Networked Virtual Environments and the NIH = Mission:

NIH Second Life White Paper

Networked Virtual Environments and the NIH Mission:=20

How Second Life and other Virtual Systems Can Assist with =

Collaboration and Citizen Outreach =

Collaborative Technology Innovation and Video Services, CIT, = NIH=20

March 15, 2007

NIH Second Life White Paper

Table of Contents

Executive Summary=20 .........................................................................= ...................................=20 4=20
Introduction.........................................................= ................................................................=20 4=20
Background...........................................................= ..............................................................=20 5

Virtual=20 Environments.............................................................= .........................................=20 5
Second Life=20 .........................................................................= ............................................=20 5

Latest Second Life Economic Statistics as of=20 2/28/07................................................ 6
Resident = Activity=20 .........................................................................= ...............................=20 6=20
Currency.............................................................= .........................................................=20 6
Land=20 .........................................................................= ...................................................=20 7

Second Life=20 Technology...............................................................= ..................................=20 7

Impact=20 .........................................................................= ........................................................=20 9

Commercial Use of Second=20 Life.....................................................................= ................=20 9
Education in Second=20 Life.....................................................................= .........................=20 10
Government in Second=20 Life:....................................................................= .....................=20 10
Other Organizations=20 .........................................................................= .............................=20 12
Virtual Capitol Hill=20 .........................................................................= ..............................=20 12

NIH Usage=20 .........................................................................= ...............................................=20 13

Collaboration with Government=20 Agencies.................................................................= ... 13=20

Accessibility................................................= ..............................................................=20 14
Consumer Health Information=20 .........................................................................= .........=20 15
Educational, Clinical or Research activities=20 ............................................................. 15=20

Issues to be addressed=20 .........................................................................= ..............................=20 16

Land=20 .........................................................................= .................................................=20 16

Security=20 .........................................................................= ................................................=20 17

Content......................................................= ................................................................=20 17
Confidentiality=20 .........................................................................= .................................=20 17
Identity=20 .........................................................................= .............................................=20 18
Local=20 .........................................................................= ................................................=20 18

Infrastructure=20 Impact...................................................................= ..................................=20 18

Conclusion=20 .........................................................................= ...............................................=20 19=20
References...........................................................= ..............................................................=20 20

Print........................................................= ...................................................................=20 20
Web=20 .........................................................................= ..................................................=20 20

NIH Second Life White Paper

Figures

Figure 1: Square Kilometers of Second Life Land=20 ............................................................. 7 =
Figure 2: An=20 avatar watches a streaming video Video=20 ....................................................... 8
Figure 3: = Wired=20 Event in Second Life--In Search of the Missing Moon Tapes = ............... 10=20
Figure 4: NOAA Headquarters in Second=20 Life................................................................. 11 =
Figure 5: CDC=E2=80=99s Virtual Office: CDC Representative Hygeia = Philo talking with=20 a=20
resident.............................................................= .................................................................=20 12=20

<= BR>

NIH Second Life White Paper

Executive Summary

As the National Institutes of Health continues its mission = to assist=20 the medical and
scientific communities around the world improve = people=E2=80=99s=20 health, save lives and
investigate ways to prevent, treat and cure = disease,=20 the ability to communicate directly to
the citizens of the United = States as=20 well as collaborate with the extramural community is
becoming more = diverse.=20 Proven methods of voice communication and paper-based
transactions, = email,=20 streaming video, Internet-based web content and collaboration are =
now=20 partnered with the electronic media of primary mechanisms of = communication.=20

One new way to communicate and interact is now emerging as a = viable=20 solution =E2=80=93 virtual
reality. By touching and exploring the = space (as well as=20 being influenced by it visually),
virtual reality provides a unique=20 interface to all types of exchanges. For instance, to
experience the = consequences of smoking, a child no longer reads a web page or watches a =
video, they =E2=80=9Csmoke=E2=80=9D the cigarette, which sends their = avatar (virtual self)=20 into a coughing
fit and changes their skin tone, thereby providing = the=20 visceral negative reaction of
smoking.

