GWA Project/OI Suggestions

== German OI Concept Models ==
German speakers have their own portal for Secondlife. Work is in progress to have four sims online where German Residents can enter. One or more of them therefore have to be OI's. Discussion is going on how to create an OI that will keep Residents online, depending on their different interests. For this purpose, some concept models have already been created and can be viewed here.
UPDATE!!
The group has decided on one concept for the Orientation Island itself (the sim where new Residents will be rezzing). Several 3d models were built collaboratively to demonstrate what we have in mind. The following images show the concept only - the design is still subject to change!
=== History of our suggested models ===
* Lisa Lowe's model has been removed due to her withdrawal from the project. Her personal opinions and explanations have been moved to the "Discussion" part of this page (click the link on the top of this wiki page if you wish to further discuss this matter).
* Zai Lynch's and Kuraiko Yoshikawa's model has been removed.
* Monalisa Robbiani's model has been discarded for the most parts in favor of a linear only concept. Only a few design aspects of this model will be considered in the final layout.
=== Layout for the Orientation Sim itself ===
*Linear path Residents have to follow to ensure success of didactic concept
*Stations will be placed on (non-prim) islands to ensure low prim design and fast rendering
*Rezz point in a corner
*Bridges and waterways to challenge movement skills
*Option to skip a station or to skip the entire tutorial
*Increased difficulty in each tutorial step
*Optional fun parts and freebies to keep the Resident motivated
=== Layout of one Orientation mini-island ===
*Each mini-island will feature a scripted Orientation Station for one set of topics,
*Notecard givers for optional further information (and for users who prefer to read text),
*A one prim station with short graphical explanation of the same topic,
*and a small but fullsize scaled themed sample of what the Resident will encounter in Second Life later, like a mall, a club, or a classroom, to try out what they just have learned.
=== Layout of one Orientation Station ===
*This low prim station features a scripted object that teaches the Resident through chat messages about one set of topics.
*At the end of each lesson the Resident has to answer an easy question. If they get it right, a useful freebie (like a flight feather or a radar) is waiting for them.
*The nature of objects and questions will not create the impression of a game or quest situation.
*The scripted station will be accompanied by other options of learning, like text, notecards, full sized in-world objects, or graphics.
----
Description of Mona's Model (mostly obsolete)
*Rezz point in the center, placed on a hill (not in the rough sketch)
*Walkways lead downhill into about six to eight "Second Life Mini Worlds" (non-linear path)
*Each world represents a typical SL theme, like a beach, a club, an urban build, a mall, business interior and landscapes.
*The worlds are also connected with eachother, forming a circular route (linear path)
*Each world focusses on one or two topics to be learned, for example: The Mall World is about inventory and buying things, the Club World is about music and media, the Classroom is about communication and so on. 
*A one click teleport system warps the user to any point of the tutorial
*Text (either on HUDs or in-world prims) should be optional only, for further information. No one wants to read on SL, and people will ignore it. The most important content should be taught by looking at 3d objects, getting challenged by scripts and fun interaction.
*Main interests in SL are: Social interaction, education/research, business, playing games, self-expression. Each world should focus on different user expectations and interests
*Prim usage, graphical effects and texture size must be cut to a minimum to accomodate users with slow machines
== 3D-Models ==
For the moment the models can be seen on Pixel Park. This is a public sim which is also accessible by non-Mentors.
OI Suggestions