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
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Vehicle-related Deaths Drop 29% in Richmond, VA
The seventh year of the city's Vision Zero strategy also cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by half.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
A Case for Universal Rental Assistance
A pair of researchers argues that expanding rental assistance programs for low-income households is the most effective way to alleviate the housing crisis.
Office Conversions Have Increased Every Year This Decade
Since the pandemic, office vacancy rates remain high, leading many cities to adjust zoning codes to accommodate adaptive reuse.
Index Measures Impact of Heat on Pedestrian Activity
When heat and humidity are high, people are more likely to opt for cars when possible.
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.
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
Sarasota County Government
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)