No longer relegated = to=20 science fiction, massively connected virtual worlds allow people
to = interact=20 with others around the world to share information, provide training and=20
collaborate. Second Life, perhaps one of the most well known virtual = worlds=20 outside of
the gaming realm, has already proven itself to federal = government=20 organizations as a tool
for citizen outreach and collaboration = through the=20 National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) and Centers = for=20 Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
implementations. The NIH should = move=20 forward with evaluating Second Life=E2=80=99s
effectiveness both as = a production=20 communications tool as well as an example of a new
usability model.=20

Introduction

The environment of the NIH is unique when it comes to both = government=20 organizations
as well as scientific laboratories. It encompasses = thought=20 leadership focused on scientific
research in a collegial atmosphere. = With 27=20 independent ICs and over 18,000 users comes
the challenge of = integrating=20 technology across many diverse organizations (NIH, 2006).
The scope = and=20 needs of users are varied, ranging from scientific research, complex=20
networks to grants administration and clinical trials. Systems = either=20 created or integrated
into the NIH Enterprise must have the ability = to=20 withstand these rigors and will only
flourish with the inclusion of = NIH-wide=20 evaluation best practices and processes.

NIH Mission: NIH is the = steward=20 of medical and behavioral research for the Nation. Its
mission is = science in=20 pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of =
living=20 systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and = reduce=20 the
burdens of illness and disability.

New technologies like the ones described in this = whitepaper=20 create a new and unique
method for the NIH community to communicate = and=20 collaborate. It is the task of the CIT=20

NIH Second Life White Paper

Collaborative Technology Innovation and Video Services Group = to=20 determine if and how
virtual reality and networked virtual = environments may=20 impact the NIH mission and
infrastructure.

Background

Virtual Environments

Virtual reality (VR) is defined as a technology that allows = the user=20 to interact with a
computer-simulated environment, be it a = realistic, or=20 fantasy. In the past, virtual reality
was limited to universities = and=20 institutes with access to the most sophisticated hardware.
Hardware=20 limitations are being significantly reduced due to the advances in = network=20
communication and processing technologies. The combination of = advanced=20 hardware and
the introduction of networked virtual environments = (NVE) are=20 enabling virtual reality to
become a pervasive technology, = specifically in=20 the consumer realm.

NVEs have real life attributes. Economies, = currency,=20 employment and advertising are all
modeled in these 3-D worlds. = Real-life=20 attributes provide a realistic experience and an
opportunity for = social=20 interaction with both content and people. The ability to socially =
interact=20 with others creates a virtual social networking platform for = collaborating in a=20
visual environment. NVE developers can deliver content in ways that = are=20 impossible in
the real world, which provides an opportunity for = innovative=20 learning techniques and
high-fidelity media.

VR is ideal for = collaboration accommodating large or small teams in real time, = supporting=20
presence and providing rich-media interactions. The experience is = immersive=20 and
compelling enough to make interaction attractive as well as = productive,=20 these
environments are ideal for public outreach. =

Second Life

Second Life is a networked virtual environment =E2=80=93 a = world created and=20 evolved by its
residents. It is defined as a = metaverse

,=20 a user-defined world of general use in which

people can interact, play, conduct business and communicate. = Despite=20 what some may
think, it=E2=80=99s not a game; there are no goals or = restrictions on=20 how to use it. Rather, it=E2=80=99s a
technology platform for = immersion and=20 interaction, much like its predecessor, the
Internet.

To = interact in=20 this space, users must first create an avatar; a completely customizable =
digital body that serves as their virtual identity. A powerful = physics=20 simulation running
on a backbone of thousands of networked computers = allows=20 users to be immersed in a
visceral environment.

Built-in content tools allow for real-time creation of 3-D = objects=20

and in-world collaboration with others.

The term was coined in Neal Stephenson=E2=80=99s novel, = Snow Crash.=20 This metaverse is the goal of Philip

Rosedale, CEO of Linden Labs, and founder of Second Life.=20

NIH Second Life White Paper

Because Second Life users are able to both design and = resell 3-D=20 content, as well as own
and develop land and a microcurrency (which = can be=20 exchanged to real US dollars),
many have capitalized on the = opportunity to=20 build real businesses entirely within Second
Life. (Linden Labs, = 2005)=20

Linden Labs recognizes a user=E2=80=99s right to retain = =E2=80=9Cfull intellectual=20 property protection for
the digital content they create=E2=80=9D = (Linden Lab=E2=80=99s Terms=20 of Service Agreement, 2006). This
right is enforceable and = applicable both=20 in-world and offline, both for non-profit and
commercial ventures.=20

Latest Second Life Economic Statistics as of=20 3/15/2007

Resident Activity

Residents Logged-In During Last 7 Days

346,507

Residents Logged-In During Last 14 Days

549,800

Residents Logged-In During Last 30 Days

965,894

Residents Logged-In During Last 60 Days

1,544,886

Total

Residents 4,650,334

The population has been significantly increasing in the past = 6 months,=20 rising, 39.1%,
from 2,287,108 to 3,181,426

residents in the month of January alone. =

Currency

LindeX Dollar Exchange (average):

L$270 / US$1.00

Total L$ Supply (L$):

1,907,303,987 =3D (approx. US $7,064,089) =

Linden Dollars can be converted into US dollars and back = again at=20 fluctuating exchange
rates.

