Wheelies

Wheelies is a disability themed virtual nightclub on the online platform Second Life. Created by Simon Stevens, it was awarded the Revolutionary Award in 2008 by Gordon Brown.[1][2]

For other uses of "wheelie", see Wheelie (disambiguation).
Wheelies Nightclub - May 2007
Wheelies Nightclub - May 2007

History

Launched in September 2006, "Wheelies aims to make guests feel comfortable about disability as well as dancing, drinking and just plain having a good time."[3] Destroyed in December that year by a griefing attack, it was relaunched in May 2007.[4]

The Revolutionary Award

The Revolutionary Award was awarded "for something that makes people in power more aware of the need for change"[5] as part of the 2008 Community Awards for Social Technology (Catalyst). According to their website, Wheelies is "The world's first virtual disability nightclub. Based in Second Life, it is connecting disabled users and providing a platform for them to discuss common issues."[1]

Other recognition

Stevens has been interviewed about Wheelies on the CBC news.[6] The transcript from this broadcast was featured in the second edition of the Pearson Longman book Open Book English Skills.[7] Stevens was also interviewed by the British newspaper The Times[8] and a Wheelies user was interviewed by the Australian site Web Usability.[9] Wheelies has been discussed in a number of books,[10][11] and in the BBC magazine along with a wider discussion of the use of Second Life by people with disabilities.[12]

References
  1. "UK Catalyst Awards: Winners". Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  2. "Techradar: Second Life Nightclub up for an Award".
  3. "BBC The Ouch!: Staying in is the new going out". Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  4. "BBC The Ouch! Disability in Second Life".
  5. "UK Catalyst Awards: Awards". Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  6. "CBC News - Second Life". Dotsub. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  7. "Watching: Second Life" (PDF).
  8. "The Times: Is this a real life, is this just fantasy?". The Times.
  9. "Usability: Wheeling in Second Life".
  10. Winder, Davey (27 May 2008). Being Virtual, Davey Winder. ISBN 9780470712085.
  11. Guest, Tim (31 July 2010). Second Lives, Tim Hurst. ISBN 9781407090443.
  12. "Disability in Second Life". BBC News. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
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