Early November last year LL (Linden Labs) released its WindLight First Look Second Life client; it incorporates the technology Linden Lab acquired when it took over Windward Mark Interactive in May 2007.

Well last week I got 5 minutes away from my typical pleasures at work to test it, I ignored the warnings regarding using a “alt” with the usual scariness about losing your linden dollar balance, inventory and your dog! But I’m a Husky?! Epp, cough, err, I’m a human, oh, err, never mind… Anyway well I just didn’t have time to register a new account! (I do advise you do this if you plan to test it though).

So what’s the difference?!

• Firstly, the new system makes more extensive use of vertex and pixel shaders. This has considerably improved the lighting model throughout SL.
• Water effects are just amazing. You really have to see it to believe it!
• The new skies are also amazing; again you really need to see it in action, to believe it!

• Completely alterable day/night, altering the complete atmosphere (looks unbelievable in comparison to the standard SL). In future versions, we have been told that sim-owners will be able to set preferences to fit the mood of their places. How cool!
• Shininess looks real and object-glow, amazing!
• There are a phenomenal number of settings to tweak, enabled, disabled or tuned individually. Making it look pretty good on most hardware setups.
• Improved User-interface, I found it, a lot simpler, i took to it, like a duck to water. I was impressed.

In the final analysis, Windlight is, well, um stunning!

You can get the Windlight First Look viewer here for Mac, Linux and Windows.

First Look viewers contain major feature previews, but run against your live account on the main grid (Agni) rather than on the beta-test grid (Aditi). The new viewers get a much more solid workout on the Agni grid, but there’s always the risk as mentioned that it could eat your Linden Dollar balance, your inventory and your dog…err… Husky!

Last night myself, Jason, Squirrel and Kerry spent a few hours setting up a Media Zoo security system, its currently still in BETA testing but it’s an extremely powerful bit of kit and we’re looking forward to a safer future. We will be disclosing specifications once the system successfully undergoes Beta testing and is officially released.

An in-game meeting between myself Jiz Source (alias Andrew Jinman) of Twofour Learning and Claudia Linden of Linden Labs. Claudia took a tour around the Media Zoo Island, during which we discussed a range of exciting opportunities for immersive learning in Second Life.

Myself and James Abraham from Twofour Learning attend the BDRA, where we were invited to give a workshop/presentation on the development stages involved in developing within Second Life, the audio stream was recorded live at the event.

The workshop was attended by around 20 acedemics from several universities and institutes even two members from the RAF. Again apologies from the limited quality but heyho that’s Google video from you!

Twofour is reshaping the world of learning by using TV and interactive technology to create virtual places where educators, leaders and learners can communicate. It draws on its longstanding TV heritage and combines this with cutting edge Web 2.0 technology to deliver tailor-made interactive media communications platforms which deliver proven cost and time savings in CPD and management communications.

At BETT 2008 (London Olympia, 9-12 January) Twofour will be demonstrating its ground breaking work in Second Life in collaboration with The University of Leicester, as well as examples of practical web TV applications for CfBT Education Trust / DCSF and the new Secondary Curriculum and Young Gifted and Talented programme, Governor Training and the Bowland Trust / DCSF ‘Making Maths Fun’Initiative.

‘Immersive Environments and Learning Futures: Second Life and Beyond’ with Gilly Salmon, Professor of E-learning & E-learning Technologies from the University of Leicester on Thursday 10th January

(Description supplied by the University of Leicester, special thanks to Prof Gilly Salmon and Matt Wheeler of the BDRA Team)

The 2007 Beyond Distance conference focussed on ‘Learning Futures’ - spotting future trends and learner expectations, and how practitioners can ride the surf to improve learning and teaching.

It built on the 2005 and 2006 conferences which were concerned with setting the e-learning research agenda. The hallmark of the BDRA conferences is the provision of space, time and ideas for those involved in e-learning teaching and learning to come together to exchange ideas and think through the development of concepts, theories and rigorous and appropriate methodologies, good practice and models of change. An important aim has been to shift the focus to improving student learning from concentration on learning technologies.

The 2008 conference is firmly focussed on Learning Futures: spotting future trends and learner expectations, and riding the surf to improve learning and teaching. The aims are:
• To articulate and surface key transferable e-learning ideas and models for consideration in different contexts
• To develop stronger relationships promoting research on innovative teaching in inter-disciplinary, interdisciplinary, cross professional, multi institutional ways through building principles and models for testing through work in practice and context
• To continue to shift the focus to improving student learning from learning technologies, with a particular emphasis on those renewing distance learning programmes

For more information: http://www.le.ac.uk/beyonddistance/events/conference2008.html

The main focus of the event was the Second Life Media Zoo, myself and James Abraham of the Twofour Learning team attended the event hoping to answer any questions on the Zoo’s development. We also held a short workshop where we gave a quick presentation entitled (How to start developing in SL), we then asked the group to design their very own Sim’s, an extremely fun activity with some very good ideas and concepts arising.

The audio stream was recorded live at the Second Life Media Zoo Launch on the 18th Dec and consists of a presentation which introduces the Media Zoo project and my involvement in the project. Apologies for the quality but thats what i get for using google video xD

On the 18th December 2007 Twofour Learning and the Beyond Distance Research Alliance at the University of Leicester launched the Second Life Media Zoo project.

The event was synchronized between a virtual and real life launch at the University of Leicester and at the Media Zoo Island, within Second Life
In total 42 avatars attended the launch at the Media Zoo Island, an extremely positive number, and around 70 people attending the real life launch at the University of Leicester. I will be adding more images of the event to the gallery section of the site very shortly!

We received a great deal of positive feedback from the event;

“Gilly Salmon’s presentation was very interesting … we were well looked after around the island - people offering help or to answer questions, extremely well attended!”

We just finished and uploaded the Second Life Media Zoo Promo Video to Youtube! enjoy!!

Twofour Learning officially releases a press release of the Second Life Media Zoo project the article can be found at the below web address:

http://www.twofourcommunications.com/news-second-life.asp