The Social Life: Virtual Youth Choir embraces the world

Virtual Youth Choir.

Living in a global community isn't all bad. While many denigrate the online world for making people narcissistic and self-centred, there are many reasons to celebrate the world we live in today.

The Commonwealth Games has been getting lots of coverage for its sports action, but technology came to the fore at the opening ceremony and throughout the Games as broadcasters trialled new technology.

If you've not heard of it, go to YouTube and search for Virtual Youth Choir.

The Virtual Youth Choir was created in association with Unicef and made its premier at the opening ceremony. The choir gave 2292 children the chance to sing at the ceremony but without having to leave their homes and travel overseas. Composer/conductor Eric Whitacre conducted the Virtual Youth Choir and the National Youth Choir of Scotland in front of 40,000 people in the legendary Hampden Park stadium and a huge global audience.

There were 80 countries represented, including New Zealand with five singers.

Whitacre, the visionary creator of the Virtual Choir arranged a special version of his song What If for the choir's members, all aged 18 and under.

Each singer recorded and submitted videos to be part of the inaugural Virtual Youth Choir.

This was the first Virtual Youth Choir but virtual choirs have been performing for many years, and shows how the internet is giving people opportunities they might not otherwise have experienced.

You don't need to attend classes in the traditional setting - many education institutes offer distance learning to suit students' lives. There are webinars and online classes so you can experience a classroom environment from home.

Search the internet for a course you can do in the evenings and use your web time to broaden your mind or learn a new craft or skill.

Watch the Virtual Youth Choir here.