NIH Second Life White Paper

Land

Figure 1: Square Kilometers of Second Life Land (Economy = Graphs,=20 Linden Labs)

Islands are priced at US$1,675 for 65,536 = square meters=20 (about 16 acres). Monthly land
fees for maintenance are US$295. A = discount=20 is offered to verified real world educators,
academic institutions, = or=20 non-profit organizations that will be using the regions to support =
their=20 organization=E2=80=99s official work. The discounted islands are priced = at US$980 for=20
65,536 square meters (about 16 acres), and monthly land fees for = maintenance=20 are
US$150. However, these figures will change based on the state of = the=20 Second Life
economy and population. (Linden Labs, 2007)=20

Second Life Technology

Second Life is hosted on an array of servers called = =E2=80=9Cthe grid,=E2=80=9D which=20 is composed of
several thousand =E2=80=9Csims,=E2=80=9D or server = host machines. Each sim=20 contains between two to
sixteen 256x256-meter regions. The focus of = this=20 paper is on the main grid, where most
of the avatars reside. There = is also a=20 beta grid for testing and a teen grid for users age 13
to 18. The = teen grid=20 is especially important to NIH where many outreach groups are =
interested in=20 reaching a young audience.

In the recent population boom, there = have=20 been approximately 25,000 users on the grid at
the busiest times, = demanding=20 more server power and sometimes deteriorating the user=20

NIH Second Life White Paper

experience. Linden Labs is constantly upgrading the grid and = adding=20 new servers; every
Wednesday morning for 3+ hours, they hold = maintenance=20 periods and frequently update
viewers on their progress. =

Second Life=20 uses the Havok physics engine for simulated physics, allowing = interaction=20
between objects or other characters in real-time. Residents use 3-D = modeling=20 tools to
create complex objects from individual = prims

.=20 Real-time audio and video feeds are

currently streamed in using QuickTime streaming technologies = or Ogg=20 Vorbis

.=20

Figure 2: An avatar watches a streaming video=20

Presently, Second Life lacks native voice integration. = Linden Labs=20 has been developing
natural voice chat with audio localization in = Second=20 Life; this would provide the same
functionality as the = proximity-based chat.=20 Instead of seeing text when walking by a
group of people, avatars = would hear=20 voices. Native voice chat will be made possible by
the advancement = of=20 Voice-over-IP (VoIP) technologies.

Vivox, a VoIP company, has = created=20 phone booths throughout Second Life and provided
the first one = million=20 minutes free to Second Life residents. The Vivox phone booth =
triggers a VoIP=20 SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) client on the user=E2=80=99s desktop, = and the=20
client routes the call using Vivox SIP servers and gateways. The = phone booth=20 gives users
the ability to call other Vivox users by their avatar = name=20 in-world, or any 10-digit
telephone number out of world. The = =E2=80=9Ctrigger=E2=80=9D=20 script is simply forwarding dialed digits
and can be used with any = SIP=20 server, even securely hosted by NIH.

Abbreviation for primitive, a 3-D object in the world. Each = prim is=20 represented by a set of parameters,

including position, scale, rotation, shape, cut, hollow, = etc.=20

Open source audio compression library, ogg files.=20

NIH Second Life White Paper

Another telephony option is Second Talk by Centric. = Second Talk=20 integrates Skype into
Second Life using an in-world headset. The = headset is=20 an object attached to your avatar
and resembles a Bluetooth headset. = The=20 headsets have a unique feature that allows the
user to scan for = other=20 headsets in his/her vicinity, and then gives the option to call the =
user.=20 The headset pulls the avatars Skype user name and calls the name using = the users=20
Skype desktop client. Vodaphone is also looking into similar = handsets for=20 in-world
calling, resident-to-resident, as well as out of world = calling.=20

Impact

While Second Life has been around for several years, it has = taken off=20 as a viable platform
for collaboration and communication only in the = past 6=20 months. Organizations like IBM
and New York University utilize = Second Life=20 for remote meetings and conferences.
Government organizations have = begun=20 using Second Life for three purposes:

=E2=80=A2

Citizen Outreach: As people use Second Life as a way to = search for=20 information
and learn in new ways (immersive experiences vs. flat = web sites=20 and videos), the
government is experimenting with presenting current = information in different
formats.

