If you are an entrepreneur looking for new opportunities, a business manager interested in new collaboration tools or new market opportunities, or an educator interested in new platforms to deliver content and experiences to students, immersive virtual environments offer — literally — new worlds of possibilities.
The Internet created a new class of millionaires, upended entire industries, and changed the way we work, learn, and socialize. Immersive virtual environments will have a similar impact.
How do we know this? Because people are already voting with their wallets — immersive, three-dimensional video games outsell all others, and the market is global and fast-moving. The education sector was the first to embrace virtual environments, as a way to deliver training simulations, seminars, and lectures at a low cost and without geographical constraints.This is similar to the way that two-dimensional graphics interfaces replaced the old text-based green screens — first in games, second in education, and finally in business.
How fast will it happen? There are physical constraints — the speed of connections, the graphics capacity of individual computers. These challenges take time to address, but progress in this area is inevitable. There are also cultural constraints, as it takes time for people to learn how to use a new technology. However, the Internet has accelerated the pace of technological adoption, and it will accelerate the move towards virtual environments as well.
How do you stay on top of this? By reading Hypergrid Business. We offer in-depth and up-to-date coverage of the OpenSim technology and community, which is currently the leading contender to be the hyperlinked 3D Web, with news, case studies, opinion, and feature stories. We also cover alternative open source platforms like Open Wonderland, and proprietary enterprise platforms like ProtoSphere and Teleplace.
Hypergrid Business is published by Trombly International, a Massachusetts-based communications firm with key staff in Boston, Belgium, Shanghai and Mumbai. Subsidiaries include the China Speakers Bureau, the largest speakers bureau for greater China, providing China experts to speak at conferences and events around the world.
Contacts
Maria Korolov, Editor in Chief, based in Massachusetts. Email: maria@hypergridbusiness.com
Please contact Maria Korolov to:
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Rachel Liu, Reporter, based in China. Email: rachel.liu@hypergridbusiness.com
Jie Hu, Reporter, based in Massachusetts. Email: jie.hu@tromblyinternational.com
Ankush Chibber, Copyeditor, based in Mumbai. Email: ankush.chibber@tromblyinternational.com
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Other Contributors
The following commentators are not directly associated with Trombly International, and their opinions do not represent those of the company.
Clark Aldrich, Columnist, and independent contractor, works with clients to create effective, celebrated, and innovative simulations.
Caleb Booker, Columnist, has been writing professionally about virtual worlds for over three years. He is also a metaverse developer, and an online events producer. His personal blog is at CalebBooker.com.
Jason Christensen, Columnist, is National Accounts Manager for a leading tool manufacturer – a diversified worldwide supplier of tools, fastening and storage solutions.
Leon Cych, Columnist, is the director of Learn4Life, an e-learning consulting firm that works in the area of innovation in education using Web 2.0 applications.
Erica Driver, Columnist, is an analyst at ThinkBalm, where she writes a regular column about virtual worlds.
Adam Frisby, Columnist, is head of research and technology at Shanghai-based DeepThink Pty Ltd. He is also one of the core developers of the OpenSim platform.
Justin Gibbs, Columnist, is a product manager with a passion for lean startups and adept at social media.
Kyle Gomboy, Columnist, is founder and president of ReactionGrid.
Karl Kapp, Columnist, is a professor, consultant, speaker, scholar, and expert on the convergence of learning, technology and business operations.
Roland Legrand, Columnist, is a journalist living and working in Belgium, working as a multimedia newsroom manager for Mediafin, the publisher of the business newspapers De Tijd and L’Echo.
Jeff Lowe, Columnist, helps people and organizations collaborate more effectively & accomplish difficult things within immersive environments.
Paul Mathiesen, Columnist, is a senior IT analyst with over 20 years experience in the field of information systems and communications technology encompassing project management, business analysis, software development and training.
Mike McCurry, Columnist, is a strategic account manager for Chicago-based Experient.
Ron Miller, Columnist, is a freelance technology journalist, blogger, and FierceContentManagement editor and Contributing Editor at EContent Magazine.
Joerg Rathenberg, Columnist, heads up marketing at virtual events platform vendor Unisfair.
Dennis Shiao, Columnist, is Client Services Executive at InXpo. Dennis works with strategic clients on their virtual event programs.
Gautam Tandon, Columnist, is CEO of Bay Area-based Ellipsis Solutions, an Internet marketing company.
Anastasia Trombly, Columnist, is a designer with the Greybit web design firm. She works with PHP and CSS, but also sets up OpenSim installations.
Alan Tupper, Columnist, is an artist and virtual world evangelist currently living in Atlanta, Georgia.
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