Quick Start Guide for Using a Kitely Virtual Reality Island

Quick Start Guide for Using a Kitely Virtual Reality Island

n  GET AVATAR:  go to www.kitely.com and click Create Account or Sign In > complete the information, including reading the Terms of Agreement; gather your sign in information from the method chosen  — NOTE: keep track of your avatar name and password; no one can reset this for you — 1-min video   https://youtu.be/NabtMAEYPNI 

n  GET VIEWER:  go to www.firestormviewer.org/downloads/ > choose your operating system > choose one of the download options THAT HAS OPENSIM in the name > follow instructions to put it on your computer – 45-sec video  http://youtu.be/TTFbcovfO-c?hd=1   ; the viewer is downloaded to your computer

n  GO TO LOCATION DIRECTLY:  to visit any Kitely island you:  open the Firestorm viewer on your computer by clicking its icon > in the viewer window, type avatar first and last name > click the drop-down arrow for Grid, and select Kitely > type the name of the island to be visited (if you leave this blank you will go to the Kitely Welcome Center the first time) > click Login and within about 45 seconds to two minutes (depending on the Island size) you are brought to the island – 1 min video   https://youtu.be/vJFoPDkWqDU  (Marian Island is often used for a SUNY starting point. For this activity visit Multiverse Masters)

n  Or, CHANGE TO A DIFFERENT ISLAND:  if you want to get to a different island, once you are on a Kitely island, click on the Map icon on the bottom of the Kitely window > type name of desired island in the Find textbook > click Find > once the island appears, (Multiverse Masters) click Teleport – 1 min video  https://youtu.be/MkElWmk2kLo 

n  USE SPEECH AND TEXT:  to have your avatar speak, you click-on the small-box in the top right of the microphone icon on the bottom of the screen (a check mark is added) and then you click on and off the larger microphone icon itself to speak (you click this icon off when you do not want to speak to prevent audio feedback within the virtual space);  to use text, type in the text-entry, chat space on the bottom left > press Enter – 1 min video  http://youtu.be/1l0PtPwtpz8?hd=1 

n  ADJUST SPEECH, if necessary: if you do not see green waves come out of your avatar’s head when you try to speak, on the top menu, click Avatar > Preferences > Sound and Media > click the Voice tab in the middle top of the dialog box > testing the Audio Device Settings features until you select the right device > click OK – 1-min video  http://youtu.be/UZebuDCgvj8?hd=1 

n  MOVE YOUR AVATAR:   move avatar using the arrow keys on your keyboard or by using the Walk/ Run / Fly icon on screen bottom where you first select whether to walk, run or fly and then determine the direction; you can teleport too, which is not reviewed here – 1-min video  http://youtu.be/KxH_hLQtqAE?hd=1 

n  CHANGE YOUR AVATAR’S VIEW:  hold Alt on the keyboard > cursor becomes a magnifying glass > click on a distance item & with Alt still held scroll in/out with mouse to zoom in/out; and/or click Avatar (on top menu) > click-on Camera controls > use camera wheel to change views – 1 min video  http://youtu.be/adPRg8bMaAI?hd=1 

n  TAKE SNAPSHOT:  click Snapshot icon on screen bottom > to save on your computer, click Save on disk > browse to desired location  > select image type > click OK – 1 min video   http://youtu.be/BYQDLqOBwV4?hd=1 

n  SIT ON OBJECTS: right click on chairs and other object > select Sit Here - .5 min video  http://youtu.be/spuyKPZgHRQ?hd=1 

n  MANY MORE OPTIONS:  This Quick Start Guide only highlights the most salient of many features, from avatar customization to instant messaging, that are available.   Experiment by reviewing the menus and testing the effect on your avatar, by going to the Kitely Welcome island, by learning within your course activities, and/or using this more advanced guide to consider other features.   However, for most classes, you are only going to be using the virtual-reality spaces as meeting spaces without using any of the many advanced features.