=E2=80=A2

Collaboration: As a commercial system that provides access = to anyone=20 with the
needed hardware and network connectivity, Second Life = allows for=20 direct
communication between people and organizations for = instantaneous=20 meetings,
discussions and other collaborative functions.=20

=E2=80=A2

E-Government: When you merge both the citizen outreach = function=20 (information
distribution) with the ability for anyone to talk to = anyone=20 else, there=E2=80=99s a chance for
increased direct interaction = between the=20 government and constituents. Already,
House Members are meeting = directly=20 with citizens and CDC is providing
confidential outreach services, = by=20 publishing sensitive information about sexually
transmitted diseases = that=20 individuals can pursue without fear of tracking and even
discuss = personal=20 issues with CDC staff members directly, using their =
=E2=80=9Canonymous=E2=80=9D avatars.=20

Commercial Use of Second Life =

IBM has become the leader of in-world business, with more = than 230=20 employees
spending time on its half-dozen islands in Second Life. = IBM has=20 utilized Second Life for
internal meetings and development with = clients.=20 Most of IBM=E2=80=99s islands are private
(restricted to IBM = employees only), but=20 some are open for public events like Lotusphere
Day. Lotusphere was = a=20 real-life conference held in Orlando, FL on January 23, 2007, but =
was also=20 held virtually in Second Life. IBM technologists and Lotus users and = experts=20
attended conference sessions and were available to chat at the = Business=20 Partner Cafe and
Bar.

NIH Second Life White Paper

Education in Second Life

As early adopters, more than 60 schools and educational = organizations=20 are exploring
Second Life as a learning environment. Harvard, New = York=20 University and Dartmouth
are just some of the institutions to set up = shop in=20 the virtual world, providing students
with an immersive distance = learning=20 environment. Teachers hold virtual office hours,
discussions, and=20 occasionally allow the public into classrooms.

Second Life = provides the=20 interactive and =E2=80=9Cface-to-face=E2=80=9D element, absent from most =
traditional=20 distance learning techniques today. As a distance learning tool, Second = Life=20
can be used for discussions, including real-time participation and=20 engagement in the class
just like a real-life class. The virtual = world is a=20 =E2=80=9Cblank slate=E2=80=9D, encouraging creativity,
attracting = the academic community and=20 allowing educators to develop innovative
teaching methods.=20

Government in Second Life: =

Figure 3: Wired Event in Second Life--In Search of the = Missing Moon=20 Tapes
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has = set up a=20 site in the
International Spaceflight Museum. The focus was = initially=20 collaboration =E2=80=93 the Space
CoLab allows NASA engineers and = the online=20 community to collaborate together. The
site also features Jet = Propulsion Lab=20 projects and informational videos.

NIH Second Life White Paper

Figure 4: NOAA Headquarters in Second Life =

The National=20 Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has created an island = for=20
collaboration while demonstrating some of their work. They have a = simulated=20 tsunami
and glacier, hurricane hunter, sea life tours, and offer = users a=20 weather balloon ride into the
higher levels of the atmosphere. Their = conference hall can be used for presentations,
where slides can be = uploaded=20 to the screen in the front of the room. They have a weather
map that = displays current U.S. weather in 3D using real-time data streamed from = the=20
NOAA website.

NIH Second Life White Paper

Figure 5: CDC=E2=80=99s Virtual Office: CDC = Representative Hygeia Philo=20 talking with a
resident.

Center for Disease Control = (CDC) has=20 created a virtual office with event billboards, a
mission video, and = links=20 to other health-related information. Hygeia Philo is the CDC=E2=80=99s =
Second Life=20 representative and is available for information and discussion at the = CDC=20
site. Hygeia in real life is John P. Anderton, the Acting Associate = Director=20 for
Communications Science for the

National Center for Public Health Informatics =

(NCPHI) at the CDC. Future plans include pandemic flu and = other=20 emergency
preparedness simulations.

