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Information Dynamics in Virtual Worlds
Gaming and Beyond
Woody Evans (Author)
9781843346418, Elsevier Science
Paperback / softback, published 15 June 2011
216 pages
23.3 x 15.6 x 1.5 cm, 0.39 kg
"Information Dynamics in Virtual Worlds is a very well written and constructed book." --Managing Information
Presents a broad examination of the nature of virtual worlds and the potential they provide in managing and expressing information practices through that medium, grounding information professionals and students of new media in the fundamental elements of virtual worlds and online gaming. The book details the practical issues in finding and using information in virtual environments and presents a general theory of librarianship as it relates to virtual gaming worlds. It is encompassed by a set of best practice methods that libraries can effectively execute in their own environments, meeting the needs of this new generation of library user, and explores ways in which information literacy can be approached in virtual worlds. Final chapters examine how conventional information evaluation skills work falls short in virtual worlds online.
Dedication Acknowledgements About the Author Introduction Part I: Virtual Ontologies Chapter 1: Mapping virtual worlds Abstract Theory v. reality Our theoretical moorings Hyperreality Globalization Gender and queering Actor-Network Theory Intertextuality Transhumanism Spaces and how to move in them Running in virtual spacetime Money moves worlds Some definitions Chapter 2: Types of virtual worlds Abstract Games Gametypes Perspective, aesthetics, clickiness Non-games Chapter 3: N00bz inworld Abstract Gendered initiation Stories and tasks Floating World, Active World: Islands in the Net Back to initiation Help from the man Symbols of passage Chapter 4: Inworld info desks: information initiation Abstract: Official Stuff The unofficial stuff Wikis and forums Fan pages, Blog posts, Newsgroups Further discussion Chapter 5: Info service inworld: how to practice info services in virtual worlds Abstract: Let’s talk about librarians first Inworld library attributes Real skills for real patrons? Who is the community? Who are the patrons? Where to lurk Viral you Linden, Turing, and Kempelen’s Turk Part II: Time Inworld Introduction Chapter 6: Hungry Ghosts in Second Life Abstract: Deep and dark Official signage Academically speaking No action Public, as in Tammanial Hall I’m a Mac. And I’m a PC Real Life again Chapter 7: After virtual worlds Abstract: Thumbing into new turf Chapter 8: Conclusions Appendix I: SL librarianship Appendix II: TOS Bibliography Index
Subject Areas: Virtual reality [UYV], Library & information sciences [GL]
