Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

The "Virtual Worlds" that have emerged online have many different uses. They are used for fun and games as well as practical things in business. First and foremost, these "Virtual Worlds" emerged as a fun escape from reality. Sites like Second Life allow a user to create a virtual self within this online world in any form they wish. They can be who they want and do what they want in this world, including things that would otherwise be limited within our reality. There is no space, time, or physical limits as there are within reality. One can look like a superhero and fly and interact with other users all from behind ones computer. Because there is no space in the "Virtual Worlds" can also be used for meetings by people on opposite sides of the world. This is where they are useful for businesses. A whole group of people can meet no matter where they are. People can be trained from home, as IBM does, read in the article "IBM Learning Programs Get a ‘Second Life’". This allows IBMs trainees to interact in the online environment and learn, while cutting costs for everyone as they don't need to physically go into a class. It makes it much easier for both parties.
While the "Virtual Worlds" allow for interactivity from anywhere and make communication easier, there are some cons to them as well. Most importantly, when one spends all his/her time behind a computer in a "Virtual World", one might lose sight of reality and the real world which is important. Also, one no longer has real human interaction and may not develop the social skills needed to live and work in the real world. Some may take these worlds seriously, but in the end they are fake, and the only world worth focusing on is the real one, because that is the one with real prosperity as well as consequences.
The "Virtual Worlds" do foster creativity as they are limitless. The human imagination is only hindered in reality due to physical limitations, but the "Virtual Worlds" have no such limitations, which would allow ones imagination to flourish.
With both pros and cons to "Virtual Worlds", I am certain that they will only further develop and integrate into our technological society. The future will hold greater uses for these worlds online, and as the "Virtual Worlds" are limitless, so is its potential in the future. I think in the future the worlds will be a better copy of our reality and maybe integrate more with the real world so they become less of a fake game, and more of a real tool in our lives. I think they will become more useful in education and training for people, so such things will be more accessible by everyone all over the world, no matter their status.