SLTweets Help / Frequently Asked Questions

What is SLTweets?

SLTweets is a service that fuses virtual world exploration with micro-blogging, notation and tagging. The goal is to provide both a useful research and communication platform from Second Life to Real World (the Web). In version BETA Version we have chosen the virtual world of Second Life, produced by Linden Labs and the social network/ micro-blogging platform called Twitter, from Obvious Corporation.

What is Second Life?

Second Life (often abbreviated as SL) is an Internet-based virtual world, developed by Linden Lab. A downloadable open-source client program enables its users (residents) to interact with each other through 3D avatars. It provides an advanced level of a social networking combined with general aspects of a metaverse- another name for a fully immersive 3D virtual space where humans and software agents interact. Residents can explore, meet other Residents, socialize, participate in individual and group activities, create and trade virtual goods as well as trade for services from one another.

What are Tweets?

The Twitter website describes the service as “A global community of friends and strangers answering one simple question: What are you doing?” Twitter is classified as a social networking service that allows members to inform each other about what they are doing and what they think. Users can send messages via phone, instant messaging, blogging plugins, or the Twitter website. Two SMS gateway numbers are available - one for USA, and one UK number for international use. Users can receive updates from other selected users via web, IM, or SMS. Answer on your phone, IM, or right here on the web!

What is Micro-Blogging?

Micro-blogging is a form of  micro-content creation. Think of it as the publishing of very small pieces of content on the web. This type of micro-content does not have to be text it can be a picture, a URL, a bookmark, just about anything. A couple of examples would include del.icio.us (a text note and and bookmark), flickr (some text along with a photo), or as with Twitter a “tweet” (text and/or a URL that is less then 140 characters).

What is a HUD?

A HUD is an acryonym in online gaming or in a virtual world that stands for Heads-Up-Device. In terms of our use it is an avatar worn object. Historically a HUD is simply a collection of elements that indicate player or avatar status. HUD elements can be used to show, among many other things, how much health the player has, a compass for direction, or any number of in-world on in-game  conditions.

Where can I get the SLTweets-HUD?

You can use our Get-It page to have the SLTweets HUD delivered to you In-World direct from our Web Site. You can also pick up the SLTweets HUD at SLBoutique, SLExchange or in-world at this location: The Fastlane.

What is the cost of SLTweets?

Nothing. Currently SLTweets HUD is free with no plans to charge in the future. However, donations are appreciated if you like it.

What do I need to use SLTweets?

To use the SLTweets HUD you will need to have an account at Second Life. Having a Twitter.com account is not required to use the SLTweets HUD, but if you wish to use the Twitter features you must register an account with Twitter.com.

Can't find an answer above?

Please contact us by any of these methods:

Twitter: Send a message to http://twitter.com/sltweets

Second Life: Send an Instant Message to Bleys Chevalier

E-mail: Send an email to support@sltweets.com

This is a beta service and is free, we will answer your questions as quickly as volume allows.

 

Using SLTweets For The First Time

After you receive your copy of the SLTweets HUD you will find it in the Objects folder of your inventory.

Locate it (named "SLTweets HUD vX.XX" where X.XX is the version number of the HUD), right click on it and choose "Wear" from the menu. The HUD will by default attach it'self to the Top Center location of your HUD and will announce itself in chat.

To interact with the HUD you do so by clicking its buttons or saying commands on a specific chat channel (which is 123 by default). Say "/123 help" in the chat bar to get a list of available commands.

All chat messages from the HUD will only be heard by you, the owner of the HUD.

To begin using the Twitter.com features of the HUD you must first issue the "setup" command to set your Twitter.com username and password. This is done on a random chat channel which is changed each time you log into SL or wear the HUD.

In chat say "/123 help", you will see the channel number for the setup command listed with the help commands. For example:

/63394 setup <username> <password>

If your Twitter.com username is "sltweets" and your password was "tweets" you would say in chat:

/63394 setup sltweets tweets

Once this is done you may begin using the SLTweets HUD to post tweets to Twitter.com.

You can use the other features of the HUD without issuing the setup command. To post tweets, notes, tags, search and other available features you say in chat:

/123 post My first tweet from SL SLURL
/123 note This is a cool place
/123 tag ballroom dancing, classical
/123 search ballroom

In the above example, SLURL will be replaced with a SLURL to your present location.

For additional help please see the Manul which you can get by clicking the Menu/Help button.