Monthly Archives: November 2010

Tue, Nov 30 2010
Paper: Social interaction ‘killer app’ of virtual worlds

Paper: Social interaction ‘killer app’ of virtual worlds

According to a white paper released today by by U.K.-based virtual worlds solutions provider Daden Limited, virtual worlds are not the next stage of evolution of the World Wide Web — but will be... 

1 Comment | Read More »
Tue, Nov 30 2010
ON24 receives Excellence in Best Practices award

ON24 receives Excellence in Best Practices award

Press Release: ON24′s Webcasting Market Share Leadership Earns Prestigious Industry Recognition SAN FRANCISCO, CA– ON24, Inc., the global leader in webcasting and virtual event solutions,... 

No Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 30 2010
WonderSchool makes Alice immersive

WonderSchool makes Alice immersive

WonderSchool, a startup formed by Els Von Tol and myself, is a portal for schools where they can build their own virtual world, or use an existing one, and give their users access to software... 

No Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 30 2010
Unity powers 3D military simulations

Unity powers 3D military simulations

Press Release: I/ITSEC: Unity Powers 3D Virtual Training Simulations for the Defense, Military, Aerospace and Homeland Security Industries ORLANDO, FL and SAN FRANCISCO, CA– Unity Technologies,... 

No Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 30 2010
Teleplace exhibiting at I/ITSEC conference

Teleplace exhibiting at I/ITSEC conference

Press Release: Teleplace to Showcase Immersive Government Collaboration and Training Deployments at I/ITSEC 2010 Conference Attendees Will Learn How Air Force, Army, Navy, vGov Use Teleplace ... 

No Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 30 2010
How to make virtual speaker programs work

How to make virtual speaker programs work

Like many aspects of life sciences today, speaker programs are being cut due to budgetary constraints and the tightening regulatory landscape. I read a recent article by Bill Cooney in PharmaExec that... 

No Comments | Read More »
Mon, Nov 29 2010
Avatars key to equal contribution and opportunity

Avatars key to equal contribution and opportunity

Much has been discussed and written about virtual environments achieving levels of immersion and interactivity that rival (and some believe exceed) face-to-face meetings. Much has also been written about... 

No Comments | Read More »
Mon, Nov 29 2010
Corporate uptake of collaborative 3D spaces

Corporate uptake of collaborative 3D spaces

Much has been said in recent years regarding the benefits and substantial returns an organisation can achieve by integrating an Online 3D Environment into their everyday operations. Indeed, examples... 

No Comments | Read More »
Mon, Nov 29 2010
Web-based viewer released for Second Life, OpenSim

Web-based viewer released for Second Life, OpenSim

Press Release: Tipodean launches Canvas, a Web-based viewer for Second Life and OpenSim, which is built using Unity 3D Tipodean Technologies is pleased to announce the preview launch of Canvas, a web-based... 

No Comments | Read More »
Thu, Nov 25 2010
Thanksgiving on the hypergrid

Thanksgiving on the hypergrid

It’s easy to get frustrated with the pace of technological change. My wish list of OpenSim features gets longer with every day that I use the platform — but I’ll save it for my Christamas... 

No Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 23 2010
Virtual Mine an immersive, educational experience

Virtual Mine an immersive, educational experience

Press Release: Using the Virtual World to Explore the Real World Problems of Fossil Fuels Environmental Documentary Deep Down Launches Interactive Virtual Mine in Second Life for Communities and Educators... 

1 Comment | Read More »
Tue, Nov 23 2010
IDIA Lab City Opens in Blue Mars

IDIA Lab City Opens in Blue Mars

Press Release: Ball State University’s IDIA Lab launches next-generation immersive learning experience on Blue MarsMassive New Site Features Fully Interactive, Detailed Replicas of 1915 Panama- Pacific... 

No Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 23 2010
USGBC announces virtual tour

USGBC announces virtual tour

Press Release: Greenbuild International Conference & Expo CHICAGO — The U.S. Green Building Council Education Department announced an innovative virtual tour of their headquarters. The project... 

No Comments | Read More »
Fri, Nov 19 2010
Avatars ‘compelling’ in nursing training video

Avatars ‘compelling’ in nursing training video

We just found out about a wonderful write-up on the real-time animated training video we recently created for the Exergen Corporation.  The magazine, Executive Healthcare Management, is a well respected... 

