Ignorance about 3D virtual worlds
There is so much nonsense news on Second Life recently, mostly the result of ignorance, that I don’t feel the need to write about it anymore. Fortunately there are some organizations that cut through the crap and are simply shaping a future that all of us will soon take for granted. Just like what happened to the web which even all naysayers from 10 years ago can’t live without anymore.
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By now you’ve probably guessed that IBM has a serious interest in virtual worlds and the 3D Internet. We believe these environments will have a huge impact on the Web as we know it. You probably encounter skeptics and naysayers, as I do every day. While the technology today may be reminiscent of games of old and the environments do not provide a business level of stability yet, it is useful to remember the early days of the Web and reflect on the rapid maturity of those capabilities over the last decade. The technology of the Internet will improve, and 3D elements will become an increasing part of business applications.â€
30 March, 2007 om 9:43 am
The divide between the reality and “real” uses of environments like SL, and the hype that continues to persist in the media is frustrating. It is particularly frustrating when trying to “sell” the idea – in my case, to my own company. I first have to hack through the preconceptions stoked by the media (and the skepticism that goes with it), before re-focusing people on what is actually feasible now and where it is all heading.
IBM’s experiences seem somewhat mixed to me, an outsider. And this is to be expected. They are in SL, not for the sake of SL, but to see what they can and cannot do with 3D environments, for which SL provides an ideal sandpit. Their goal – and it should be the same with any company entering SL at this time – is to be ready for web 3D, and to make best use of SL in the meantime.
I work for a global IT consulting company, and to me SL offers a channel for improving networking between disparate parts of our organisation, which otherwise tend to operate only at a local level – a situation that is changing. We need tools that will help with that change – and SL offers some advantages over teleconferences & video-conferences. And, of course, it is vastly cheaper than face-to-face meetings (although these will never disappear entirely). As I say, SL provides a new communication channel, and will save us a lot on money.
For those of us who I may call “Second Life insiders” the true benefits of SL have little to do with the noise and consultant-speak one hears in the media.