Before proceeding, please read carefully:
I note and agree to the following:
- Second Life is third party software developed and owned by Linden Labs. Institute of Human Development and MyPathfinder.com cannot accept any responsibility for the downloading or use of this software, or for the quality of your Second Life experience. IHD provides no technical support for the Second Life platform which can be obtained directly from the Second Life website and support services.
- The environment and content of Second Life is created by the community of users. If you leave the Pathfinder Islands to explore other regions within Second Life, IHD cannot take responsibility for the quality or taste of the content you may encounter.
- The Pathfinder Islands are maintained as a strictly PG region which means that there is no ‘adult’ content allowed. Any infringement of the covenant published on the Islands will be taken very seriously and perpetrators of inappropriate behaviour will be banned from re-entering the region and immediately reported to Linden Labs who reserve the right to refer individual account holders to the appropriate authorities if they suspect infringement of the law.
- It may not be possible to access Second Life on computers supplied and maintained by organisations. Members who join through their employer, may find that they are better able to access Second Life on personal or home computers.
- Second Life is demanding on computer hardware – especially graphics cards. Please read System Requirements before installing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Second Life is a free 3D virtual world imagined and created by its Residents. To get started, you will need to download the Second Life viewer. Once installed, you will be able to walk, "teleport" or even fly to thousands of exciting 3D locations. You can also use voice and text chat to communicate with other real people from around the world.
The Pathfinder Islands are the virtual world extension of this web site and our on-line learning tools.
The Purpose of these islands is to experiment with virtual worlds and the concept of 'immersive learning'. We believe that virtual worlds of one sort or another will grow in significance in business communication, education, social networking and entertainment. We do not pretend to know where all of this will end up - but we want IHD to be in the vanguard.
Yes and no. While the Second Life interface and display are similar to most popular massively multiplayer online role playing games (or MMORPGs), there are two key, unique differences:
- Creativity: The Second Life virtual world provides almost unlimited freedom to its Residents. This world really is whatever you make it. If you want to hang out with your friends in a garden or nightclub, you can. If you want to go shopping or fight dragons, you can. If you want to start a business, create a game or build a skyscraper you can. It’s up to you.
- Ownership: Instead of paying a monthly subscription fee, Residents can start a Basic account for FREE. Additional Basic accounts cost a one-time flat fee of just $9.95. If you choose to get land to live, work and build on, you pay a monthly lease fee based on the amount of land you have. You also own anything you create—Residents retain intellectual property rights over their in-world creations.
The Institute of Human Development (IHD) will manage the Pathfinder Islands to the very best of our abilities but we do not control the Second Life software. To broaden the appeal and reach of the Pathfinder concepts we have made our region open to public access which means anyone with a Second Life account can access the islands.
The following should be taken into account before installing the Second Life software, or entering the Second Life world:
- IHD cannot accept any responsibility for the suitability, compatibility or performance of Second Life or the software you download to cview Second Life on your computer. You download the software at your own risk. However, we believe that Linden Labs is a highly responsible company and operate the highest standards of software development and security. If you are running the Secomd Life software on a computer owned by your company, you should seek advice and permission before installing.
- IHD cannot offer technical aupport on any aspect of Second Life. You can link to Second Life support from another FAQ.
- The Pathfinder islands are designated as strictly PG and any inappropriate behaviour by visitors to the island will be reported immediately to Second Life. Extreme behaviour in Second Life is rare; and Linden Labs reserve the right to refer cases to the appropriate authorities. In the unlikely event of IHD becoming aware of extremely inappropriate or potentially illegal behaviour we will do the same.
- The IHD strongly discourage role play on our islands. The purpose of the islands is to inspire and entertain. We are happy to refer palyers to role play regions and games within Second Life.
Second Life is a virtual world with a Resident population of millions of real people from around the world. Each person is represented by an avatar that represents their chosen digital persona. They are gamers, housewives, artists, musicians, programmers, lawyers, firemen, political activists, college students, business owners, active duty military, architects, and medical doctors, to name just a few. There are even a fair number who are professional creators in Second Life. If you have a headset, you can even talk and use text chat for free.
Yes. Like real life, you may encounter people in Second Life that you wish to ignore. Unlike real life, in the Second Life virtual world there is a simple button that you can click to mute them. If only real life were that easy. Click here for more info on muting Residents. If you believe that another Resident is violating Linden Lab's Terms of Service (TOS) or Community Guidelines, you can file an abuse report. Here is a video tutorial on how to report abuse or handle griefing.
When you register for your free Second Life account and become a Resident, you have the option to select from several "default" avatars.
Many choose to personalize their body shape and clothing even further. Using L$, you can buy everything from designer clothing to custom skins and hair from the many 3D shops inside the Second Life virtual world. Once inside, simply use the Search button and type in what you are looking for.
You can also browse for virtual goods on the Web at Xstreet SL. This is a web shopping site owned by Linden Labs. Virtual items purchased on the Web will be delivered to you immediately inworld or, if you are not logged in, they will be waiting for you and your avatar the next time you enter Second Life.
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Not unless you choose to tell them. When you register and become a Resident of Second Life, you choose a unique name for your new digital persona (i.e. avatar). Some people create an identity that is similar to their real lives, while many others create alternative personas that are unlike their "real world" existence. The choice is yours.
A single Basic account is FREE. Premium accounts (required for getting land) start at $9.95/month and up. See Pricing for details.
Yes! Although there are many virtual world shops where you can buy things with L$, there are also places that offer free items, such as clothing and accessories for your avatar. As a new Resident, you also have a sampling of free items in your inventory.
Once you go inworld, you'll may wish to explore shopping sites or other services that ask for payment of a Linden™ dollar. This is the official unit of trade in the Second Life virtual world. You can purchase L$ directly from our Linden Dollar Exchange (requires login) or from other third party websites. Residents with Premium accounts will be given a small weekly stipend of L$. All Residents can earn L$ by making and selling goods and services, holding events, and playing games.
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No. You must be 18 years or older to join the Second Life virtual world. However, we encourage teens between the age 13-17 to check out Teen Second Life.
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Once you enter Second Life, you can find a place or person using the Search button at the bottom of your screen. The Search window includes an updated list of live activities under the Events tab. The Showcase tab under Search has a great list of suggested places to explore, including locations categorized by the themes of music, arts & culture, education and more. In addition to the Search window, if you know the specific name of your desired virtual world region, you can locate it via the search box in the Map window.
Outside the Second Life world, there are official discussion Forums, available to members at www.secondlife.com. These cover a wide range of subjects, including upcoming projects in search of talented volunteers, and classified ads for buyers in search of sellers (and vice versa.) Several dozen Resident-run fansites, commercial websites and blogs also provide these services, and New World Notes is a great weekly news resource on current events, controversies, and the latest in Resident creativity.
Also learn about using SLurls and visit SLurl.com.
Please see our System Requirements page.
Visit the Second Life Support Center for troubleshooting tips and other support resources.
The Institute of Human Development cannot provide technical support for Second Life under any circumstances. We not not have control of the Second Life client (the software you download to view Second Life) and we have no service level agreement in place with Linden Labs, the owners of Second Life.