No Comments | Read More »
Wed, Nov 17 2010
OMC, I’z transactions grow on OpenSim

OMC, I’z transactions grow on OpenSim

The OpenSim economy continued to grow this month, with both the OMC currency and the I’z currency from InWorldz growing in users and transactions. The OMC, a convertible currency from Austrian virtual... 

3 Comments | Read More »
Wed, Nov 17 2010
Is your grid a safe harbor?

Is your grid a safe harbor?

One of the things every grid owner should be concerned with is the possibility that one of the grid’s users will be using, selling or transferring content that infringes upon another’s copyright. While... 

No Comments | Read More »
Wed, Nov 17 2010
Virtual health club holds open house

Virtual health club holds open house

Press Release: Club One Island opens its doors to the public for access to revolutionary digital weight loss program Island Holiday Party is the healthiest party of the season, and a first in the 3D... 

No Comments | Read More »
Wed, Nov 17 2010
Active Network, InXpo merge physical, virtual events

Active Network, InXpo merge physical, virtual events

Press Release: First of Its Kind Event Technology Solution Integrates Physical & Virtual Events CHICAGO — Event organizers can now extend the reach of their physical event to reach online... 

No Comments | Read More »
Wed, Nov 17 2010
Enterprise Guide to Virtual Worlds released

Enterprise Guide to Virtual Worlds released

Press Release: The Green Book: An Enterprise Guide to Virtual Worlds Guide Lists Over 50 Virtual World Solutions for Businesses and Organizations The Association of Virtual Worlds has just published... 

No Comments | Read More »
Wed, Nov 17 2010
ProtoSphere adds support for Lync Server

ProtoSphere adds support for Lync Server

Press Release: ProtonMedia’s ProtoSphere Works with Microsoft Lync Server 2010 ProtoSphere now provides an immersive collaboration layer for Microsoft Corp.’s latest enterprise class unified... 

No Comments | Read More »
Wed, Nov 17 2010
Consumer Guide to Virtual Worlds released

Consumer Guide to Virtual Worlds released

Press Release: The Blue Book: A Consumer Guide to Virtual Worlds Is Now Available Free from the Association of Virtual Worlds The Association of Virtual Worlds has just released the new edition of ... 

No Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 16 2010
Meshes a positive for Second Life and content developers

Meshes a positive for Second Life and content developers

Linden Lab has begun open beta testing of what is to be their most substantial feature, mesh imports. They are using collada format for the import, which is a format supported by just about every 3D... 

1 Comment | Read More »
Tue, Nov 16 2010
EON Reality releases new 3D environment creation tool

EON Reality releases new 3D environment creation tool

Press Release: Build Your Own Interactive 3D Virtual Environment in Minutes with EON Creator IRVINE, Calif. – EON Reality, the world’s leading interactive 3D software provider, announces EON... 

No Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 16 2010
Cranial Tap forms partnerships for training, simulations

Cranial Tap forms partnerships for training, simulations

Press Release: New venture to deliver decades of applied research and cognitive application development to learning in simulated environments Three firms will combine expertise to deliver highly interactive... 

No Comments | Read More »
Mon, Nov 15 2010
Virtual investors lost 71% on risky SLCapEx

Virtual investors lost 71% on risky SLCapEx

Investors in virtual companies listed on the Second Life Capital Exchange lost most of their money, according to a new research report. The report, which covered the time period between May 2007 and December... 

6 Comments | Read More »
Mon, Nov 15 2010
Five step guide to virtual trade show exhibits

Five step guide to virtual trade show exhibits

I work with a number of clients who exhibit at a virtual trade show for the first time.  They find that once they complete their first virtual trade show, that each successive show is simpler.  However,... 

No Comments | Read More »
Mon, Nov 15 2010
Legal names in virtual worlds

Legal names in virtual worlds

Until recently, it has not really been possible for residents of virtual worlds to use their real life name. While Second Life™ has had its Custom Name Program for some time, residents have understandably... 

1 Comment | Read More »
Mon, Nov 15 2010
Another record month for OpenSim

Another record month for OpenSim

OpenSim grid hit a new peak this month, with 13,564 regions on the top 40 grids, a 9 percent increase from last month’s 12,425 regions — a gain of 1,139 regions. Meanwhile, total registered... 