Other Organizations

The American Cancer Society is developing an island with an=20 interactive cancer resource
center. They have already hosted two = =E2=80=9CRelay for=20 Life=E2=80=9D walks in Second Life. The 2006
walk raised $40,000 and = attracted more=20 than 1,000 participants to the 24-hour walkathon.=20

Virtual Capitol Hill

On virtual Capitol Hill, Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) = logged into the=20 virtual world of
Second Life to brief a group of Second Life = reporters on=20 the top priorities of the new

NIH Second Life White Paper

majority party in Congress. Miller led the development for = the virtual=20 Capitol Hill
complete with the Capitol Building and the Washington = Monument.=20 House Leader,
Representative Nancy Pelosi=E2=80=99s (D - CA) speech = was streamed=20 into Second Life before
Miller appeared. In August, Mark Warner, = former=20 Democratic governor of Virginia,
answered questions from Second Life = subscribers.

Virtual Capitol Hill is neither funded nor = controlled by=20 the United States Government =E2=80=93
some may think the Government = owns it. The=20 site contains the U.S. House of
Representatives seal replacing the = text with=20 =E2=80=9CSL Congress=E2=80=9D and virtualization of the
National = Mall, Capitol Building, and=20 Washington Monument. The site was actually
created by Clear Ink, a = digital=20 marketing strategy and services company and funded with
the help of = Sun=20 Microsystems.

Clear Ink claims the space to be non-partisan and that he=20

would reach out to the members of the Republican Party to = see if they=20 would like to use
the space.

The land is highly restrictive = and=20 controlled by Clear Ink developers, the first day of
Congress was = invitation=20 only and consisted mostly of reporters. There have been
numerous = anti-war=20 protests on Virtual Capitol Hill where developers participated and =
even=20 created anti-war banners and posters, a feature restricted to land = owners,=20 prohibited
to the public. This illustrates the need to actively = control=20 virtual space for NIH so that a
true and official NIH message is = delivered=20 to the Second Life community.

NIH Usage

Collaboration with Government Agencies=20

Collaboration from within NIH between other government = agencies =E2=80=93=20 Information
collaboration, CDC and HealthInfo Island already link to = NIH=20 medical information.
Second Life will not replace web collaboration=20 applications like Adobe Connect but will
certainly make the NIH = community=20 more accessible and may provide the initial contact
to strengthen=20 intergovernmental interaction and virtual collaboration.

A = virtual=20 presence combines the visibility of a web site and the interactivity of=20
collaboration tools like Adobe Connect. The Second Life location = will always=20 be
available for users and other government agencies to visit, they = can=20 leave messages,
access information, or converse with someone from = the agency=20 all while being immersed
in the environment. Having the same = real-life=20 aspect, minus the web cam, as a web
collaboration application is the = key=20 element to Second Life.

NIH pandemic awareness and=20 preparedness

Second Life can be used as a simulation platform for = emergency=20 response exercises. The
Institute of Rural Heath at Idaho State = University=20 (ISU) has created a virtual training
space to support Strategic = National=20 Stockpile (SNS), Simple Triage Rapid Transportation
(START), and = Risk=20 Communication and Incident Command System (ICS) training. ISU
will = provide=20 opportunities for training through interactive role-playing and will be = the=20

NIH Second Life White Paper

foundation for their emergency preparedness educational=20 machinima

.=20 This project

implements one of the distance learning methodologies = proposed by the=20 Idaho
Bioterrorism Awareness and Preparedness Program funded by = Health=20 Resources and
Services Administration (HRSA).

ISU=E2=80=99s = Second Life=20 location is called Play2train and is composed of two islands (Asterix =
and=20 Obelix); one is a virtual town and the other a virtual hospital. = Play2train was=20
designed to assist tabletop dioramas for emergency service = exercises. The=20 virtual
hospital has detailed disease simulations where the avatar = inherits=20 a script that visually
demonstrates the stages of smallpox on the = avatar=E2=80=99s=20 skin. They have modeled emergency
response equipment including = ISO-POD=20 isolation systems, decontamination huts, and
first response shelters = used=20 during pandemic outbreaks and other hospital surges. =
Play2train=E2=80=99s=20 interactive role-playing and rich simulation environment provide an=20
immersive training experience. NIH can use the same simulation = environment=20 for
pandemic and emergency response training. Scenarios can be = modeled to=20 specific
dimensions supported by the physics engine and objects = designed to=20 proportion by the
built-in engineering tools. =

NIH outreach and = education

ISU takes part in The Constituency Outreach and Education = Program with=20 the National
Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). To increase NIMH = outreach=20 and interaction with
mental health constituency groups (i.e., mental = health=20 consumers and their families), the
program enables health = professionals to=20 disseminate information and gather feedback
regarding mental health. =

