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Overview of Credit Union Island and the Filene Research Institute
The VITAL Lab at Ohio University has recently finished a Second Life Island for the Filene Research Institute on the Teen Grid. Filene Research Institute, a company dedicated to researching credit unions and consumer finance, approached the VITAL Lab with the need for a SL program that encourages teenagers to make shrewd financial decisions. Credit Union Island provides teenagers with an opportunity to safely experiment with personal finances through games and other interactive events. While on the island, teenagers play a game that takes them through a virtual lifetime and allows them to see the results of various life decisions. Players have the opportunity to attend college or start work immediately after high school, and they can choose many different cars and homes to purchase or rent. Through the Credit Union Island HUD, Second Life avatars can also make investments and visit a virtual ATM that is capable of currency conversion of Linden dollars to actual dollars. The game automatically keeps track of players’ income and gives them feedback about their own financial health. To learn more about the Credit Union Island on the Teen Gird on Second Life, check out the VITAL Lab video below!
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