Columns

Sun, Feb 5 2012
Where to build in OpenSim

Where to build in OpenSim

If you like building — or need to build for your work or school — and you find Second Life cramped and expensive, OpenSim is a great option. But where do you start? There are over a hundred... 

4 Comments | Read More »
Thu, Feb 2 2012
How educators can benefit from Kitely

How educators can benefit from Kitely

Kitely – an OpenSim-based grid that runs its regions in the Amazon cloud — has a unique system that gives educators some interesting capabilities and advantages. To appreciate those features... 

9 Comments | Read More »
Tue, Jan 17 2012
International collaboration — in 3D

International collaboration — in 3D

Here is a little vignette describing how 3D collaborative environments can impact large organizations. Just as technology has advanced in almost every field, so has the technology surrounding learning... 

3 Comments | Read More »
Mon, Jan 2 2012
Prof: Schools moving to OpenSim should pay for hosting

Prof: Schools moving to OpenSim should pay for hosting

In November, I led a well-attended three-hour workshop, Second Life is Dead – Prepare for an OpenSim Future at the 17th International Conference on Online Learning in Orlando, Florida. My basic point... 

16 Comments | Read More »
Fri, Dec 30 2011
Second Life is Not a Game

Second Life is Not a Game

One of my teeny tiny pet peeves is when people harp about Second Life being a game. This is often followed by declarations that games should not be taken seriously. Therefore, Second Life should not be... 

13 Comments | Read More »
Fri, Dec 9 2011
Crash of the House of Usher doesn’t keep students down

Crash of the House of Usher doesn’t keep students down

[Editor: Joe Essid teaches a class about Edgar Allen Poe's "Fall of the House of Usher" for the department of English & Rhetoric & Communication Studies at the University of Richmond, using virtual... 

4 Comments | Read More »
Thu, Oct 27 2011
OpenSim needs a viewer of its own

OpenSim needs a viewer of its own

Even as OpenSim implementation continues to grow, a constant remains: there is no viewer tailored specifically for OpenSim as it comes direct from OpenSimulator.org. It’s discouraging, and it’s easy... 

17 Comments | Read More »
Thu, Sep 29 2011
How real is real enough?

How real is real enough?

How real does a virtual environment need to be for users to feel presence? This is a question educators have been researching in the attempt to implement virtual spaces to expand the classroom. For those... 

4 Comments | Read More »
Wed, Sep 21 2011
Virtual Events: The New Marketing Frontier

Virtual Events: The New Marketing Frontier

The economic downturn has put a damper on tradeshow activities worldwide. Travel budgets have been tightened across the board. Attendees are less willing to hop on a plane halfway around the globe for... 

2 Comments | Read More »
Fri, Sep 16 2011
How SWIFT reduced virtual world training to 30 minutes

How SWIFT reduced virtual world training to 30 minutes

An interesting quesion arose from my ALT-C talk last week. It was basically “How can you use Second Life for teaching when it takes two hours to learn how to use it?” Which isn’t really a question,... 

4 Comments | Read More »
Sun, Sep 11 2011
It’s time to move all grids south

It’s time to move all grids south

Hypergrid is probably one of the greatest and unifying features for OpenSim, and virtual worlds in general. Basically, virtual worlds cannot be what they should be without the hypergrid. It is the same... 

18 Comments | Read More »
Thu, Sep 8 2011
Medical simulations can benefit healthcare, pharma industries

Medical simulations can benefit healthcare, pharma industries

Healthcare and the pharmaceutical industries can benefit from using training simulations and serious games in everything from sales and customer relations to helping medical professionals work with upset... 

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Tue, Sep 6 2011
Avaya trains sales reps virtually

Avaya trains sales reps virtually

The flight simulator celebrated its 100s anniversary a couple of years ago. A training rig was developed in 1909 to help pilots operate the control wheels of the early monoplanes in a safe environment... 

2 Comments | Read More »
Fri, Aug 26 2011
OpenSim needs an installer bundle

OpenSim needs an installer bundle

I attended UMass in the early eighties when access to DARPAnet first became available to students. In the beginning, all we had was terminal-based FTP access to download TeX markup documents that we could... 

11 Comments | Read More »
Thu, Aug 18 2011
11 tips for successful virtual training

11 tips for successful virtual training

Over the last three years I’ve planned, designed, and orchestrated a dozen learning events in the virtual world of Second Life. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with extremely experienced and talented... 

10 Comments | Read More »
Wed, Aug 17 2011
Five steps to OpenSim at your school

Five steps to OpenSim at your school

I have been using OpenSim since October, 2008. The software is still in an alpha stage of development, but it has come a long way, and its usage has exploded, and will continue to do so. Linden Labs has... 

2 Comments | Read More »
Sun, Aug 14 2011
Putting SpotON3D’s patent into perspective

Putting SpotON3D’s patent into perspective

The recent furor over patents by SpotON3D is understandable. However, we may be overemphasizing that issue while staying naïve about other formidable developments. Let me begin with a specific illustration. Back... 

