Current Welcome Hubs, both resident owned and SL official.

Learning precedes belonging

Instructions precede curiosity

Interfaces precede environment

Reading precedes embodiment

Everything glows at you

Nothing draws you into itself

The eye is pulled to panels, not paths

The body is instructed, not invited

“You are new. Here is how not to break things.” instead of

"You are here. Let's imagine, play and create."

I envision several styles of Welcome Hubs. One is like a carnival with objects (ferris wheel, spinning tea cups, short train ride maybe through a game preserve showing the various evolution of animals/pets in SL. Include games that would be seen at a local fair or carnival) created by residents that have various levels of skill from the newest builders but not the master builders. Each prize given out should teach something. Every activity should teach something. Not a step by step but a more learned it by default. I learn to move by heading to the carnival. I learn mouse look by playing the shooting game. I learn to sit and stand by bobbing for apples. Do you understand? I learn to fly by jumping off the platform with a parachute. I learn to dance by clicking a dance ball and to change the dance by clicking again. I learn some physics, collusions, and many other things by walking around the carnival and participating in the activities. Then supply some kiosks for information on scripting, shopping, creating, socializing, avoiding lag, school not just for creating but also for learning a new language, role play and locations of various role playing sims, how to find official LL events such as SL Birthday party and SL's Winter Wonderland. Location of the LL Office and locations for Freebies such as The Free Dove. How to stay up to date on LL requests and opportunities. The whole carnival shows what's possible like building vehicles and air planes (without intimidation from master builds) while teaching the newbie stuff like running and mouse-look and right clicking and many other basic skills.