Title: the Metaphors of Virtual Worlds: How People Make Sense of a Virtual World via the Physical World Panel Title: Making Sense of Virtual Worlds as Sites of Innovation in Communication

My major project for the virtual worlds research group investigated, through experimental conditions, how relative "virtual world novices" made sense of virtual worlds, and how this sensemaking related to their being entertained by engaging with the virtual world, and their subsequent desire to continue engaging. I was especially interested in understanding what people focused on most in their assessments of engaging with a new media product, such as a virtual world. I sought to answer two questions. First, would the people attend most to making sense of the technology, the content, or something else? Second, what previous experiences would they draw upon to help them make sense of this new experience?