In 2008, Rita J. King began collaborating with Linden Lab, the makers of Second Life in telling the story about how brick-and-mortar companies were using Second Life very creatively and successfully. The collaboration has resulted in a series of Case Studies written by Rita J. King. A sampling of those essays are below.
Posts Tagged ‘Linden Lab’
The Linden Lab Second Life Case StudiesTweet
by DIP on Wednesday, 23 June 2010 | 
No Comments | Tags: Case Studies, IBM, Linden Lab, metanomics, NOAA, Nortel, Rita J. King, ROI, second life, virtual worldThe Linden Lab Second Life Case Studies
IBM: From the Fire Pit to the Forbidden CityTweet
by DIP on Tuesday, 22 June 2010 | No Comments | Tags: Craig Becker, ePredator Potato, Ian Hughes, IBM, Jessica Qin, Linden Lab, Sandra Kearney, second life, Virtual UniverseIBM: From the Fire Pit to the Forbidden City
From January – September 2007, Dancing Ink Productions explored, analyzed and chronicled IBM’s entrance into over forty 3-D Immersive virtual worlds such as Second Life, Activeworlds and numerous others interviewing dozens of IBMers around the world about the company’s efforts to explore virtual worlds through its Virtual Universe Community (VUC). The VUC, lead by IBM’s Sandra Kearney with influence and inspiration from IBM’s Metaverse Evangelist Ian Hughes and lead virtual architect, known by her Second Life name, Jessica Qin tell the tale of a Fortune 500 company in transition exploring how work and business are conducted on a global scale when the rules of communication and impact of the Internet are forcing us to explore what and how large organizations can conduct work in a global marketplace.
The investigations resulted in the below report, “From the Fire Pit to the Forbidden City: An Outsider’s Inside Look at the Evolution of IBM’s Virtual Universe Community” and was covered by The New York Times in the September 2007 article, “Exploring the Vast Business Potential of the Metaverse,” by Cynthia Wetzler.
- From the Firepit to the Forbidden City, By Rita J. King
According to Raph Koster, the former lead designer for renowned online games such as Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies and now founder and president of Areae producing an upcoming platform for online games called Metaplace:
It’s a mix of forward-thinking (they have people who do nothing but machinima?) and catch-up (I particularly liked the moment where a few IBM staffers decided on a definition of “virtual universe” in 2006 — fortunately, it matches the one all the rest of us use!).
It’s not very long, and it’s an interesting read.
- Rita J. King’s avatar Eureka Dejavu interviews IBM’ers ePredator Potato (Ian Hughes) and Algernon Spackler (Andrew “Roo” Reynolds) in the virtual world of Second Life
Following is an excerpt from the report. You can download the entire report here.
The first time I ever heard of virtual worlds was from an IBMer named Dr. Clifford Pickover, over lunch one Friday afternoon. When he mentions something of interest, from shamanistic trances to potentially deadly fugu sushi, I take note. But this was really off-the-wall. He spoke of imaginary worlds complete with their own economies, in which people around the world create avatars, communities and three-dimensional models of their ideas so others can inhabit and enhance them. Mystified, I listened as he explained that virtual worlds are not games, but rather immersive environments in which people enhance their connections to each other and to their personal, social and professional missions.
“It’s all very intriguing,” he added, as people around the table raised their eyebrows at the conversation. “When you go into Second Life®, get in touch with Jessica Qin [aka Craig Becker], an old friend of mine.”
I wrote down the name, not realizing that I was about to befriend one of the rock stars of the virtual world. This was the catalyst for a transformation in my perspective on commerce, community and global culture.
It started simply and suddenly, as many relationships in virtual worlds do, after I’d created my avatar, Eureka Dejavu. Jessica, who was covered in tribal tattoos and had robotic feet, teleported to my excessively expensive beach hut, paid for with the currency of the local economy.
