ThinkBalm’s “Distillery” — an immersive technology selection experience http://ping.fm/vhDqS

Larry Rosenthal on the Transition from 2D to 3D Interfaces http://ping.fm/sTWfx

Update: Wal Mart's "Virtual Clothing Store" Hopes to Redefine E-Retail http://ping.fm/kogAD

Looking Deeper: Should We Preserve Important Content from Virtual Worlds? http://ping.fm/xNDIJ

Ciaran Laval on the Anti-Innovation Feel of Linden Lab's Third-Party Viewer Policy http://ping.fm/wO1md

Team Bonding with a Virtual Workforce http://ping.fm/8yo3l

39% of firms to increase virtual events spending http://bx.businessweek.com/virtual-worlds/view?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hypergridbusiness.com%2F2010%2F02%2Freport-39-of-firms-to-increase-virtual-events-spend%2F

A Viirtual Trademark Office in Second Life? http://ping.fm/ycdrd

Will Second Life be the next Netscape? http://ping.fm/kmwoS

Virtual Worlds, If you think that the virtual worlds are over hyped read http://ping.fm/UjNgM

Exploring SpotON3D - The Biz Grid

Biz Grid Viewed from the Elevated Walkway

As the newly embedded reporter on the SpotON3D grid, I thought it time to do some exploration of the environment. After logon, I took a stroll out of the landing area and into the Biz Grid on Zeta, a SIM adjacent to the landing area on ETA. I'd been through the district one time previously, shortly after the grid had opened when Tessa had graciously invited me in for a tour. Several months had passed since that first visit, but my initial impression of the build still held as I camera scanned the area when it came into view. It reminded me then and now of a suburban mixed use office park with a series of low rise office buildings arrayed around a circular road, all of which are immediately viewable as one crosses the elevated path into the SIM. Within the circle are more buildings all of which house demonstrations of the various décor available within the SpotON3D "Virtual office" offering. The layout within the circular area suggests a more urban feel but still housed within the confines of an office park . On my entry into the SIM, a web page loads automatically which provides SIM information to the visitor . I read the following information on the page:

"BizGrid is a region with a real world business focus. Here we offer work spaces for companies on the leading edge of telecommuting, as well as for small stand alone businesses who wish to have an office presence within the 3D web. Currently in development are a set of tools including our new Overature Presentation System."

I closed the web page and continued with the camera scan before I finished the walk down to the end of the raised walkway. I found the symmetry of the layout pleasing. Directly in front are the building demo's all within the circular area and I debate on which direction to go. After tossing a virtual coin and losing the call, I turn left and follow the cobblestone textured road. The buildings on the outer side of the circle are unoccupied at this time and with the security feature enabled, inaccessible. A click to edit on one shows me that they were created by Felonious Nitely, whose profile text tells me that he has been, "here since the first test boot...and got the nervous twitch to prove it". Mr. Nitely is also a builder and resident of Second Life. Having traversed half around now, I find my virtual self standing near an open air seating area. It looks very much like an outdoor café, but with no espresso in my inventory to enjoy I decide to press on.


On my left is a bridge which leads across a canal and into the next SIM which is called Epsilon, also a business themed SIM. I momentarily think of crossing the bridge, but decide to save exploration of it for another date and time. On the cobblestone road once again, I walk past several more buildings, all unoccupied and inaccessible. With the arrival back at the start point, I find a park bench, point, click and sit where I jot down a few notes about my visit.


I've not been a big fan of suburban office parks, having worked in several during my career. I am however favorably impressed with the architectural diversity I've seen represented in this build. While the overall look and feel presents an office park, the one key difference between this and a real life counterpart is in that diversity of structure. One could of course criticize the build as being to "real life" like in its layout and use of textures. Any one who has traveled extensively within second life could point to examples of where imagination prevailed and idealistic views of the workplace were created. However, this build is pleasant to view, easy to navigate and has a comfortable "I've been here before" feel. As the architectural dictum of "form follows function", suggests, the BizGrid was built for business and I think it succeeds well in that aspect.

Highlights from “Learning in 3D” book: steps to successful adoption http://ping.fm/XNU1S

ThinkBalm publishes immersive software decision-making guide http://ping.fm/1Di39

What it means for enterprise immersive software market http://ping.fm/aXsjK

SO3D CLOUD Stress Testers Needed!!

Announcing our first Rent-A-Cloud region on SpotON3D and our CRASH THE CLOUD test.

Our goal is to get 100 avatars or more into the SPOTON3D CLOUD region to help us determine the limits and costs of this powerful new tool. So be a part of SPOTON3D history and come over with some friends to the SpotON3D grid tomorrow at 11 am SLT and we'll see how many avatars it takes to bring it to its knees.

PLEASE RSVP with Tessa Harrington in SL ASAP!!

SpotON3D Featured in Keynote Address at TechSec Solutions 2010 Conference

On Monday February 1st, Frank Yeh delivered the keynote address at the TechSec Solutions 2010 Conference. TechSec Solutions is a premier industry conference exploring the impact of IP technology on physical security. This is the conference's sixth year. Mr. Yeh is a Senior Security and Privacy Integration Architect at IBM Global Technology Services and is a "leading thinker on how new technology will change the security landscape". In his address titled, Three Emerging Technologies and How They are Changing Security, he discussed how virtualization, virtual worlds and augmented reality and cloud computing "promise to change the way we approach security". He also featured the virtual world of SpotON3D, where Frank's avatar appeared along side COO Theresa Kinney-Johnson. He presented a brief introduction to SpotON3D, introduced Ms Kinney-Johnson and high lighted as an example what is being done in SpotON3D to make it secure for business.