Collaboration with external entities like HealthInfo Island = (funded by=20 NIH, National
Library of Medicine) will provide support for = NIH=E2=80=99s own=20 presence within Second Life.
The goals of HealthInfo Island are very = similar=20 to what NIH could accomplish through
public outreach and = collaboration.=20

Accessibility

Another project, called Live2give, was undertaken by nine = adults with=20 cerebral palsy, and
seeks to provide a forum in which they can share = in the=20 everyday personal interactions
that most people take for granted. = The group=20 spends most of their time on Live2give
Island, where they can = experience=20 normal social integration without the physical
constrains or = embarrassment=20 of the real world. A similar island, Brigadoon, has been
created for = sufferers of autism and Asperger=E2=80=99s syndrome. Already, many = disabled=20
individuals have harnessed the power of the Internet to start = careers,=20 communicate, and
form relationships. Second Life erases real life = physical=20 constrains and social anxiety in
a highly immersive environment = where people=20 and places throughout the real world are
accessible within seconds = via=20 teleportation and flight. An NIH presence on the Second
Life grid = would=20 provide these groups and many other disabled residents with a resource=20

Machinima is the art of making real movies in virtual = worlds.=20

NIH Second Life White Paper

for information, a place to escape the physical disabilities = of real=20 life, interact with others,
and talk to other patients.=20

Consumer Health Information

The Consumer Health Library within HealthInfo Island was = built to map=20 all existing
support groups in Second Life. The Island intends to = implement=20 an outreach program to
improve health information transfer in a = broad sense.=20

=E2=80=A2

42 percent of Americans have a high-speed Internet = connection at home,=20 up from
30 percent last year, according to the Pew Internet & = American=20 Life Project.

=E2=80=A2

The latest report from the Pew Internet & American Life = Project=20 says that 80
percent of American Internet users, or some 113 million = adults,=20 have searched for
information on at least one of seventeen health = topics.=20

=E2=80=A2

Most Internet users start at a general search engine when = researching=20 medical
advice online.

=E2=80=A2

Just 15 percent of searchers say they = =E2=80=9Calways=E2=80=9D check the source and=20 date of the
information they find online, while another 10 percent = say they=20 do so =E2=80=9Cmost of the
time.=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=A2

Fully three-quarters of health information seekers say they = check the=20 source and
date =E2=80=9Conly sometimes,=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9Chardly = ever=E2=80=9D or =E2=80=9Cnever,=E2=80=9D which translates=20 to about 85
million Americans gathering medical advice online = without=20 consistently
examining the quality indicators of the information = they find.=20

Educational, Clinical or Research activities=20

HealthInfo Island, currently the medical hub of Second Life, = is=20 working with Play2train
Island for training exercises, research and=20 educational activities are also being
coordinated within the medical = library. There are plans for simulations and
demonstrations in a = virtual=20 hospital. The island acts as a meeting place for medical =
professionals to=20 provide expertise and collaborate on various projects.

Second = Life is a=20 rich medium for experimenting and developing innovative ways of =
interaction=20 between users and libraries. The majority of Second Life residents are = early=20
adopters who are willing to take time to learn innovative learning=20 techniques. Their
experiences will give developers an idea of what = users=20 want in a virtual learning
environment. HealthInfo Island has = integrated=20 some interactive learning tools into
Second Life like virtual = librarians,=20 chat bots, and database searches. Tools like e-books,
audio books, = streaming=20 video, RSS feeds, and PubMed search are available in the library,
as = well as=20 traditional web pages.

NIH Second Life White Paper

NIH will easily adopt into the Second Life learning = community. NIH=20 groups can teach
distance-learning classes, hold meetings with the = global=20 medical community, and
promote the successes of NCI cancer research = or NHGRI=20 The Human Genome Project.
The virtual NIH will be a place where = scientists=20 and researchers throughout the world
will hold conferences = discussing the=20 latest findings and medical breakthroughs.

The social networking = aspect=20 of Second Life has the power to link the NIH community
and offers a = social=20 complement to the NIH portal, a place where other employees, =
contractors can=20 meet, discuss campus information, and share their work. =

Issues to be addressed

Land

Second Life, as an open platform, encourages creativity = because there=20 are no rules
restricting user-generated content. Using Second Life = as a=20 collaboration tool and learning
platform may concern some people = because of=20 the questionable material found on Second
Life. The Internet has = been facing=20 these same issues for the last decade but the most
conservative=20 organizations maintain their presence. The architecture of Second Life = very=20
similar to the Internet, a private island in Second Life is your own = domain=20 on the Internet.

