Second Life 3D Digital World Opens at Tech Museum

Second Life 3D Digital World Opens at Tech Museum

Linden Lab, Creator of Second Life, Builds Version of 3D World for San Jose Tech Museum

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Linden Lab, creator of the acclaimed 3D digital world Second Life(R), announced today the opening of a digital world designed especially for NetPl@net, a new permanent gallery at The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose. Through a variety of different hands-on exhibits, NetPl@net's goal is to encourage young visitors to use the Internet in unique new ways, and reflect on how it is changing their lives by connecting them with people and technology from all over the world.

Linden Lab's contribution to the exhibit is a unique scaled-down version of Second Life designed just for kids. They access a 32-acre virtual island from 8 different computer stations in the Museum. Once on the island, kids can create and customize their avatar, explore the world, chat and hang out with other exhibit users, construct 3D buildings and objects in a giant "sandbox" area, jetski, get thrown from a giant catapult and create special visual effects with the "Mesmerizer."

"Second Life was my boyhood dream. I wanted to create a world that would constantly evolve and that I could change," says Philip Rosedale, CEO and Founder of Linden Lab. "When you're a child, you can take a blanket draped over a chair and pretend it's a fort. In Second Life, you can build the fort, add turrets and cannons and even run around inside. I think the popularity of the exhibit shows the enormous appeal that imaginative creativity has for children."

"Our primary focus with NetPl@net is for visitors to engage with the Internet in exciting new ways and dream up future possibilities or applications," says Michelle Woods, Senior Exhibit Developer at the Tech Museum. "In the gallery, you can customize you own webpage, see global webcams, or virtually arm wrestle someone miles away. The 3D world Linden Lab created for NetPl@net is such a great fit because it demonstrates how the internet can be entertaining, and at the same time, a great educational tool."

About Linden Lab

Linden Lab was founded in 1999 by Philip Rosedale to create a revolutionary new form of shared 3D experience. The former CTO of RealNetworks, Rosedale pioneered the development of many of today's streaming media technologies, including RealVideo. In April 2003, noted software pioneer Mitch Kapor, founder of Lotus Development Corporation, was named Chairman.

Based in San Francisco, Linden Lab employs a senior team bringing together deep expertise in physics, 3D graphics and networking. Team members have previously worked for market leading companies such as Electronic Arts, Maxis, Disney, THQ, Acclaim, Hasbro, Mattel and RealNetworks.

NOTE: Second Life(R) and Linden Lab(R) are registered trademarks of Linden Research, Inc.

About the Tech Museum of Innovation

Located in the heart of downtown San Jose, Silicon Valley, CA, The Tech Museum of Innovation, a non-profit organization, engages people of all ages and backgrounds in exploring and experiencing the technologies affecting their lives and aims to inspire the young to become innovators in the technologies of the future. For more information, visit www.thetech.org or call 408-294-TECH.


Source: Linden Lab

CONTACT: Catherine Smith of Linden Lab, +1-415-243-9000, ext. 323, or
Catherine@lindenlab.com

Web site: http://www.thetech.org/

Web site: http://www.lindenlab.com/


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