About this event

3D virtual worlds such as Second Life and There.com increasingly hit the headlines. But what exactly are they? What can and can't they do? How does one get started? Could virtual worlds really be the next big thing for business, social networking, education and entertainment? They certainly don't replace real life communication, but they do offer richer opportunities for people getting to know each other and collaborate than the web, ping-pong email, faceless phone calls and uncomfortable video conferencing.

Businesses are using virtual worlds to promote their brands, practice for dangerous situations and allow people to experience products before they exist; Asperger's sufferers are being helped; tennis buffs can experience Andy Roddick's 140 mph serve; surgeons rehearse operations; and science teaching is being enhanced. So even if some suggest that virtual worlds are a silly irrelevance and a quirky alternative to true life, the reality is different.

The speaker will share live demonstrations of companies and individuals already using virtual worlds as digital venues in which they work, learn and play. By addressing the four questions posed above, he hopes that those in the Mountbatten audience unfamiliar with "walking digital dogs" and such-like will wish to explore further.

Speaker

Andrew (Roo) Reynolds is the Metaverse Evangelist for IBM.