By creating an island, you have complete = control over=20 access =E2=80=93 both who is included and
who is excluded, even = ejecting avatars=20 using the Second Life Estate tools. Limiting
avatars per parcel is = also a=20 great way to form a virtual intranet, creating conference rooms
and = meeting=20 places for employee access only.

There are also ways to monitor your land =

through visitor and chat logs. NOAA uses a proximity reader = to access=20 visitor data. The
reader takes a log of all avatars that come within = a=20 certain distance of an object. There is
also a simple counter to = keep a=20 record of the number of visitors on your island or in a
specific = building.=20

Second Life is confidential by nature and real life identity is=20 disclosed at the user=E2=80=99s
discretion. However, logging scripts = can be used=20 breach avatar confidentiality offering
tracking users and = communications,=20 proximity and chat parasites are developed to collect
avatar data = when=20 within a certain range. The avatar data and chat transcripts are =
accessible=20 immediately via IM, email or contact with the object. Real life identity = may=20
be leaked to chat loggers in the event the avatar = =E2=80=9Ctalks=E2=80=9D about their real=20 life identity.
Avatar name logging is used to measure traffic on the = NOAA=20 Island and the data is only
accessible by island owners. Since most = avatars=20 are unaware of the logging capabilities
they will maintain the sense = of=20 confidentiality when accessing embarrassing medical
information. On = an NIH=20 island, only landowners should have the ability to log traffic and =
chat=20 logging should not be used without the user=E2=80=99s consent. Linden = Lab=E2=80=99s Terms of=20
Service states "Remotely monitoring conversations, posting = conversation=20 logs, or sharing
conversation logs without consent are all = prohibited in=20 Second Life."

NIH Second Life White Paper

Security

Figure 5: Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) speaking in = Virtual=20 Capitol Hill as a
member from the audience wraps herself around the = podium.=20

Content

There are potential risks to business and brand reputation = through the=20 cloning of objects.
A =E2=80=9Ccopybot=E2=80=9D is a tool that = replicates in-world content=20 regardless of security settings. This
tool is strictly prohibited by = Linden=20 and defies Linden=E2=80=99s terms of service concerning
intellectual = property=20 rights. In November 2006, griefers

ran a script to create self-

replicating gold rings throughout Second Life resulting in = grid=20 overload and outages for
clean up. Griefers are typically reported,=20 resulting in a suspension from Second Life or
are sent to prison, = where they=20 sit in a cornfield and are made to watch 1950s public
service = announcements.=20

Confidentiality

Second Life, much like the Internet, is a great way to reach = people=20 that might feel
uncomfortable or embarrassed to access medical = information=20 in person or over the phone.
It provides confidentiality in a rich = medium=20 where the user has the ability to talk to a
medical specialist in a = very=20 personal environment. It is also possible to meet other =
patients/users with=20 similar health-related questions and form user groups. There is no=20
confidentiality in writing an email, and calling a generic 800 = number can be=20
embarrassing. Second Life will certainly be one of the most useful = platforms=20 for

A player in an online, multiplayer computer game who = deliberately=20 sets out to harass other players by

using or abusing unintended game mechanics with the sole = intent of=20 having a negative impact on a victim

NIH Second Life White Paper

reaching tech-savvy youths about anti-drug abuse, STD = awareness, AIDS,=20 and other
sensitive topics. It is paramount for NIH to have a = presence on=20 both the main grid (all
ages) and the teen grid (ages 13-18).=20

Identity

In September 2006, a Second Life database was breached. This = exploit=20 potentially
exposed unencrypted user names and addresses, and = encrypted=20 passwords and credit card
information. Unencrypted credit card data = has=20 always been stored on a separate database
and was not accessed. The = exploit=20 was immediately recognized by grid software -
Linden Labs alerted = the Second=20 Life community and required all users to change their
passwords.=20

Local

Everything in Second Life resides on the grid, even=20 inventory

.=20 Locally, you install a

=E2=80=9Cviewer=E2=80=9D application =E2=80=93 the viewer = will keep a small cache on your=20 computer containing
object info, textures, and inventory item names. = From a=20 security standpoint, the Second
Life viewer can be compared to a web = browser, accessing remote data - text, audio, and
video. Second Life = uses=20 similar =E2=80=9Cplug-ins=E2=80=9D to render various media types and = requires
very few=20 ports

to be exposed to the Internet. The thin architecture makes = it very=20 difficult

to transmit malicious payload to local machines and there = haven=E2=80=99t been=20 any reported
instances of viruses or malware.

