The interview for this month Giuseppe Granieri, an Italian expert in communication and digital culture. Professor of Laboratory Web 2.0 University "Carlo Bo" of Urbino, collaborating with several magazines, including "L'Espresso" and "Il Sole 24 Ore - Nova". He has published, the publisher Laterza, "The Digital Society" (2006), "Blog Generation" (2007) and "Increased Humanity" (2009), plus various manuals and short stories. With Granieri
we want to continue an overview of Virtual Worlds (VW), which began with John Boccia Artieri and Mario Gerosa in recent months, framing the use of virtual worlds in the landscape more ampio dei modelli di comunicazione web 2.0.
AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: Giuseppe, grazie per aver accettato questa intervista. Ti chiediamo di aiutarci a capire come l’utilizzo dei VW può essere di ausilio per incrementare le capacità di comunicazione in rete offerte dal Web 2.0.
Giuseppe Granieri: A mio modo di vedere è abbastanza facile, oggi, capire quali sono le vocazioni dei mondi virtuali, data la necessità di sincronia perché vi accada qualcosa. Quindi io direi soprattutto il learning e, in subordine, applicazioni collaborative mirate a facilitare incontri o situazioni di lavoro. Poi c'è tutto il versante della creatività e dell'espressione, che è una frontiera ancora in parte da esplorare.
AND: One of the expectations that were popular at the dawn of knowledge of the VW, was that these would soon supplanted the web and offered new possibilities to users of the network. This expectation was correct, or has been a colossal misunderstanding?
Giuseppe Granieri: In theory, it is naive to imagine that a move towards greater use of 3D environments, and experiential worlds, as technologies evolve. Today we are at the early history of what is possible. But I do not think a replacement will never happen with the web, rather than complementary offerings will create more and more specialized. The web, being asynchronous, it is much less expensive in terms of life-time investment. It is the realm of content, whereas the worlds are metaphoric territory of experience. Then, of course, the initial hype about wealth, luxury and sex has certainly facilitated the understanding of mass that we have certain network environments.
AND: See What's the difference between using a 3D environment of communication and the classic model of social networks on Facebook Web 2.0? There are competing models or two sides of same coin?
Giuseppe Granieri: These are just two of the thousands of additional spaces. The technology will take us more towards specialization contexts. Each of us will learn to use what they need (or that the bonus) when needed.
AND: The theme of the 'immersion' and shape of the Avatar, is the classic theme of the experience of participation in the network. Can you give us your interpretation of this paradigm of network communication?
Giuseppe Granieri: It 's quite soon enough to understand. Surely we who inhabit the avatar a "cultural space", but most of the way in the future this will depend on how our culture will behave in front of the obvious importance of space assets will take. It 'a great challenge to see if we get rid of the requirements and prejudices.
AND: Examining the theme of Virtual Community, you believe that the model immersive change the conditions of the interaction between members of a community over previous models? And in what form?
Giuseppe Granieri: Each group has its own rules, and rules that those who have designed their space imposed. I do not think can be a general statement. Of course, there is much to experience, and now we do less than we should, thanks to a negative cultural climate, especially in Italy.
AND: Speaking of Virtual Community, the speech can not touch the more massive experience in this sense: that of role play. These experiences involving millions of people around the world. What does the "Game", in your opinion, in patterns of communication in the network?
Giuseppe Granieri: It makes everything easier. Motivates, entertains, teaches, creates practical. It 'an undersized approaches in our mainstream education, for example. Although MMORPGs require a time investment vital to the very limit, the rhythms of today's society.
AND: From role playing to the expectations associated with a "Second Life" is a short step. What do you think of these legends were born on the success of Second Life as a mass phenomenon?
Giuseppe Granieri: Be 'expectations of a "second life" were never mass, yet. There will be a lot to think about motivation and contentment, to understand how large amounts relate to this possibility. Today we are still at an experimental stage and immature.
AND: Le leggende della “Seconda Vita” avevano un loro forte appeal, oltre che per le esperienze interpersonali, anche sulla possibilità di fare business, di trovare il modo, in un periodo di forte crescita dell’economia di carta ante crisi, di “fare soldi” usando questo nuovo strumento. Cosa pensi del business legato ai mondi virtuali? E’ possibile “fare soldi” nella Seconda Vita?
Giuseppe Granieri: Al momento, no. Almeno non in percentuali significative: può riuscirci uno su 100, il che non ne fa un fenomeno rilevante. E' interessante invece lo sviluppo che prenderanno i mercati su valuta virtuale.
ADN: Credi che i VW possano dare un contributo originale nelle applicazioni di comunicazione on the net? How to integrate Web 2.0 in the models already in use today?
Giuseppe Granieri: Unfortunately we do not integrate. If we could integrate much further.
AND: Do you think the use of these practical applications will increase rapidly, or do you think we can expect developments in a long time?
Giuseppe Granieri: I do not know, actually. It would take a guess. We know that the technology is immature and we are beginning to experience. It will serve a few more years.
AND: Again, this overview confirms the findings in previous talks. We are just at the beginning of a long journey on the path of the practical uses of online participatory environments. However, experience that are accumulating, far from creating business models, new or revolutionary, are especially encouraging awareness of the potential offered by these innovative means. In addition, technological advances are rapidly progressing, opening new possibilities for a more massive of the VW.
But, as Granieri, a crystal ball does not help us to make predictions. We thank Giuseppe Granieri its availability (it has responded to our questions from the wagon un'Intercity) and the interesting ideas that has given us.
