Philip Rosedale is not a name that will be known by many people.

However, if you are part of the growing band of people with a second persona and life then you may know him as the founder and CEO of Linden Labs.

He is already listed in Time as one of the most influential people in the world (Top 100, 2007).

On June 23, 2003 his company Linden Labs launched Second Life.
This is a web-based world which is free to download and use in a similar way to Google Earth.

Once downloaded, a person can create their second persona called an avatar.

By March 2008, 13 million accounts had been created worldwide.

Having its own currency, and fluctuating exchange rates into first world pounds and dollars, along with live chat and an ability to create and build whatever you want, Second Life is the next big thing on the
internet.

Your avatar can walk, talk, trade and transport to places impossible to see or imagine in real life.

Treading the boards at the Globe, captaining an airship, walking on the surface of Mars and diving with a mermaid are all possible in a day's play in Second Life.

The world is not all play and there is a serious side to it. Ailin Graef (real name of avatar Anshe Chung) became the first millionaire from Second Life in early 2007.

Her studios already employ 25 people and are looking to double this.

Currently there are more than 60,000 profitable businesses in world generating $27m turnover in June 08.

At Preston College, staff have adopted the second world approach and used it to supplement main teaching.

The results students have achieved are phenomenal, with learners gaining entrance to Games Design degrees.

Others have been able to express their feelings and explore their potential by exhibiting work online.

Where you go and what you do is literally limited to your imagination.
In today's expert video we ask Preston College's in world expert Dredd-pirate Bob Streeter (Bob Brown) to take us through getting started in Second Life.


Click on the green video icon above right to view the video.
GET IN TOUCH

• Tell us something you'd like to learn?


• Recommend an expert to us.


• Become an 'expert' yourself.


• Email: josie.hill@lep.co.uk < mailto:josie.hill@lep.co.uk> or call 01772 838104


• Or write to: Josie Hill, Lancashire Evening Post Ltd, Oliver's Place, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9ZA