Virtual World Market: 3-D Bling

Posted by Dr. James Canton on April 3, 2007 under Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

The recent Virtual Worlds conference in NY shows the excitement of this emerging new market, where virtual world’s lifestyles are increasing. Already dozens of brands are in virtual worlds and over 60 virtual worlds exist. Are we witnessing the next transformation of the web? I say yes. For example, Second Life may reach the mega-city population level by 2010, outpacing real world cities in population numbers.

Most interesting to this futurist is the virtual economics–the buying and selling of virtual products. The emergence of a virtual economy in these worlds may come to rival real-world economies someday, I forecast. Coke or Pepsi sold over 50,000 cans of virtual soda. The buying and selling of virtual real estate is common. Even a Second Life virtual terrorist group attacked a shoe mall in a virtual world.

This is when real telepresense–sensory collaboration–feel me (smell me) technology becomes available. Then look out for 3-D bling–the cash will flow and advertisers will follow. It is not hard to see the beginning of this. Force-feedback is in games. Cheap virtual reality glasses are here. Web 2.0 hype has arrived. My forecast is that VR worlds will be here faster then anyone can imagine–mobile, seductive, and commercial.