What can I do in Second Life?
You can communicate individually and with groups by text (Instant Messaging) Voice (using microphone and speakers).
You can communicate individually and with groups by text (Instant Messaging) Voice (using microphone and speakers).
You can share media - text, graphics, animations, sound, video, web pages including support for Adobe Flash.
You can build if you have access to land in Second Life.
How old do I have to be to use Second Life?
There are two grids run by Linden Labs. The teen grid for users between 13 and 16 years of age, and the adult grid for user 16 and over. If adults wish to use the teen grid they should be vetted by Linden Labs similar to a UK CRB check.
Within the adult grid there are three types of land, PG, Mature and adult. PG should contain no risqué content. Adult may have some explicit material, adult may contain controversial material but should still be generally legal. Linden Labs reserve the right to insist that material be removed and will ban users felt to be being unreasonable. Any user of the adult grid may go to PG and Mature land but need to be age verified (by credit card, driving licence number or passport number) to visit adult areas.
Can I buy and sell things in Second Life?
SL contains its own currency and accounting system. Linden Dollars can be purchased and sold via credit cards and Paypal. Approximately US$300,000,000 is traded each year in SL with an unknown quantity of other trading being carried on outside SL. Many people now work full time in SL. Although it is still difficult to earn a living wage purely within SL, there are already a number of US$Millionaires who have made their money from SL businesses.
Because SL contains its own accounting system it is trivially easy to make an object for sale in SL. There is no need to create a shopping cart type system as this is handled by the SL server and client software. It is therefore very easy to set up a small business in SL.
Is my work in Second Life secure and who owns the IPR?
SL has its own security system which defaults to the most secure settings. Therefore it is not easy to copy or steal other people's assets. SL is used globally so it is not easy to follow the laws of any one territory. Linden Lab's policy and advice is to always err on respecting other's rights, ask before photographing or filming other people's environments. All forms of games of chance and gambling are banned in SL.
The IPR of any work created in SL remains with the creator and not with Linden Labs
Who uses SL?
Most UK and US Universities use SL as well as many more scattered around the globe. Popular educational applications include languages, commerce, health and safety, role playing, distance learning.
Example Applications links
