The document presents the Vinco project, which investigates collaboration and communication in global distributed teams within virtual environments, specifically Second Life. It discusses the unique dynamics of these virtual spaces and their applications in business and education, including professional use cases and emerging trends. Initial findings suggest a need for further research on the potential of virtual environments for fostering teamwork, innovation, and educational experiences.

1. Second Life as a platform for
collaboration and teaching
BIT Research Centre
Teemu Surakka
teemu.surakka@tkk.fi
+358 50 381 9787
Presentation held at ECT Forum 09, 23.9.2009 in Helsinki Fair Centre.

2. Agenda
Background – Vinco project
What kind of Virtual Environments (VEs) we are looking into
Why we chose Second Life
Initial results of the project
Experiences
New trends

3. Project participants
Research Manager Researcher Professor
Anu Sivunen Marko Hakonen Matti Vartiainen
Researcher Researcher
Teemu Surakka Sami Ahma-aho

4. Vinco Project
The research project studies how collaboration and
communication in global distributed teams and in fully virtual
environments can enhance business and innovation.
Virtual environments are 3D environments, where users can
change flexibly their avatars = Second Life in this project.
Dynamics of communication and innovative, value-adding
collaboration in fully virtual settings beyond computer game
research are yet not extensively studied.
This study explores the interfaces between virtual and
traditional environments and investigates virtual worlds as
centers for collaboration and business.

5. What are virtual worlds?
One definition: A synchronous, persistent network of people, represented
by avatar, facilitated by computers. -- Mark Bell

6. Qwaq Forums -> Teleplace 3.0
Teleplace (formerly Qwaq)
Source: http://www.teleplace.com/

7. OpenSim based Virtual Worlds
realXtend - Beneath The Waves
By: Ludocraft
Source:
http://www.ludocraft.com/images.html
OpenSim screenshot
By: Sean Dague
Source:
http://opensimulator.org/wiki/Media

8. CryEngine2 based Virtual Worlds
Preview Cry Engine Screenshots
By: Mindark
Source:
http://www.mindark.com/press/image-
gallery/
Blue Mars screenshots
By: Avatar Reality
Source: http://www.avatar-
reality.com/newsroom/gallery.html

9. What is Second Life?
Source: “Virtual World, Real Change”
by John Lester (Pathfinder Linden)
Community and Education Manager
Linden Lab. Presentation in “Games
for Change” conference June 28, 2006.
A world where anyone can create anything.
A world full of real people.
A world of high emotional bandwidth.
A world shared.

10. Vinco Project – initial results
Collaboration: Four basic notions of the current VE research
1. Scholars tend to assume that real-life behavioral norms of group work
apply also in VEs.
How about uniqueness of the new environment?
2. There is a lack of considering VEs as potential platform for distributed
work teams.
Search for potential gains for distributed teams.
3. The scope on groups in current research has a strong focus on micro-
level phenomena, like personal distance.
Why not study also, for instance leadership or trust.
4. There is a lack of covering (meta)theories of group processes.
More emphasis on theoretical integration.
Business: Three reasons to do business research in VE
1. The social and economic patterns of human interactions seem to
translate to VEs [Castronova 2005]
2. Possibility to research many aspects of business that are difficult or
impossible in real life settings
3. Diverse and growing economy

11. Experiences – professional use
Professional use is currently:
Meetings – for example therapeutic sessions for
people suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome
Learning and Training – for example StatoilHydro’s
safety training environment
Collaborative Work – focus on reducing travel costs,
hopefully not just Powerpoint
Operational Applications – Data visualization and
simulation

12. Experiences – professional use, cont.
Companies are concerned / interested about:
Multiple platforms / interoperability
Connections to HRM / KM solutions
Low entry barrier for employees
Confidentiality
Robust communication
Source: “Strangers In A Strange Land:
IBM’s Exploration of Virtual Worlds”
by Craig Becker & Jessica Qin / IBM.
Presentation in “New Ventures
and Leadership in Virtual Worlds”
conference 2.4.2009.

