Week 2 Assignment: Virtual Environments

A virtual environment is an online environment where things can be posted, participated in, and manipulated by the users. Virtual environments encompass things like virtual reality, multi-user games, shared communities or similar. When you complete this week’s assignment, think about what virtual environments you spend time in. Below are some links to examples of virtual reality environments.

Oculus Rift: Next generation virtual reality

HoloLens: Holographic computer that allows you to interact with hologram

Active Worlds: Users create their own worlds and custom 3D content

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Write a 2- to 3-page paper in APA format that describes the pros and cons of this type of environment. Make sure to include the following information within your paper.

Describe what virtual environments you use (e.g., World of Warcraft, fantasy football, Second Life).
Share how long you spend in these environments. Fun fact: The average American spends nearly eight hours a day staring at screens (computer, phone, TV, etc.).
Is new virtual reality technology, such as Oculus Rift, the same as an environment such as Fantasy Football or Facebook? Why or why not?
How might you apply the functionalism theory to explain the virtual environment experience for someone with social anxiety issues?
Include how each of the perspectives explains the concept of virtual reality/environments. Try to view the problem from each perspective by asking the kinds of questions a theorist would ask if they were a functionalist, conflict theorist, or symbolic interactionist. For this this assignment, you could ask yourself:
What is the function of virtual reality/environment? What role does this play in our culture? (Functionalism)
What conflicts arise because of virtual reality/environments? How do you feel about the technology gap? Is there inequality present? (Conflict theory)
What does virtual reality/environment mean to us as a society? When we interact on the Internet, explore virtual environments, and make connections online, what do these relationships mean? (Symbolic interactionism)

Information clearly relates to the main topic, and includes several supporting details and/or examples for each question.

All topics are addressed, and all questions are answered with at least 4–5 sentences about each topic

All perspectives are used correctly in explaining virtual environments, and examples are provided for each perspective.

Answers are well written throughout. Information is well organized and clearly communicated. Assignment is free of spelling and grammatical errors.

Follows all the requirements related to format, length, source citations, and layout.

SAMPLE SOLUTION

Week 2 Assignments: Virtual Environments

A virtual environment is any networked application that allows people to interact with multiple virtual environment users (Anthes, García-Hernández & Kranzlmüller, 2016). They may range from e-mails to online games such as Second Life, Fantasy Football, and World of Warcraft. I am fond of Second Life because it allows one to create their avatars besides helping them modify their worlds. It also brings a whole new life experience with it making one feel like they are actually in two worlds.

On average, I spend six to eight hours a day playing | GET AN EXPERT FOR YOUR ASSIGNMENT | much as possible to avoid getting addicted to this online environment as it’s only a perception and could ruin my life if I thought of it as a reality. However, virtual reality technology such as Oculus Rift differs from virtual environments such as Second Life in that Oculus Rift is | GET AN EXPERT FOR YOUR ASSIGNMENT | Life is more of an online surrounding, while Oculus Rift makes the situation a reality, only that it is virtual….