The development of a virtual world allows humans to perform actions otherwise limited by our human capacity. For enjoyment virtual reality can loosen the laws of physics and more. The virtual representation of the person is an avatar, which can be created to be similar or completely different from the person in their Earthly form. This freedom of personal identity allows individuals to be and act as then cannot in the real world. For example, medically handicapped individuals can function and appear as a healthy normal avatar when they may not be able to walk or function normally in real life. Away from personal embodiment, a person may assume a role in the virtual world such as leader or member of an organization. According to CNN Health, a virtual resource center was formed in Second Life to help individuals with autism and other related conditions. This can provide help to those seeking such aid. Some corporations also take part in the virtual world by having executives hold a meeting through their avatars. According to the Washington Post, several executives of major corporations including IBM, Linden Labs and others held a meeting in Second Life. This act can allow for spectators to view the meeting and possible engage with other spectators as well regarding the meeting. This accessibility can lead to good publicity but can also be counter productive if the online community does not take part in a serious manner.
The cost of living in the virtual world is much less than that of the real world. Users may obtain fancy accessories for their avatar and live a luxurious life, which would be more difficult to do in real life. Living the virtual luxurious life can come at a cost that an individual may not be able to sustain alongside the real life. Regardless, virtual worlds such as Second Life allows for an escape from reality. It grants the person the ability to do things that otherwise you cannot in reality. The ability to break free from boundaries such as the laws of physics can spur creativity such as owning multiple islands and being able teleport to each of them at your own will. In a case of where a place ceases to exist in reality, The New York Times reports that a famous hotel called Hotel Chelsea was changed in the real world by new management and the former manager recreated the hotel in Second Life. The hotel was digitally replicated and allows for individuals to experience how it originally was. The virtual world makes impossible moments possible but it requires the individual to take the step to create it and take part. Online gaming particularly MMORPG's allow individuals to live a fantasy life and the actions they make is based on how creative they wish to be. They can play casually to have fun or take the game seriously to even as far as online relationships through fictional characters. Real life can get complicated if the person thinks marrying a digital character is synonymous to the real life. Such extreme actions can be the consequence of virtual worlds if the individual gets too drawn in.
Virtual worlds will not vanish in the future. The digital world will grow thanks to expansion of the social network and incorporation of virtual worlds through online gaming and more. Earth could probably be replicated in the virtual world in the future in one instance to provide a substitute for the real world. I would not be surprised if the virtual world will be deemed as a World 2.0 that can almost completely engage our life, but we still need to remember we exist in the original World 1.0.
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