secondlife.com/ and join (https://secure-web4.secondlife.com/join/index.php/Choose-Name).
3. Choose your Second Life name (you need to give a real email address).
1) It is recommended that you create a name for your avatar with your “real first name” and any of the choices available for your second name.
4. Select an initial avatar design (you will probably want to customize your avatar later).
1) Don’t worry too much about your initial appearance. Pick a starting point for customization.
2) You can adjust your appearance at any time while in-world in Second Life.
5. Install the Second Life client. (Second Life does NOT currently support Windows Vista; Computer Processor: 800MHz Pentium III or Athlon, or better; Computer Memory: 256MB or better)
1) Go to http://secondlife.com/corporate/sysreqs.php or
2)
Go to
http://secondlife.com/community/downloads.php
6. Configure your computer for voice in Second Life and test the speaker and microphone. (best to use a headset).
1) If voice is enabled, you should see a white dot above your avatar’s head.
2) Adjust the Talk and Volume buttons at the bottom left of your screen. (test it with a colleague)
7. On the Edit menu select Preferences then go to settings tabs – Recommended items to check and enable for optimum use are:
1) General – Show Online Friends Notifications
2) Graphics – Draw Distance = 512
3) Audio
& Video – Adjust Volume Levels
Play Streaming Video and Play Streaming Video when available
4) Text Chat – Show chat bubbles
5) Voice
Chat – Enable voice chat
Hear voice from camera position (increases volume with camera closer to others)
or…
Hear voice from avatar position (increases volume with avatar closer to
others).
Start Viewer in Push-to-Talk mode.
6) Communication
– IM Options: (recommend checking all the options)
Logging Options: (recommend checking all the options)
You can choose the location on your computer where chat and IM messages are
saved.
There are several ways to communicate in Second Life.
1) Voice – There is a 20 meter distance limit for your avatar or your camera to hear others speak, depending on your preference settings. The closer you are, the louder the voices.
2) Text
Chat – What you type appears in the chat bubble above your avatar.
Everyone within 20 meters of you can see the chat messages you type.
Chat messages are automatically saved on your computer if logging is enabled in
preferences.
3) IM
Instant Message (one to one) – These are private messages between two
avatars.
You can send an IM to anyone anywhere in Second Life. If they are offline, they
will see the message when they next login. In the preference settings you can
have IM messages sent to your e-mail address with the complete IM message when
you are offline. IM messages are automatically saved on your computer if
logging is enabled in preferences.
4) IM instant Message-Group – In the group list, you can select a group, like Decision Support, and send everyone in the group the same message at once. These are private messages that only the group members will see. Everyone in the Decision Support group will receive the message, so it should be used only as needed. These messages can also be automatically saved on your computer.
5) IM instant Message-ad-hoc – In your list of Friends, select any number of people to communicate with at once. Hold the Ctrl key while selecting the names with the mouse. Click the IM/Call button to start a call and open an Instant Message “Friends Conference” window for those you have selected. Begin typing for a text chat, or press the Call button to begin a voice call. These text chat conversations can also be saved to your computer if configured in Edit-Preferences.
5. You can do the same with body shapes, skins, hair. All personal attributes can be part of an outfit.
It is not necessary for you to be a paying Premium Member to take part in Second Life. Premium membership costs US$ 72 per year or $10 per month. Check URL http://secondlife.com/whatis/plans.php .
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