In this column, urban planning professor Justin Hollander asserts that online games such as “Second Life” have the potential to enable genuine public participation in civic affairs.
When I ask my university students about how to improve American cities, nobody ever says: "let's play a computer game." But that's exactly what a growing number of civic entrepreneurs are doing. They are using the unprecedented technology now available online through Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs). Linden Lab's program "Second Life", with over 8 million subscribers, is by far the most popular and powerful of these MMOGs as a gaming environment and a place where people engage in both virtual work and play."
"In three dimensions and served live 24/7 on the Internet, Second Life virtual places have the potential to advance civic life in real places. In the '90s, the ability of the World Wide Web to connect distant people, across the globe, instantaneously was touted as a remedy for many civic ills. Second Life is in many senses the next generation of the World Wide Web and as its successor provides new and potent ways to advance civic life in unimaginable ways."
Thanks to Justin Hollander
FULL STORY: Virtually improving real living
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Alaska Village Becomes Test Case for Climate Change Relocation
The Yup’ik village of Newtok is the first Alaska community to begin a full-scale relocation necessitated by the impacts of climate change. Another 31 Alaska communities remain vulnerable.
Amtrak Takes Lead on Texas Central Rail
The high-speed rail project isn’t a done deal, but if it moves forward, trains could begin operating in 2030.
Maine Approves Rent Relief Program
Legislators hope the assistance program will help struggling low-income households avoid eviction.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