1 Comment | Read More »
Mon, Nov 15 2010
Ireland’s gifted kids explore 3D

Ireland’s gifted kids explore 3D

MissionV – 3D Immersive Technology in the classroom for the support of exceptionally able and twice exceptional students What if you were told of an amazing untapped, sustainable national resource ... 

2 Comments | Read More »
Thu, Nov 11 2010
Education group to launch grid

Education group to launch grid

The Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable, a group of educators working in Second Life, is expanding to a new grid on the OpenSim platform. The group — originally called the Second Life Education Roundtable... 

3 Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 9 2010
Virtual Justice in virtual worlds

Virtual Justice in virtual worlds

I spent the last few days reading Virtual Justice by Greg Lastowka. Lastowka outlined some legal issues that arise in virtual environments. Who owns what? What rights — if any — do you... 

No Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 9 2010
The hypergrid’s not for everyone

The hypergrid’s not for everyone

Ever since Crista Lopes, professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine invented the hypergrid in 2009, people have been debating whether grids should be on or off the hypergrid. On the... 

2 Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 9 2010
OpenSim users happy with grids

OpenSim users happy with grids

The majority of OpenSim grid residents said that their grids were “excellent” overall, with community and support getting the highest marks across the grids. Technology and content of the grids... 

1 Comment | Read More »
Tue, Nov 9 2010
Will COMDEXvirtual match success of physical incarnation?

Will COMDEXvirtual match success of physical incarnation?

Most people in the event business knew of or actually participated in a COMDEX trade show. It was the largest IT event in the US with more than 200,000 attendees and about 2,500 exhibitors and it was... 

No Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 9 2010
How many avatars can OpenSim handle?

How many avatars can OpenSim handle?

Exactly how many people can a region in OpenSim support? How many people could meet for business meetings or presentations in an OpenSim region? Intel has a tool that allows more than 1,000 avatars on... 

No Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 9 2010
Initiative releases cross-platform mesh standard

Initiative releases cross-platform mesh standard

Press Release: “Create Once, Experience Everywhere” 3D/VR Format Unveiled for Immersive Education Cross-platform Open File Format Enables “Create Once, Experience Everywhere” 3D/VR... 

1 Comment | Read More »
Fri, Nov 5 2010
Paper: Chatbots now smarter, more connected, and more emotional

Paper: Chatbots now smarter, more connected, and more emotional

According to a white paper released yesterday by by U.K.-based virtual worlds and chatbot solutions provider Daden Limited, chatbots are increasingly becoming smarter, more connected and more emotional... 

No Comments | Read More »
Wed, Nov 3 2010
Survey: 84% of OpenSim users would recommend platform

Survey: 84% of OpenSim users would recommend platform

OpenSim users overwhelmingly said that they would “absolutely” recommend the platform to others. Out of 114 people who responded to our survey this week and answered this question, 84 percent... 

15 Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 2 2010
Bargain region hosting: What you get for $9.90

Bargain region hosting: What you get for $9.90

OpenSim hosting company New Voice offers full OpenSim regions for just $9.90 per month. So what do you actually get for this amount of money? A region in Second Life, after all, costs $300 —... 

2 Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 2 2010
Virtual designs lack graphical appeal

Virtual designs lack graphical appeal

The power of first impressions is either ignored or overlooked. Perhaps the poor state of design in Second Life is due to myopia—no one can see his or her own face objectively. A stroll around the Aloft... 

No Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 2 2010
UBM Studios Creates Virtual Event Directory

UBM Studios Creates Virtual Event Directory

Press Release: UBM Studios Creates Revolutionary Virtual Event Directory Listing, Proprietary Technology Becomes the Virtual Event Center Launched First with the ACS Virtual Conference & Career Fair Chicago,... 

No Comments | Read More »
Tue, Nov 2 2010
Green Your Meeting By Going Virtual

Green Your Meeting By Going Virtual

Everyone wants to go green these days, including meeting planners. And while there are many ways to green a meeting, one of the greenest approaches to meetings is to not meet in person. This is a way... 

3 Comments | Read More »
Mon, Nov 1 2010
What is OpenSim standard time?

What is OpenSim standard time?

(Image by Leo Reynolds, via Flickr.) Here at Hypergrid Business, we’re in the process of launching a virtual events directory (now that the vendor directory is up and working). And the question comes... 

9 Comments | Read More »