Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

Virtual worlds can help people forecast weather, study and test medical treatment, and analyze data without serious repercussions. Pros are that people are able to explore their creativity. People are able to let the ideas in their head flow in its raw form because it is a virtual world and there are no repercussions. Cons would be that users may get lost in the virtuality and get carried away from their responsibilities.
Virtual worlds foster creativity. According to the first CNN source, businesses are using virtual worlds in order to have ad-hoc conversations, a sense of place, and a water-cooler experience. These are settings where creativity can emerge. Another example comes from a different CNN source that speaks to the pros of virtual worlds. In this CNN article, autism patients are able to create avatars for themselves who represent what they want to be portrayed as.
The future of virtual worlds would be like a "second-life". I think people would like to use the future of virtual reality to escape from society and treat it like a safe haven.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/11/05/second.life.virtual.collaboration/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/03/28/sl.autism.irpt/index.html#cnnSTCText