Virtual worlds: taking health promotion to new levels.

Traditionally, health promotion practice has relied on print and popular media for information dissemination. However, technology sprawl has challenged this tradition, and progressive health promotion professionals are integrating email, text messaging, Web sites, and online support groups into their repertoire. A less familiar, yet attractive, platform for health promotion specialists is the virtual world. An online virtual world is ‘‘an interactive computer simulation which allows participants to see, hear, use, and modify simulated objects in a computer-created world.’’ 145) Virtual worlds can be designed for single participants; simultaneous participants; or multiple groups of users, referred to as a virtual community. We explore the possibilities of using virtual worlds to broaden the reach and scope for health promotion.