WoW vs. Second Life

Sun Microsystems: Flexible work has taken off. 46% of employees work outside of the office regularly. How do we keep people connected?

When and why do people ever come to the office? If only 10% of employees show up on a given day, what would happen?

What can go wrong? Lack of a "center" to the company? Employees not noticed, collaboration falls by the wayside.

Identity needs to be the basis, not location.

Design concept: less killing, more business -- hold a confidential meeting, wander down the hall and knock on someone's door, greet visitors.

Creates sense of contact, person, and place. Interaction and self-expression.

Structure for confidentiality, proprietary content, archives.

Avatar as a shadow-person : pings you when "live" presence is required. "Attends" meetings and conversations, saving them for your future listening.

MPK20 on youtube

WoW

Muti-generational, multi-gender, crosses over boundaries.

Builds skill in hand-eye coordination, text comprehension, etc.

Second life is a solution in search of a problem? Also, teen second life is a poor replacement for adult second life.

Why are you using them?

One of the great things about WoW is the leveling. When you "grind" in real life, there are no rewards for completion.