If you're a Mac user, you know you've got access to a whole slew of first-class applications. That is, apps that follow the user-interface style guidelines for the Mac. Painstakingly developed and tested over time, the guidelines ensure consistent layouts of menus, options and hotkeys, so that you don't spend your time struggling to work out how to do the familiar, when you … [Read more...] about Does a cross-platform interface make Second Life a second-class application?
Op-ed
While you’re dancing in the flames
The key to managing crises, is to keep an eye on the long-term, while you're dancing in the flames You may have heard of TED talks: some of the world's best thinkers (and doers) speak on some consciousness expanding topics. At the 2009 TED Conference, Juan Enriquez made a fascinating presentation on how the convergence of cell engineering, tissue engineering and robots would … [Read more...] about While you’re dancing in the flames
Virtual world IP: not a steal
Virtual environments and the public Internet sport a bewildering array of economies, from purely fantasy economies to real money trading between users. Fundamentally, many of these are currency-based economies which we all understand - you purchase something you value and give something of value in exchange. That is, you buy something you want with some manner of … [Read more...] about Virtual world IP: not a steal
A Federal Government approach to virtual worlds: what a contrast
The Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds is an initiative designed to bring together US Federal Government employees. The April 2008 event held by the Consortium shows the depth of discussion at that level in regard to virtual worlds, and the 2009 version is likely to go a step further. This is a body that's developed through the motivation of public servants from a wide range … [Read more...] about A Federal Government approach to virtual worlds: what a contrast
Ten virtual worlds predictions for 2009
Now that we've reviewed our 2008 predictions, it's on to 2009. For the coming year, we're going to get a little bit more specific in our predictions. It may lower our chances of success but will be more fun. So here we go: 1. OpenSim grids will bleed Second Life users - this may seem a very obvious prediction given the growth of OpenSim grids, but what I mean here is that the … [Read more...] about Ten virtual worlds predictions for 2009