At Idea City, you can learn intermediate to advanced building techniques and then practice your new found skills in one of the sandboxes on the island. One reason we did this was to see what kind of creativity flourished. Here’s an example. Yesterday, I bumped into Paula Innis who was creating an airship in the sandbox. Paula agreed to an interview.

Kweisi Mfume: What are you making?
Paula Innis: an airship! lol
Kweisi Mfume: Why?
Paula Innis: I felt like owning one & I’m keen to learn building & scripting.
Kweisi Mfume: How’s the programming going?
Paula Innis: Not bad. [I] have spent hours here learning the basics, with the wiki open in IE. [he’s referring to http://www.lslwiki.com/].
Kweisi Mfume: Are you a programmer in RL?
Paula Innis: Yes, mostly JAVA at the mo. I make j2me stuff for phones (www.newagemobile.co.uk)
Kweisi Mfume: Have you met other scripters in-world?
Paula Innis: Not many, I’m the kind of experiment to learn type.
Kweisi Mfume: How did you learn about Second Life?
Paula Innis: The BBC.
Kweisi Mfume: What did you hope to find?
Paula Innis: Dunno, just thought that because they keep going on about it, I’d take a look. (so much for the no adverts on the BBC;) )
Paula Innis: btw. I’ve been using computers since the ZX81, and got into programming then.
Kweisi Mfume: Who would have thought VR would actually have happened?
Paula Innis: yesh, 3d space invaders for the 16k zx81, and 3d monster maze too.
You: You don’t have much control over memory here.
Paula Innis: No, but then, you need so much just to run the OS - object orientated code may be good, but it isn’t very optimal IMO.
Kweisi Mfume: Would you mind of I write that in RL you’re a 35 y.o. man living in Cornwall, UK?
Paula Innis: Yes, (i’m a woman in Sl because I wanted to see how different you get treated).
Kweisi Mfume: And?
Paula Innis: I had to put my RL sex in my profile because I kept getting chatted up :)
Kweisi Mfume: According to Linden Lab, of the active users, half are women.
Paula Innis: in RL or SL?
Kweisi Mfume: RL
Paula Innis: I think it appeals to all types. Most male dominated games would be shoot-em’s, I think
Kweisi Mfume: One of the reasons we’ve offered the design center and the sandboxes is to see what kind of creativity would flourish, like what you’re doing.
Paula Innis: I found your tutorials useful too. & it is a very creative VR world.
Kweisi Mfume: Thanks very much.
Paula Innis: I enjoyed the parachute, that was fun. There are a lot of little surprises here if you bother to look.
Kweisi Mfume: Thank you. I won’t take up anymore of your time. It must be late for you.
Paula Innis: thank you too - I think a break has helped me focus.We spoke in the late afternoon, which was around 10pm or 11pm his time. I checked in and found him still going at 4:30am his time although he quickly signed off for some sleep.