33 Comments | Read More »
Thu, Aug 4 2011
Iggy’s rules for moderating virtual world meetings

Iggy’s rules for moderating virtual world meetings

The good folks at the Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable are training new people to host our meetings, and they’ve asked us veterans to share our ideas. The following  principles have worked... 

3 Comments | Read More »
Tue, Aug 2 2011
Katalab’s OurBricks shows 3D with no plugin

Katalab’s OurBricks shows 3D with no plugin

For years I have been wanting to see 3D on the web become ubiquitous and with Katalabs‘ OurBricks, I am closer than ever to seeing that dream come true. Leveraging the power of WebGL and its supported... 

3 Comments | Read More »
Fri, Jul 29 2011
SpotOn3d releases browser plugin for OpenSim

SpotOn3d releases browser plugin for OpenSim

There have been several attempts over the past year to create a viewer for Second Life and OpenSim based virtual environments that would run in a browser. I’ve tried to write about them all, from... 

22 Comments | Read More »
Wed, Jun 8 2011
The Machinimist Marketer: Low-cost book promotion for authors

The Machinimist Marketer: Low-cost book promotion for authors

Machinima isn’t just for music anymore. People from all different walks of life are finding ways to take advantage of the virally spread mini movies, the latest being writers. I discovered that on... 

1 Comment | Read More »
Sun, Jun 5 2011
Educator calls for college enclave on OSGrid

Educator calls for college enclave on OSGrid

I am looking for volunteers for an OSGrid Academic Consortium — somewhere between four to eight schools who want to have free regions in an education-oriented community located near to one another... 

4 Comments | Read More »
Wed, May 25 2011
Are virtual currencies becoming real?

Are virtual currencies becoming real?

Many people view virtual online currencies; the kind used in online websites such as Second Life for example, as being wholly different from their real life counterparts. Many online games have their own... 

10 Comments | Read More »
Mon, May 23 2011
Why my autism project left ReactionGrid

Why my autism project left ReactionGrid

[Editor's note: We encourage groups using virtual worlds to tell us about their experiences -- both good and bad -- in order to educate the public about this new industry segment, and to encourage platform... 

13 Comments | Read More »
Sun, May 22 2011
Getting down to business in Web.alive

Getting down to business in Web.alive

Hypergrid Business is one of the very few publications you can safely categorize as virtual world platform agnostic. Editor Maria Korolov has visited our Avaya Web.alive environments from the earliest... 

1 Comment | Read More »
Tue, May 17 2011
One university’s pioneering OpenSim journey

One university’s pioneering OpenSim journey

The last four months have been tumultuous ones for our university. With the end of educational discounts for our island in Second Life, we faced a tough decision. Second Life’s steep learning curve and... 

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Fri, May 13 2011
The Machinimist Marketer: Music videos on a budget

The Machinimist Marketer: Music videos on a budget

Yesterday’s bands were limited by money. Awesome music is worthless if you can’t show it off, but how can you show it off while you still need your day job? The average cost of creating a well-done... 

1 Comment | Read More »
Wed, May 11 2011
Is social media a threat to virtual platforms?

Is social media a threat to virtual platforms?

While most of the attention within our industry has been on the 2D and 3D platforms for virtual events, I envisioned that a simpler, website-like interface may begin emerging for digital events. My post... 

1 Comment | Read More »
Wed, May 4 2011
Mobile revolution arrives for virtual events

Mobile revolution arrives for virtual events

In the early days of virtual events (i.e. a few years ago), we used to say that users could attend a virtual event “from anywhere.” Of course, that wasn’t entirely true, as “anywhere” usually... 

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Tue, May 3 2011
10 keys to a successful training presentation

10 keys to a successful training presentation

There are several different components to consider in designing and developing interactive 3D software that will ensure that your training simulation will get the results you want. These components aren’t... 

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Wed, Apr 27 2011
Realism key to 3D training and virtual instructors

Realism key to 3D training and virtual instructors

The world of computer or web-based training has evolved rapidly over the last several years. In particular, a large amount of interest has surrounded the world of interactive 3D simulation training and... 

2 Comments | Read More »
Thu, Apr 7 2011
The Machinimist Marketer: A virtual gold rush

The Machinimist Marketer: A virtual gold rush

Machinima, once banished to the realm of the basement dwelling geek, is now being let out of the closet and into the company of professional society. No longer relegated to fanboys, the cinematic art... 

1 Comment | Read More »
Thu, Apr 7 2011
19 Definitions of a Virtual Event

19 Definitions of a Virtual Event

Technology improvements have allowed us to meet, connect and engage online. The 2008 financial crisis further drove the adoption of virtual events for organizations. But even to this day, there is no standard... 

