user groups : educators

[Roger.E.Eller at sealedair.com]

Stephen Barncard wrote:
> I get all tense and impatient during chat, waiting for people to 
> type, and wishing I hadn't joined the chat. One can't really do 
> anything else during a chat session.

True... unless you are using a 3D virtual world 
(http://www.secondlife.com/)as your chat interface. When you are waiting 
for someone to type, you could be preparing to drop an image or video onto 
a 3D object to aid in your text discussion. I like using the optional text 
bubbles that appear above the avatar. It's much easier to follow who is 
speaking than pages of chat text.

> A whiteboard or video image during chat adds a lot of value to a chat 
> session. Otherwise, I don't see the point.

Recently, several large companies like BMW, Dell, and IBM have been 
creating cybershops inside this virtial world. I see this becoming the 
next phase in the evolution of the internet. It would be quite easy to 
chat/whiteboard in this environment. I read an article where IBM employees 
were having a conference in SL, and presentations were being streamed onto 
a virtual big screen while the participants sat at virtual tables. The 
detail was quite realistic. I can't find the pics, but here is a little 
more info...

http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2006/10/24/ibm-eyes-move-into-second-life-v-business/
http://www.conversationblog.com/journal/2006/9/12/ibm-holds-alumni-meeting-on-secondlife.html
http://slbusinesscommunicators.pbwiki.com/Companies+in+Second+Life?raw=1

BTW, SecondLife works on Windows, OS X, and Linux (linux client is beta).

Roger Eller <roger.e.eller at sealedair.com>