13. Experiences – professional use, cont.
Source: “Overview of Virtual Worlds” by Eilif Trondsen / SRIC-BI.
Presentation in Tekes seminar on Virtual Spaces and Places for Work and Learning 19.1.2009

14. Second Life -> 2.0
Synchronous in-world web browsing
Document sharing
A new enterprise portal
Avatar phone numbers
A new viewer
Mesh imports

15. Experiences from educational uses – different cultures
and role-play

16. Experiences from educational uses – language teaching

17. Experiences from educational uses – historical
reenactment and immersion

18. Experiences from educational uses – stigmergy
Source: “Virtual Worlds in Online Education: Are You Ready to Teach in Second Life?” by Cynthia
Calongne / Colorado Technical University. Presentation in TELECOOP 2007 April 11-13, 2007

19. Experiences from educational uses – interactive builds
Source: “Virtual Worlds in Online Education: Are You Ready to Teach in Second Life?” by Cynthia
Calongne / Colorado Technical University. Presentation in TELECOOP 2007 April 11-13, 2007

20. Experiences from educational uses – active community
Source: “Virtual Worlds in Online Education: Are You Ready to Teach in Second Life?” by Cynthia
Calongne / Colorado Technical University. Presentation in TELECOOP 2007 April 11-13, 2007

21. Experiences from educational uses – different
viewpoints

22. Experiences from educational uses – performing arts

23. Experiences from educational uses – economy
Second Life economy
Source: https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/features/blog/2009/08/12/the-second-life-economy-
second-quarter-2009-in-detail

24. Experiences from educational uses
Educators are currently concerned about:
Not knowing what we don’t know
Bandwidth / firewalls
Costs
Learning Curve
Adults and teens
Source: “Make ‘em a deal!: Making
Explicit Learning Bargains with Students
Learning in Virtual Worlds” by Sarah
“Intellagirl” Robbins, Ball State University.
Presentation in “Oppiminen eri
maailmoissa” seminar 6.7.2009.

25. New trends
@ Work
Prototyping and experimentation – for example
branding in hotel rooms
Team building and socialization – especially in
distributed work
Focus groups
Talent discovery and recruiting – for example TMP
Worldwide, Manpower
@ Education
Virtual Business Exercise

26. Virtual Business Exercise – try your skills as a virtual
entrepreneur and compete with your peers – for free!
Do you have a business idea that you want to test in virtual world?
Or do you just want to know what Second Life is really about?
For more information: http://www.vincoproject.net/virtualbusiness/

27. Final Plans Funeral Home
Final resting place for your avatars that have moved to the next life.
Final Plans Funeral Home offers their clientele a place for remembrance and if needed
the funeral procedures for the avatar that is passing on.

28. More information
Public sources used in this presentation:
http://www.fredcavazza.net/
Qwaq: http://www.qwaq.com/products/qwaq_forums.php
RealXtend: http://www.ludocraft.com/images.html
OpenSim: http://opensimulator.org/wiki/Media
Entropia Universe: http://www.mindark.com/press/image-gallery/
Blue Mars: http://www.avatar-reality.com/newsroom/gallery.html
Second Life: http://secondlife.com/ ja
https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/features/blog/2009/08/12/the-second-life-
economy--second-quarter-2009-in-detail
“Virtual World, Real Change” by John Lester: http://zero.hastypastry.net/pathfinder/
“Strangers In A Strange Land: IBM’s Exploration of Virtual Worlds” by Craig Becker:
http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/virtual-worlds-conference/keynotes.asp
“Overview of Virtual Worlds” by Eilif Trondsen:
http://www.videonet.fi/tekes/20090119/2/
“Virtual Worlds in Online Education: Are You Ready to Teach in Second Life?” by
Cynthia Calongne: http://www.slideworld.org/viewslides.aspx/Conference-Materials-
ppt-115577
“Make ‘em a deal!: Making Explicit Learning Bargains with Students Learning in
Virtual Worlds” by Sarah “Intellagirl” Robbins: http://toisessamaailmassa.fi/ohjelma/
http://www.vmwork.net/vinco/