Virtual Worlds & Whyville

Virtual Worlds are vastly taking over the internet. These "zones" are places where people spend countless hours creating faces, personalities, shopping, and even going to spas. Whyville is an online VR Zone specifically designed for preteen girls and boys. It has 1.7 million registered "citizens" that come from all over to learn, create, and have fun together. Whyville is their world. Whyville has places to go, things to do, and of course, people to see. Whyville has its own newspaper, its own Senators, its own beach, museum, City Hall and town square, and even its own economy - citizens earn "clams" by playing educational games.

This website is very applealing, colorful, and engaging. Interaction is done via virtual characters. Initially, this was a bit difficult for me bacuse I had not had any prior experience with Virtual Zones. And I realized that learing the interface of this program would require more time and energy than I was willing to give, however; I do think that the children would be engaged enough to learn it.

The only thing that stood out to me at Whyville was the fact that the environment was truely child friendly. At one point when I was trying to decide on what clothes I wanted, it warned me against trying to show any body parts. That was definately an asset.