Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

Virtual Worlds, like all technology, can be an amazing asset to build people up or a weapon to tear people down. In the end it all comes down to how governed they are and how people choose to use these worlds. 

A Virtual world can be the next logical step up from the internet classroom. There are, for some children, aspects about themselves that keep them from being more vocal. This could be anything from a dislike for their own appearance to a speech impediment that keeps them from participating. A virtual world could help to remove some of these issues through the use of hardware and software that correct speech impediments or an avatar that is of the child's making. As stated in The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Virtual Classroom and the Role of the Teacher teachers prefer to have finished products in their classroom and these virtual classrooms are not perfect. 

Virtual classrooms do have a disconnect between the teachers and the students. The disconnect helps those who are shy but it also leaves doubt of who is attending the classes. In addition to this there is no guarantee that the virtual classroom will be secure and always connected, not to mention areas where internet is less stable. These uncertainties prevent Virtual Classrooms from being a tool that Teachers trust, and understandingly so, because there are enough obstacles to teaching that the classroom being one more could be a huge issue. 

If Virtual worlds can become stable places for people to go, and they can be safe places instead of anonymous bullying, then the real world could be positively influenced. If people can role play as a hero in the virtual world then, as seen in Virtual world may impact real­world behaviour, perhaps virtual worlds can be used to help improve people's real world interactions. Though the opposite is also true as playing the villain can lead to evil mad scientist thinking!

Oddly enough the potential for virtual worlds has already been explored in a couple of, really good, movies. The Matrix and Ready Player One are both great movies that deal with the potential of Virtual worlds. It would be great if, like in Ready Player One, there was a place to escape the real world and change from who we are for society and instead be who we want to be for ourselves. Again though, this will always depend on who the people users are and who they try to be.