This document discusses the growth of virtual worlds and their potential business applications. Some key points made include: - By 2011, 80% of internet users will have avatars according to Gartner and virtual workspaces will be as important as the web according to Forrester Research. - $425 million was invested in 15 virtual world companies in the 4th quarter of 2007. - Potential business applications include e-learning, branding, virtual entrepreneurship, and market research. - Improvements in 2008 aimed to address issues like graphics, stability, and finding quality user-generated content. - Virtual worlds provide opportunities for research, experimentation, innovation, and better communication with markets.

3. Virtual Worlds

6. Gartner: “ 80% of the active internet population will have an avatar by 2011”

7. Forrester Research: “ Within the next 5 years Virtual Workspaces will be equally important to business as the web is today”

8. Reach Virtual Worlds: 35.000.000 people 30.000.000 in between 13 and 21of age

11. $425 MILLION INVESTED IN 15 VIRTUAL WORLDS COMPANIES IN 4TH QUARTER 2007

12. WHY?

13. Demand for Immersion Escapsim Demand for sharing on the Social web Fast Prototyping Instant user interaction Technology Push Growing phenomena & userbase A Flat Metaverse (Mash ups)‏ Inflated Expectations Digital Adoption (Generation Y)‏ Serious Gaming

15. Over-hyped, ugly, instable and outdated

16. empty no purpose bad graphics steep learningcurve slow (lag)‏ instable

17. Inflated Expectations

18. SECOND LIFE FILTERS HORRIBLY

19. 100% of Second Life is created by its users 85% is CRAP (just like the web)‏ 5% is 'Quality' 2% is marketing/business related

27. Improvements in 2008: Windlight – HAVOK4 - Mono

28. Improvements in 2008: Companies looking for applications

29. Improvements in 2008: Quality User Generated Content

30. Improvements in 2008: Hardware of the users of VWs

31. APPLICATION

32. Inworld Economy Business Integration Brand Presence/Avartising

33. Content Creation Services Virtual Entrepreneurs Branded Worlds

34. E-Learning & Presentations Crowdmining/Crowdsourcing 3D Applications

35. ' Entertainment ' Market Research Experimenting

36. (Social) Networking Art & Expression Gaming

37. What's in it for us? What do we stand to gain?

38. Research potential Experiment with implementation Show innovation

39. Reach out to new markets Produce Purple Cows Create new products Better communication to existing markets Stay in touch with clients Find work applications Create better quality

40. Virtual Worlds