Rita J. King in Manpower's Virtual Workspace

Work in Second Life – The Evolution of the Virtual Workplace

Linden Lab, the company that owns Second Life, just posted this video, “The Evolution of the Virtual Workplace.” I collaborated on this video with Linden Lab and ILL Clan Animation Studios.

My company, Dancing Ink Productions, has been collaborating with Manpower Inc. on issues related to virtual work since 2007. DIP produced the event depicted in this video. The exploration of Second Life is one aspect of Manpower’s work in this area. I’ve been consistently impressed with the senior leadership at Manpower’s adaptive and visionary approach to virtual work.

I also collaborate with Linden Lab on advancing awareness of what can be accomplished in Second Life for business enterprise groups. For the past year I’ve been working on case studies to document projects like Northrop Grumman’s Cutlass Robot, which disarms real-world bombs, the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration‘s simulated ocean from equator to poles, and the Children’s Memorial Hospital Chicago, which conducts full scale evacuations in a mirror build with health care practitioners training in a variety of lifesaving ways. The number of sophisticated, creative projects in Second Life with real world benefit is staggering.

I couldn’t have imagined in November 2006 when I first went into Second Life to track down IBM scientists and researchers around the world that I’d still be working in this platform and still amazed in 2010. As Innovator-in-Residence at the Analytics Virtual Center, directing the Smarter Work project, I am committed to virtual work for the benefit of a new global culture and economy in the Imagination Age. Virtual work is not about stepping away from the physical world. It’s about including the people with the skills necessary to create new opportunities, systems and careers.

And it works.

Manpower's First Year in Second Life

As part of a major event celebrating Manpower’s first year in Second Life, Dancing Ink Productions produced the above report, “Power of Collaboration: Manpower’s First Year in Second Life.” The report explores the changing nature of work and employment in light of the continued growth of virtual worlds.

“Providing a safe place for individuals, whether they learn to fly, learn to teleport to other islands, or create avatars that don’t scream ‘newbie;’ is the next step in preparing individuals for such emerging markets – as virtual worlds,” Darrow said. “We help individuals prepare for and navigate the changing world of work; and we are working to attract a new set of candidates. We know this medium attracts tech savvy individuals and people with impressive skills in the visual arts.”

A free copy of the report is downloadable in pdf format here.

Manpower's First Year in Second Life

Manpower’s First Year in Second Life

Dancing Ink Productions is proud to present a new video “Manpower’s First Year in Second Life,” a new machinima about the first year anniversary event of Manpower in the virtual world of Second Life featuring Second Life founder and chairman, Philip Rosedale, Read the rest of this entry »

Manpower Island in Second Life

On July 14, 2008 DIP  in collaboration with Manpower Inc., released a new report, “Power of Collaboration: Manpower’s First Anniversary in Second Life,” as part of a major event in Second Life featuring discussion with Manpower CEO Jeff Joerres; Second Life Founder and Chairman, Philip Rosedale; Manpower Senior Vice President for Global Workforce Strategy, Tammy Johns;  Heron Sanctuary Founder, Alice Krueger (SL’s Gentle Heron); and Harvard Business School Professor Lynda Applegate among others.  The event included an immersive, experiential virtual work space created by SL’s Toran Cult in colloboration with Kathee Gibbs and Gentle Heron of SL’s Heron Sanctuary.

You can download a PDF of the report here.  Video of the event, edited by Draxtor Despres, can be viewed at DIP’s YouTube page.