New Scientist has blogged SHL research project Preserving Virtual Worlds, which examines how knowledge about what happens in current virtual worlds can be kept for generations to come. From the blog:
"The Stanford team leading that part of the project may find themselves embarking on ethnographic expeditions to make videos and other recordings of 'natives' going about their business.
"Once archived though, the stockpiled virtual worlds could offer a kind of time travel to people in the future. At least if it becomes normal to lead a double existence between virtual and real worlds - as people, including those behind this Chinese project, think.
"In, say 25 years, people will be able to step back in time to the Second Life of 2008 and the days when virtual worlds were a niche concern?"
"The Stanford team leading that part of the project may find themselves embarking on ethnographic expeditions to make videos and other recordings of 'natives' going about their business.
"Once archived though, the stockpiled virtual worlds could offer a kind of time travel to people in the future. At least if it becomes normal to lead a double existence between virtual and real worlds - as people, including those behind this Chinese project, think.
"In, say 25 years, people will be able to step back in time to the Second Life of 2008 and the days when virtual worlds were a niche concern?"