The virtual portal Second Life is becoming more serious. Until recently, virtual worlds were associated with entertainment, but now the emphasis is shifting more and more towards serious uses.

This is why Dr. Igor Mayer from the Faculty of Technique, Policy and Management thought it high time the Delft University made an appearance in this virtual world.

Dr Mayer is a research worker and also one of the leaders of the project on Second Life which, according to him, “is a wonderful arena for promoting designs and inventions that originate in Delft.

You may soon be able to travel around the campus in the submarine Wasub, or go kite-flying with one of Professor Ockels’ energy-generating kites."

Technical University Delft from Holland recently bought two islands in the internet - based virtual world - Second Life.

On both of the islands, activities will be developed which correspond with the mission, vision, activities and goals of TU Delft. The islands will function as a showcase for education and research at the university.

TU Delft’s mission

TU Delft is contributing significantly to providing responsible solutions for urgent issues in society, at both national and international levels. It can do this because of its unique technological infrastructure, broadly-based knowledge, worldwide reputation and the success of its graduates.

TU Delft’s vision

TU Delft would like to carry out its mission by developing new scientific insights that help to break new ground and to result in important technological breakthroughs: knowledge as a product. The focus is on enabling multidisciplinary research and design at an international level, from the perspective of sustainability.

TU Delft’s faculties and uniquely large-scale technical research facilities are fundamental to achieving this.

TU Delft disseminates knowledge by producing highly-qualified graduates and by stimulating the application of knowledge-based systems: knowledge is power. The University’s courses have an international appeal. This vision involves attracting and deploying talent of as many sorts as possible. Education and research are closely related and are of equal standing: both are important for maintaining the value of knowledge.

TU Delft in Second Life

The campus of TU Delft in Second Life contributes to the display of products and designs that provide a responsible solution to urgent social issues. These products (which can also be products in development – prototypes) often emerge when multidisciplinary education and research at TU Delft are combined. Including these products in Second Life allows the applications to be demonstrated in society and in real life.

Furthermore, they offer visitors to the TU Delft Second Life islands the opportunity of taking part by, for example, taking a ride in a Superbus or experiencing the energy effect created when you make the wind blow harder.

The TU Delft islands will not be used for spreading information about courses or for giving lectures. We have noticed that the Second Life community is looking for interaction, new applications and eye-catching projects.

Island 1: The floating city

The floating city is the place where it is possible to work together on the development of new and sustainable solutions to problems in society. The rooms in this city are furnished as working spaces or places to meet up. At the moment we are thinking about the following uses for these areas:

• Presentation of partial solutions
• Creation of a space where students and scientific personnel can work together on finding solutions.
• Testing of product mock-ups for feasibility and practical use.
• Use of the design phase of a product to gain insight into possible problems with the product.
• Sharing and discussing research results
• Carrying out experiments involving new interactive communication techniques

One of the pavilions in the Floating City is to be equipped as a theatre where visitors can watch short or longer films made by TU Delft.

Island 2: A showcase of TU Delft highlights

Over the years, TU Delft has made a very significant contribution to solving problems affecting society and it shall continue to do so. This means the University has a great deal to show to the public and that is why the second island is intended to function as a showcase for the many highlights that have been developed at TU Delft – both in research programmes and by students.

Of course, the Floating City itself is also a good showcase, but other examples are:

• The ecorunner
• The Nuna 4
• Windmills and associated research
• Solar panels and associated research
• Formula Zero
• WASUB submarine
• Examples of sustainable building
• Energy-generating kites
• DELcraFTworks
• ‘Zonneboot’ solar-powered boat
• DelFly
• Furniture made using memory materials
• The walking robot Denise
• A snail robot to investigate the intestines
• Water purification using ‘lumps’
• Energy generated from cereals, sugarcane and sugar beet

TU Delft in Second life