Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2008, 5, 290-317; DOI: 10.3390/ijerph5040290 OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ISSN 1660-4601 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph Article Web 3D for Public, Environmental and Occupational Health: Early Examples from Second Life® Maged N. Kamel Boulos 1,*, Rameshsharma Ramloll 2, Ray Jones 1 and Susan Toth-Cohen 3 1 Faculty of Health and Social Work, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK; E-Mails:
[email protected] (M. N. K. B.);
[email protected] (R. J.) 2 Idaho State University, Pocatello, USA; E-Mail:
[email protected] (R. R.) 3 Department of Occupational Therapy, Jefferson College of Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University, USA; E-Mail:
[email protected] (S. T. C.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-mail:
[email protected]; Tel: +44 (0)1752-586530; Fax: +44 (0)8709-157698 Received: 04 December 2008 / Accepted: 17 December 2008 / Published: 18 December 2008 Abstract: Over the past three years (2006-2008), the medical/health and public health communities have shown a growing interest in using online 3D virtual worlds like Second Life® (http://secondlife.com/) for health education, community outreach, training and simulations purposes. 3D virtual worlds are seen as the precursors of ‘Web 3D’, the next major iteration of the Internet that will follow in the coming years. This paper provides a tour of several flagship Web 3D experiences in Second Life®, including Play2Train Islands (emergency preparedness training), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention— CDC Island (public health), Karuna Island (AIDS support and information), Tox Town at Virtual NLM Island (US National Library of Medicine - environmental health), and Jefferson’s Occupational Therapy Center.