Maura Welch on Social Media

The power of play

For the last two years Lauren Bigelow and I have come to SXSW to speak about virtual worlds. We've talked about 2D vs. 3D worlds. We've talked about how and why virtual worlds do well in spite of the recession. 

And I'm really excited about our proposed topic for 2010. And that's probably because it's got a lot to do with what I love about working in virtual worlds -  social play.

You see, play isn’t just for kids. Studies have revealed that play for all people is a key component of human health and development. 

Stuart Brown wrote a book on the topic this year called "Play: How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination and invigorates the soul. "

So if you find this topic as interesting as me - vote for my panel at SXSW so we'll have a chance to have a lively discussion about virtual worlds and play and find out the developmental, social and economic factors that are fueling the boom in virtual worlds.

 It's easy to vote!
Register for free here: http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/users/regist
er and then go here to vote http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/index/
interactive/q:weeworld. 

Thanks!

SXSW

I'm heading off to South by Southwest (SXSW)this week. SXSW is a collection of Film, Music and Interactive Festivals and Conferences held in Austin, Texas every March. It's packed with more parties, conference sessions and meetups than it's possible to attend and the place wildly popular with the technorati, er...geeks.

Being a geek at heart and this being my first time - I can't wait.

Here are just a few of the sessions I'm looking forward to:

Managing Communities that Work
Henry Jenkins and Steven Johnson
Future of Corporate Blogs
Social Strategies for Revolutionaries

I'll be hosting a Core Conversation called Do Virtual Worlds need to be 3D?

And I'll be seen bopping around all over Austin with giant WeeMees in tow...which should be pretty entertaining.

If you're going to be at SXSW - send me a note and we can connect!