In this picture, multiple avatars logged onto a single computer ponder the problem of using multiple avatars logged onto multiple computers. We discussed these options in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this series.. One thing we haven’t yet discussed is the most basic: why would anyone want to use several avatars simultaneously?
If you already know, you can stop reading here, but if you don’t, read on. This column is for you. The following are some situations in which this writer has found using multiple multiple avatars simultaneously to be essential:
Photography: Often when you do photography, you need subjects. If you need more than one avatar in your shot, you either need to round up other people’s avatars to be subjects, or log on simultaneously with different avatars. This is often easier than coordinating with several other people. It can also be a convenient way of getting pictures from different angles without continually changing your camera position.
Machinima: Just as with photography, when making a machinima, it can be easier to use one or more viewers for camera control, as well as for controlling multiple avatars.
Multiple events: Sometimes there are two events you need to be at simultaneously. By logging on simultaneously as two avatars, you can be at both events at the same time. This can be particularly useful when you want to record transcripts or take photographs at one event while being active at another event. It allows you, for example, to record and save to a file the transcript of one meeting while simultaneously taking active part in a different meeting somewhere else in Second Life.
Comparing viewers: If you want to compare features of various viewers, it’s easiest if you have them all open at the same time.
Building: It can be useful to have your Second Life camera trained on an object from several angles while building, and especially when aligning prims.
There are other uses as well; these are just the situations in which this writer has found multiple viewers to be extremely useful.
The other parts in this series are:
Part 1: Four ways of running multiple viewers and avatars simultaneously
Part 2: Videos and more details about running multiple viewers and avatars on a single computer
Part 3: Running multiple viewers and avatars on multiple computers with a KVM switch.