Some clarifications: Second Life isn't a website. It's a software  
application. There's no way to keep databases of information there and  
users don't have access to personal information about other users.  
There are lots of corporations and advertisers with Second Life  
presences, but there are also areas that are restricted to family- 
friendly content, and there's a version of SL for teens. Even if you  
rent land, you control sponsorship of it. And if you sell anything,  
you get to keep the proceeds. (SL itself is free to use.)

I don't intend to be a big ol' Second Life proponent—like I said, the  
jury's still out, and I haven't visited it myself in over a year. It's  
definitely not for everyone or every museum.

This may be of interest. A group of science-related museums and other  
organizations (including NASA, NOAA, The Tech Museum, the  
Exploratorium, and several universities) has developed a dedicated  
science continent on Second Life. Definitely something to keep an eye  
on: http://www.scilands.org/

Jennifer

Jennifer Rae Atkins
Andrew Merriell & Associates Interpretive Planning & Design
7198 Old Santa Fe Trail | Santa Fe, NM 87505
v 505.982.3950 | f 505.820.6674
www.merriell.com




On Mar 2, 2008, at 3:34 PM, Gayle wrote:

> One more thing to consider.  How secure are your data
> against hackers who get through Second Life (or,
> rather how secure is it) so that your donors and
> members' data are protected?  What indemnification do
> you have from the site if someone gets through there,
> finds the inevitable holes, and snags info in your
> databases?  Big museums probably have IT folk that can
> put sufficient (or close to sufficient) protections in
> place, but what of the little museums who rely on some
> already taxed sole to do this because they have some
> skills?
>
> It's just something to consider.  Information
> Protection (IP) is a big topic in big businesses, and
> there are constant reminders to protect one's
> equipment.  Holes in your data protection could prove
> quite costly all the way around.  This isn't a task
> for a hobbyist; you really do need computer staff when
> you start playing around with third-party sites
>
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