Week+IV

Ostrander (2008) //Talking, looking, flying, searching: Information seeking behaviour in Second Life//

p512 immersive VW world is "more abstract, more dynamic, and more malleable" than other Web 2.0 apps

'virtual ethnographic approach' to figuring out how and why people in SL look for info informal interviews, observation

p514 SL has "strong social, cultural, and economic components" enjoyable metaverse' Stevens in Ostrander "immense and varied info... is the most interesting factor for SL residents, along with the ability to create the information landscape themselves"

User Created Content (is the nature of the information) Linden Labs provides the "blank canvas that its residents fill with content" (users keep IP rights)

shared by one participant "another artistic medium... freedom to create or remake... allows others to interact with and walk through what I've created"

users also incorporating other Web 2.0 apps (discussion boards, wikis, me- Google docs, machinas)

p515 no authority control- Lindens relinquish quality control etc... up to the users to establish morays, expectations (see Caledon libraray)

what is the validity of info found in SL? how real are virtual worlds?

'social constructivist framework' - content creation controls how info is developed Turkle "vw are spaces for exploration" info seeking in vw "becomes a performative act"

"virtual communities are authentic real sites where real people seek real information..."

p516 ethnography lets you look at what people actually do with the technology think of cyberspace as a place where people actually do things (study excluded sites that were library and educationally focused also no librarians as subjects) 10 hours of observation 5 lengthy interviews/ 12 instances of info seeking

__5 categories of behavior:__ social info seeking using visual/experiential meachanisms serendipitous discovery using SL search utility play and humor

p517 USE THIS //**social interactions the most common type of info seeking (asking questions of each other, getting recommendations, looking for other users) blending interactions with environment is "powerful means of discovery and an area where VW depart from other online tools."**//

combination of 3D platform with social presence unique to VW as compared to other electronic info contexts

p518 "sociability is essential for optimal enjoyment and learning" (cites other authors on this) VW as an emerging 3rd space (social gathering places- bars, malls, laundormats, etc) public places for gathering outside of home/work

p519 visual, experiential info seeking-

strong feelings of space and place 'go to an experiential environment to find answers for info needs'

serendipitous info seeking- more solitary than social

p520 search tool- 60% reported the formal search tool did not meet there needs (but is that a function of the quality/usability of the design of the tool?)

playful info seeking behavior- "sense of play" involved strong social interaction or visual component

__**Access to Information**__

SL as social equalizer (the anonymity?) issues surrounding social class

p521 mostly from lack of awareness that they existed
 * //none of the interviewees has used an SL library//**

mentions AVL and other creative things librarians are doing in SL also educational presence