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Wed, Apr 6 2011
Survey: Slow erosion of educators from Second Life to OpenSim

Survey: Slow erosion of educators from Second Life to OpenSim

In March, I asked educators on the SLED and EDUCAUSE Virtual Worlds lists to tell me how their ownership of land in virtual worlds compares to their holdings a year ago. Here are the results. Analysis:... 

10 Comments | Read More »
Wed, Apr 6 2011
Does Linden Lab put its economy first?

Does Linden Lab put its economy first?

The evolution of the Linden Dollar from a strictly virtual currency and economy to a currency that intertwines with recognized currencies and economies has created many issues that need to be addressed... 

3 Comments | Read More »
Fri, Mar 25 2011
Six tips for selling virtual event sponsorships

Six tips for selling virtual event sponsorships

Now that you’ve settled on the title, topic and date of your virtual event, it’s time to rally the sales team to go out and sell sponsorships. We provide six tips on how to approach the selling... 

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Thu, Mar 24 2011
Is the username dying?

Is the username dying?

What would happen if at a school’s talent show some parents stood up and started heckling the child playing the piano or dancing in front of them? “You’re awful!” or “You call yourself... 

2 Comments | Read More »
Tue, Mar 22 2011
The Many Advantages of Virtual Collaboration

The Many Advantages of Virtual Collaboration

The results of this Harvard Business School study, and many others like it, provide ample and compelling evidence to suggest that virtual collaboration is a powerful means of achieving new levels of efficiency... 

1 Comment | Read More »
Mon, Mar 7 2011
Ten Challenges 3D Virtual Meeting Platforms Face in Corporations

Ten Challenges 3D Virtual Meeting Platforms Face in Corporations

Corporations are comfortable with using WebEx-like solutions for their virtual meetings, with some using pseudo-3D platforms for large-scale virtual conferences and trade shows. When they need more sense... 

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Thu, Mar 3 2011
Successful virtual engagement marketing

Successful virtual engagement marketing

Sometimes, people new to the concept of virtual engagement ask: “How do you market a virtual event? Is it necessary to drive attendance with email and other tools?” As experienced marketers, we know... 

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Thu, Feb 17 2011
Watson On Jeopardy: One small step for AI

Watson On Jeopardy: One small step for AI

They say it’s not the winning that counts but the taking part. Watson managed to do both — but perhaps the winning actually counted for less. All the indications are that Watson’s win... 

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Mon, Feb 14 2011
Report: associations’ virtual events to triple

Report: associations’ virtual events to triple

According to a new report, virtual conferences are not longer a novelty for associations and are expected to triple in number this year. And while reducing costs remains a major driver for virtual events,... 

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Tue, Feb 8 2011
Failure to Disrupt: Why Second Life Failed

Failure to Disrupt: Why Second Life Failed

Am I being premature? Second Life has outlived its many obituaries. This is not an obit. At the same time, only the most ardent SL-cheerleaders would deny that the virtual world has stagnated. In the... 

3 Comments | Read More »
Mon, Feb 7 2011
Lessons of the NBC agreement with Battlestar Galactica fans

Lessons of the NBC agreement with Battlestar Galactica fans

In early December, I wrote about the cease & desist order sent by lawyers representing the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to the Frank Lloyd Wright Virtual Museum in Second Life – which had recently... 

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Sun, Feb 6 2011
3D text effect with OpenSim

3D text effect with OpenSim

OpenSim makes for a good, and free, tool for 3D animation work. I have spoken at conferences and webinars on the use of Second Life for creating video for branched scenario-based eLearning because it... 

1 Comment | Read More »
Fri, Feb 4 2011

No Excuses for Poor Signage

It was an honor to present to the Nonprofit Commons in Second Life. A wide range of organizations were represented by their avatars in the central arena. There to discuss signage, I discussed tips and... 

1 Comment | Read More »
Thu, Feb 3 2011
Why should virtual events look like in-person events?

Why should virtual events look like in-person events?

Since we launched Altadyn nine years ago, we regularly hear the questions: Why should virtual events look like in-person events? Why meet in a 3D space? Why use an avatar? Why isn’t the virtual... 

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Wed, Feb 2 2011
American, Japanese virtual habits differ

American, Japanese virtual habits differ

Online virtual worlds boast an expansive global fan base, and effectively communicating with and marketing to this diverse user base can present opportunities for professionals. At TinierMe, an avatar-based... 

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Mon, Jan 31 2011
Bringing Virtual Events into the Mainstream

Bringing Virtual Events into the Mainstream

It seems like more and more marketers are looking into virtual and hybrid events. With tight event budgets and opportunity to scale reach online, virtual events can look attractive. Craig Rosenberg from... 

1 Comment | Read More »
Tue, Jan 18 2011
Why Must Virtual Events Look Like In-Person Events?

Why Must Virtual Events Look Like In-Person Events?

Every year I look forward to attending the Virtual Edge Summit online. Not only is it free to consume the content online and saves my travel budget (one of the keys for virtual events) but it also showcases... 

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