Whois & Analysis for secondlife.com

Second Life is an online virtual world, developed and owned by the San Francisco-based firm Linden Lab and launched on June 23, 2003.

By 2013, Second Life had approximately 1 million regular users.

In many ways, Second Life is similar to massively multiplayer online role-playing games; however, Linden Lab is emphatic that their creation is not a game: "There is no manufactured conflict, no set objective".

Virtual reality (VR) typically refers to computer technologies that use virtual reality headsets to generate the realistic images, sounds and other sensations that replicate a real environment or create an imaginary setting.

VR also simulates a user's physical presence in this environment.

VR has been defined as "a realistic and immersive simulation of a three-dimensional 360 degree environment, created using interactive software and hardware, and experienced or controlled by movement of the body" or as an "immersive, interactive experience generated by a computer".

The term chat room, or chatroom, is primarily used to describe any form of synchronous conferencing, occasionally even asynchronous conferencing.

The term can thus mean any technology ranging from real-time online chat and online interaction with strangers (e.g., online forums) to fully immersive graphical social environments.

A virtual world or massively multiplayer online world (MMOW) is a computer-based simulated environment populated by many users who can create a personal avatar, and simultaneously and independently explore the virtual world, participate in its activities and communicate with others.

These avatars can be textual, two or three-dimensional graphical representations, or live video avatars with auditory and touch sensations.

In general, virtual worlds allow for multiple users.

In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character.

An icon or figure representing a particular person in a video game, Internet forum, etc.

It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities.

Avatar images have also been referred to as "picons" (personal icons) in the past, though the usage of this term is uncommon now.

It can also refer to a text construct found on early systems such as MUDs.

The term "avatar" can also refer to the personality connected with the screen name, or handle, of an Internet user.

Common avatars may be Internet memes.