web24gov

I blogged a while ago on the excellent IDeA CoP platform about the potential of Second Life. Anyway, my council has given the go head to face the brave new world of...virtual worlds, hosting an event on SL on the 16th July.

We thought that it would be an interesting experiment for you to experience this event both virtually (if you can't make it down to Kent) or in real life. An even more interesting experiment would be to start a discussion "on the ground" on the potential of virtual worlds for public services and community empowerment.

This could also be the opp to test out mashups which integrate Second Life and other tools (like twitter, youtube, etc) that could even be used on the day to get as inclusive conversation as possible.

What does everyone think? Who would be interested in coming?

While for sponsors, there will be the opportunity to host virtual stands, for everyone else, entrance will be free and open, with a range of presentations hosted live from Kent onto Second Life where both the virtual & live audience will be able to participate and share ideas both with the speakers but also with other people participating.

For those not aware of Second Life, it calls itself an online 3D virtual world imagine and created by its residents and "inhabited" by millions of people across the world.

Who else is working in virtual worlds?

Thanks to Ren Reynolds for providing the links to other public services present on virtual worlds.

Second Health: A health system centred on each patient’s specific needs in Second Life to explore, discuss and shape a shared vision of the future.

Talk to Frank: FRANK has a virtual bus on the Habbo Hotel site where you can hang out, get advice and chat to advisors and other Habbos about drugs.