With the = progression=20 of Second Life, we are expected to see me privacy issues involving=20
jurisdiction, identity and the ability to detect and investigate = illegal=20 activity are becoming
more of an issue. Like the Internet, it will = take time=20 for security technologies to evolve
and introduction of standards = and=20 protocol.

Infrastructure Impact

With new Second Life subscriptions growing the world at = about 38% each=20 month, the
grid is becoming physically taxed and it is leading to = server=20 instability. Events and Sims
are limited to the number of avatars = because of=20 hardware limitations. This wouldn=E2=80=99t
directly affect the NIH = network but=20 Second Life would lag on the user=E2=80=99s local machine,
this = could deter the user=20 from using Second Life

An application like Second Life is very = dynamic=20 and is in the early stages of
development, the viewer requires = frequent=20 updates and grid maintenance is a normal
occurrence. The Second Life = viewer,=20 is a thin client, it is used to view the data on the
grid. The = intensive=20 rendering process requires significant system requirements, =
especially the=20 graphics card and processor. Even through very advanced compression=20
techniques, Second Life=E2=80=99s real-time 3D streaming requires a = considerable=20 amount of
bandwidth, comparable to a videoconference or a web = collaboration=20 application. Viewer

An avatars in-world storage folder- includes objects, = clothing,=20 textures, and scripts

The Second Life viewer requires that certain ports = (443/TCP,=20 12035/UDP, 12036/UDP and 13000-

13050/UDP) be opened on your firewall.

NIH Second Life White Paper

bandwidth can be controlled through the client settings but = will=20 deteriorate the users
experience if they are set too low.=20

Appropriate use of the Second Life application would follow the = same=20 guidelines as the
NIH IT Email and Internet Policy and Guidance. = Incorrect=20 use by employees for non-
related job interactions and unethical = conduct=20 could damage productivity and obstruct the
NIH mission.=20

Conclusion

NIH should pursue direct involvement in the Second Life = NVE along=20 with other
government partners like the CDC, NOAA, NASA, and Library = of=20 Congress. Global
health and medical entities must collaborate to = improve=20 world health, save lives, and
explore new ways to prevent, treat, = and cure=20 disease. The exponential growth of the
Second Life platform has = enabled vast=20 public outreach and provides an opportunity to
reach and connect = millions of=20 people in an immersed environment. NIH=E2=80=99s involvement
will = provide a=20 framework for medical and presence and link existing communities like =
CDC=20 and HealthInfo Island. The potential for internal collaboration, social=20 networking
and education has been proven by virtual involvement by = IBM,=20 Harvard, and NYU. The
growth of Second Life is intensifying = =E2=80=93 as broadband=20 access and the required hardware
are mainstreamed we will continue = to see=20 this trend with networked virtual environments.=20

<= BR>

NIH Second Life White Paper

References

Print

=E2=80=9CWhat Virtual Worlds Have to Do With Your Business = Life,=E2=80=9D Gartner=20 Research Note
G00145046, December 22, 2006 =

=E2=80=9CEncyclopedia of Virtual=20 Communities and Technologies,=E2=80=9D Subhasish Dasgupta, 2006 =

Web

=E2=80=9CBreathing Second Life into Business,=E2=80=9D Reena = Jana.=20
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/10/secondlife/index_01.htm=20

=E2=80=9CSecond Life: Knowledge Base,=E2=80=9D Linden Labs.=20
http://secondlife.com/knowledgebase/

=E2=80=9CMy Virtual = Life,=E2=80=9D Robert D.=20 Hof.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_18/b3982001.htm =

=E2=80=9CThe CDC's Second Life,=E2=80=9D Nedra Kline Weinreich.=20
http://www.social-marketing.com/blog/2006/11/cdcs-second-life.html=20

=E2=80=9CSocial Networking Comes to Health Care,=E2=80=9D Laura = Landro.=20
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116717686202159961-email.html=20

=E2=80=9CNOAA/ESRL's Virtual Education = Demonstration=E2=80=9D=20
http://esrl.noaa.gov/outreach/sl

=E2=80=9CSecond Life, Land: = Prices=E2=80=9D=20
http://secondlife.com/community/land-islands.php =

=E2=80=9CSecond Life,=20 Economic Statistics=E2=80=9D =
http://secondlife.com/whatis/economy_stats.php=20

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