
Social Virtual Worlds and Their Places
A Geographer's Guide
Merrill L. Johnson(Author)
Palgrave Macmillan (Publisher)
Published on 12. June 2022
Book
Hardback
XVII, 322 pages
978-981-16-8625-2 (ISBN)
Description
This book provides a foundational look at social virtual worlds from the geographer's perspective. How can the geographer's craft be applied to social virtual worlds? This question is addressed through careful analysis of what social virtual worlds are, how interest in these worlds has waxed and waned during the twenty-first century, and the meaning of their concocted spaces. Examining one of the key features of the social virtual world, the avatar, the book focuses on its user's motivations and identity choices. The book draws on the geographical understanding of place to examine where avatars live, work, and roam, and describes how virtual-world places resemble and diverge from actual-world places. A mixed-methods survey conducted in Second Life adds additional breadth to the discussion, whilst a series of vignettes gives extra life to the subject matter. This original exploration of the content and meaning of social virtual worlds is an essential resource for geographers, and for anyone interested in the virtual world experience.
More details
Edition
2022 ed.
Language
English
Place of publication
Singapore
Singapore
Publishing group
Springer Verlag, Singapore
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
43 s/w Abbildungen
XVII, 322 p. 43 illus.
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 153 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
553 gr
ISBN-13
978-981-16-8625-2 (9789811686252)
DOI
10.1007/978-981-16-8626-9
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
06/2023
Palgrave Macmillan
€139.09
Shipment within 3-4 weeks

E-Book
06/2022
1st Edition
Palgrave Macmillan
€128.39
Available for download
Person
Dr. Merrill L. Johnson
is Professor of Geography at Colorado State University. He is a former Associate Provost, Associate Dean, Department Chair, and Professor of Geography at the University of New Orleans, and was a Principal Investigator for a statewide university virtual-world initiative. Dr. Johnson is an economic and political geographer who subsequently developed a keen interest in virtual worlds.
Content
Setting the Stage.- Where in the World Are These Worlds?.- Who Am I if I'm not Me?.- Is Place Still a Place in Social Virtual Worlds?.- Whither Social Virtual Worlds and Their Geographers.