Back to Reality...

George and I think we're back in the real world, having returned from the Virtual Worlds Forum (VWF) yesterday, though admittedly the office can seem one step removed.

Apparently, 60 million people participate in some kind of computer generated alternative reality; by population alone that's another country. Mindbogglingly, that also means there's 60 million people with another identity, possibly another life, in a computer environment. So what are people like in their virtual lives - do they have purple hair, do they change their gender or become a new species? This is what VWF participants were prepared to admit to:

OK, so you might dip your toe in a virtual world now and again, for a spot of R&R with some vaguely polygonal looking mates, but what about going to work there? Peter Dunkley's a consultant who gave up bricks and mortar to work in a virtual office:

Wagner James Au's been reporting on the virtual world, Second Life, longer than just about anyone. You can read his reports on his blog New World Notes. Lord Puttnam, the conference keynote speaker, argued that the companies running virtual worlds need to learn lessons from government. In James Au's view the development of Second Life has already recapitulated the history of at least one real-world government:

One of the most ambitious efforts to blend virtual reality and actual reality comes from China. The Beijing Cyber Recreation District is a virtual counterpart to an real part of the city. As the project's chief scientist Robert Lai explains, the virtual world influences the real one and vice versa:

Business is a strong motive for the Cyber Recreation District. Justin Bovington of Rivers Run Red has been helping businesses get into virtual worlds for years. But is it all hype? Not according to Justin:

The last part of Justin's interview touched a nerve for me. Broadcasters have been keen to race into Second Life and in many ways it's a "safe" environment. But we haven't really strayed into the other worlds out there. If you're a regular visitor to a virtual world outside Second Life (or you participate in a part of it that you think deserves media coverage) drop us a note. Perhaps our next Outside Broadcast will come from World of Warcraft, (the BBC risk assessment form should be a joy for that one!)

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