Modern Adventures in Second Life®️… and Beyond
About me
Hi - my name is Raven Luna…. in every virtual world and environment. I honestly think more people know me by my avatar name than my “real” one.
I am your guide through Second Life® - a virtual world created by Linden Lab® - where anything can happen. We’ll also take some fun trips through other virtual environments and take a look at what we’re doing with all of this in higher education. I am honored to be an alumna of the University of Washington Certificate in Virtual Worlds program that was taught by Randy Hinrichs from 2008 - 2013.
My goal is to help you to explore these worlds and discover all of the amazing things people are doing to make them a great place to live and work.
Me - 2006
Me - 2013
Me - 2019
I am a longtime resident of Second Life® with a Rez Date (an avatar birthdate) of August 10, 2006. I actually began virtual life in 2001 while exploring ActiveWorlds and then The Sims Online. Remember the days of VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language)? Yeah - did that too. This subject has always fascinated me.
While people were still writing about “the future” of online education and “the idea” of working in a virtual environment, I was thrilled to be able to experience it. In 1989, I was exposed to online classes for the first time.
Yes - 1989. As I was working long hours in aerospace as a systems analyst/engineer, I never could complete a degree in a traditional university - so I went the online method - and a whole new world was discovered. It escalated from there - a wonderful path of exploration and discovery in a world with no borders.
I live and work in a virtual world. For real.
I like to describe myself as an engineer with way too much curiosity regarding not only how things work, but *why* they work. I love scripting - making objects come alive - and spend most of my spare time working with various programming languages to accomplish this in virtual reality as well as in virtual worlds.
Virtual life allows me to experiment with physics without getting myself hurt. It also allows me to teach without getting other people hurt. So, if my script happens to accidentally bury you 200m underground or shoot you to the other side of the sim.... My bad. No hurt feelings, right??
Oh… teach? Did I forget about that one? In what we like to call the “physical world,” I am currently an instructional designer, information consultant, and webmaster for a university in California - but I’ve also mentored and taught scripting classes in Second Life® , as well as other virtual worlds and VR environments, for other universities and teaching centers. The experience of watching people new to virtual worlds design, create, build, and collaborate is so fulfilling.
In multiple virtual worlds, I’ve volunteered for numerous events and celebrations including the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education conference (VWBPE) as well as have built, scripted, and hosted multiplayer experiences with some great teams made up of super talented people.
Inside of Second Life®, I am simply a part of one giant community/family. I own two historic railroad cities on the Mainland, am an estate manager with over 300 customers that span over 60 regions, and frequently spend time scripting unique things like questing backpacks, aging apples, and railroad crossings. My love is sharing this amazing virtual life with others and learning about their experiences in their virtual walk.
Anyone who has known me for more than 1 hour knows I love to laugh. I honestly find most things funny. Sarcasm is my friend too. So - if I don't pick on you I either
1) Don't know you well enough, or
2) Don't like you. 😉
I hold strong convictions that ethics and fairness rule physical and virtual life. In other words, I play by the rules and kind of expect others to do the same. I'm always available if you need an ear... or an honest opinion.
Feel free to contact me if you see me. In every virtual world or VR environment, I’m Raven Luna. If I'm not scripting, I'm always free to chat and will probably take you on a tour with me to some previously-unknown build.
P.S. For all of you work-team compatibility screeners... I am an INFP. 😉
