Welcome Island is a boot camp for new avatars (newbies, or noobs). Linden Labs, the creators of Second Life,
have set up software to teach newbies how to use the viewer to move, to chat, to fly, etc. Unfortunately
many people still find using the viewer confusing. Not to worry, Flash will want to answer any questions you have
about using the viewer.
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Start by left clicking "MOVE" at the bottom of your screen
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The movement controls should pop up.
They allow you to move via mouse clicks.
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In some cyber worlds you click a spot and your avatar moves mechanistically toward it.
Here you control the exact path your avatar walks, which is why the avatars you see walking around you look more
natural than avatars in cyber worlds run by Flash animations.
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Click this up arrow to move forward. You can also move forward by pressing the up cursor (arrow)
key on your keyboard.
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Clicking the down arrow has you walking backwards. You can also walk backwards by pressing the down cursor key on your keyboard
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Click this arrow to turn left. You can also turn left by pressing the left cursor key on your keyboard.
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Click this arrow to turn right. You can also turn right by pressing the right cursor key.
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Now try walking into the building.
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Practice walking along the pathway on Welcome Island.
Try to follow the arrows on the ground. Hint:
place one finger on the up cursor key, another finger on the left cursor, and a third finger on
the right cursor. Hold down the up cursor, and while holding it down, tap the
right or left cursor to correct your path as you walk.
If Welcome Island is crowded, the server running this simulation gets very busy and the result
is "lag." It may take several seconds after you press a key before your avatar moves. Then after
you stop pressing the key, it may take several seconds for your avatar to stop moving, which can
result in walking into walls, colliding with other avatars, etc. Therefore, if you experience lag,
try to adjust your responses. Don't hold the cursor key down, rather press it for a second, then
wait for your avatar to move and stop, then press it for another second or so, trying to gauge
where your avatar is going to stop, and only moving safe distances at a time.
Sometimes when there's a glitch in the server, your avatar just keeps walking, out of your control.
Just wait; the server may correct the mistake, and you'll find your avatar moved back to the spot
where you lost control.
Once you've learned to walk, and can enter into the first room, you're ready to learn how to use your
camera to look around you, without having to move your avatar. This will prove so useful, it's worth learning next.
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This room is about learning how to use your camera controls.
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Click "VIEW" at the bottom of your screen.
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The "View" control should pop up at the bottom of your screen.
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Click the minus sign to zoom out.
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Click the plus sign to zoom in.
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Click this arrow to orbit your camera's view left.
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Click this arrow to orbit your camera's view up.
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By default, when you orbit your camera it revolves around your avatar as the focus.
However, you can change the focus to another avatar, or object.
Press the "Alt" key and simultaneously left click on the
avatar or object you want to revolve around. That becomes the center of your camera's focus. As long as you hold
the mouse button down you can move your mouse
to zoom and orbit. When you release the mouse button, the focus will stay where you set it. You can then
click one of the "ORBIT" arrows and watch the camera circle,
or click that plus sign to zoom in.
Press the "ESC" key to return focus to your avatar. |
Click this symbol to change the control to "PAN".
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Click the left arrow to "PAN" left.
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Click this up arrow to "PAN" your view up.
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Click this icon to return to "ORBIT" mode.
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Click this icon to set your camera's "PRESET" position.
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Click this icon to view your avatar from the front "PRESET" position.
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Click this icon to view your avatar from the side "PRESET" position.
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Click this icon to let your mouse control your camera.
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Press the "ESC" key to return camera position to your avatar's back.
Practice moving your camera's focus to differnt objects in the fish tank,
and moving your camera's view around the objects in the fish tank.
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Once you've learned to move your camera to look at other avatars,
you're ready to enter the next room, and learn to "CHAT" with other avatars.
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Click in this "chat" bar, and then type, "Hello"
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The letters you type will be seen in your chat bar, but nowhere else.
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Press the "ENTER" key, on your keyboard.
The letters disappear from
your chat bar,
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and are seen by avatars around you.
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By default, chat text appears in the lower left
corner of your screen. In a situation with many strange avatars around,
it can be hard to figure out who is saying what. Try switching to
"chat bubble" mode, where each avatar's chat appears in a bubble over
her/his head.
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Click "Me."
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From the drop down menu, click "Preferences."
In the "Preferences" pop-up window, click the "Advanced" tab.
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Click "Bubble Chat" on.
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Click "OK."
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Now you see chat in a "bubble" over each avatar speaking.
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Click the up arrow next to the "CHAT BAR."
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You'll see a chat transcript, useful in case you miss something that is said in chat.
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After you've learned to chat, enter the next room to learn how to sit while you chat.
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Click on a seat, then...
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from the pop up menu, click on "SIT HERE."
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You'll find yourself seated.
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To stand up again, click on "STAND."
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After you've learned to sit, and stand, enter the next room to learn how to fly.
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Click "MOVE", then...
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Click this icon for fly mode.
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Click this arrow to fly up.
You can also fly up by pressing the "Page Up" key on your keyboard.
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Click this arrow to turn left.
You can also turn left by pressing the "Left Cursor" key on your keyboard.
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Click this arrow to fly forward,
or press the "Up Cursor" key.
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Click this arrow to fly down, or
press the "Page Down" key on your keyboard.
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Hint:
The arrows and cursor keys control your direction as they do when walking.
Place one finger on the up cursor key, another finger on the left cursor, and a third finger on
the right cursor. Tap the cursor keys to correct your path as you fly up and down. With your other hand, use the mouse to click on
the "fly up" or "fly down" arrows. When you've learned to fly, you're ready to enter the last room, and leave Welcome Island.
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When you're ready to leave Welcome Island, Click on the sign to learn to teleport.
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A map pops up, showing your destination as Discovery Island. Click on "Teleport"
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You should find yourself on Discovery Island. Learn what you can here, it will save you asking
questions later. When you're ready to move on, click the link below to find the ASCI meeting place.
This link will take you to
Linden Tutorial Video about this viewer. |
I can not walk or talk,
I need Flash's help.
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I've learned to walk & talk in SL, now
I want to find the ASCI meeting place.
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