Post by lockejv on Jul 6, 2007 15:59:12 GMT -5
I was reading an article about outsourcing today, and to my surprise, it mentioned "Virtual Worlds" as a potential vehicle to move jobs overseas. The article claims that while these onilne words are in their infancy, they will soon be an emerging trend and are picking up speed. The column linked to a more focused article, and I'll quote a few interesting tid-bits from the latter:
IBM hosted an event at MIT's Media Lab to explore the potential of virtual worlds for use in business. Already, the company is experimenting with ways to use 3D interfaces and virtual environments to improve company meetings, help training and education, and simulate business tasks, such as fixing a data center or streamlining a business process.
IBM employees already hold some meetings in Second Life. The company is also building applications for virtual worlds, including a virtual data center that lets administrators (through their avatars) monitor the status of multiple data center locations.
In a panel session moderated by Second Life Chairman Mitch Kapor, businesspeople and academics discussed how they intend to create a presence in virtual worlds.
The primary theme of the event was that virtual worlds represent a disruptive technology change, much like the arrival of the PC and the Web shook up the computing world. In that context, the calls for more compelling applications, better security and viable business models are not surprising.
news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9730918-7.html
Here's the outsourcing article:
Virtual worlds
The rise of virtual worlds such as Second Life is making it easier for companies to justify hiring offshore workers for tasks that may include building virtual offices or even working as virtual-world "meeters and greeters."
The market for outsourced virtual-world services is still very new, but businesses increasingly are taking an interest in the likes of Second Life, so momentum is likely to build.
Last month, news emerged of a partnership between a Chinese online-entertainment company and Entropia Universe, a virtual world with a science fiction theme, to create a virtual economy that could provide as many as 10,000 jobs.
Over the longer term, customer contact jobs, including those for help desk and call center services--could migrate into virtual worlds, where customers can be both informed and entertained.
news.com.com/Five+outsourcing+trends+to+watch/2100-1022_3-6195142.html?tag=st_lh
IBM hosted an event at MIT's Media Lab to explore the potential of virtual worlds for use in business. Already, the company is experimenting with ways to use 3D interfaces and virtual environments to improve company meetings, help training and education, and simulate business tasks, such as fixing a data center or streamlining a business process.
IBM employees already hold some meetings in Second Life. The company is also building applications for virtual worlds, including a virtual data center that lets administrators (through their avatars) monitor the status of multiple data center locations.
In a panel session moderated by Second Life Chairman Mitch Kapor, businesspeople and academics discussed how they intend to create a presence in virtual worlds.
The primary theme of the event was that virtual worlds represent a disruptive technology change, much like the arrival of the PC and the Web shook up the computing world. In that context, the calls for more compelling applications, better security and viable business models are not surprising.
news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9730918-7.html
Here's the outsourcing article:
Virtual worlds
The rise of virtual worlds such as Second Life is making it easier for companies to justify hiring offshore workers for tasks that may include building virtual offices or even working as virtual-world "meeters and greeters."
The market for outsourced virtual-world services is still very new, but businesses increasingly are taking an interest in the likes of Second Life, so momentum is likely to build.
Last month, news emerged of a partnership between a Chinese online-entertainment company and Entropia Universe, a virtual world with a science fiction theme, to create a virtual economy that could provide as many as 10,000 jobs.
Over the longer term, customer contact jobs, including those for help desk and call center services--could migrate into virtual worlds, where customers can be both informed and entertained.
news.com.com/Five+outsourcing+trends+to+watch/2100-1022_3-6195142.html?tag=st_lh