DIP Joins 2010 Linden Lab Gold Solution ProvidersTweet
by DIP on Wednesday, 20 January 2010 | No Comments | Tags: Gold Solution Providers, john jainschigg, Linden Lab, virtual worldDIP Joins 2010 Linden Lab Gold Solution Providers
"We look so much younger" From Left to Right, Second Life avatars of John Jainschigg, Kim Smith, Rita J. King and Joshua Fouts.
DIP is pleased to be included in today’s announcement by Linden Lab, the makers of the virtual world Second Life, in their list of the newest approved Gold Solution Providers.
From the release:
The Gold Solution Provider Program identifies Solution Providers who have significant experience and expertise developing successful projects for real world companies, organizations, and institutions, have highly satisfied customers, and successfully engage and support their clients’ work and activities in Second Life. Launched in May 2009, program members come from over a dozen countries and provide a multitude of services and products for companies and organizations using Second Life for work.
Among the companies included in this list in addition to Dancing Ink Produtions are our friends at Worlds2Worlds, run by John Jainschigg and Kim Smith, pictured above in a December 2007 holiday gathering in the virtual world of Second Life.
Thanks to Madhavi and Glenn Linden for their work as liaisons to the group and their effort to create dialogue between companies working in Second Life and Linden Lab.
Congratulations to all!
[Introducing the Newest Gold Solution Providers - January 2010]
Press Release: Manpower Inc. Convenes Avatar Thought Leaders in Second Life to Discuss Virtual Workforce of the FutureTweet
by DIP on Saturday, 29 August 2009 | No Comments | Tags: Don Tapscott, Jeff Joerres, Linden Lab, Manpower, Inc, second life, Tammy JohnsPress Release: Manpower Inc. Convenes Avatar Thought Leaders in Second Life to Discuss Virtual Workforce of the Future
Manpower's live Second Life event is Sept. 1, 2009 at 11am Eastern
Contact:
Marci Pelzer
+1.414.906.7670
marcelline.pelzer@manpower.com
Manpower Inc. Convenes Avatar Thought Leaders in Second Life to Discuss Virtual Workforce of the Future
“Grown Up Digital” author Don Tapscott; Manpower Inc. Chairman and CEO Jeff Joerres; and Linden Lab Executive Director of Enterprise Marketing Amanda Van Nuys among expert panelists
Milwaukee, Wis., USA (1 September 2009) – Manpower Inc., a world leader in the employment services industry, will host a provocative hourlong discussion, “The Evolution of the Virtual Workforce” on Tuesday, September 1 at 11am ET in the virtual world of Second Life.
The event will feature digital work expert Don Tapscott, best-selling author of “Grown-Up Digital” and “Wikinomics.” Tapscott will be joined by Manpower Inc. Chairman and CEO Jeff Joerres; Linden Lab Executive Director of Enterprise Marketing, Amanda Van Nuys; Manpower Senior Vice President for Global Workforce Strategy, Tammy Johns; Manager of e-learning Strategy and Education Solutions for IBM’s Center for Advanced Learning; Chuck Hamilton; and President of Louisiana Digital Workforce non-profit 3D Squared, Spencer Zuzolo. The event will be moderated by CEO and Creative Director of Dancing Ink Productions, Rita J. King.
“Since we established our presence in Second Life two years ago, social networks have completely evolved the labor market,” said Manpower Inc. Chairman and CEO Jeff Joerres. “Now, every social network has some underlying current related to job searching or career development. We are seeing the emergence of a flexible new model for virtual work, led by entrepreneurial, tech-savvy individuals who dictate when, where and how they work. We are focused on what motivates and interests this new breed of workers, giving us the ability to create practical solutions that help our clients attract, engage and retain winning talent.”
Manpower’s Second Life Island is one of many virtual programs Manpower has explored to lead in the changing world of work. Through its subsidiary, Right Management, Manpower recently formalized an exclusive partnership with LinkedIn®, the professional networking website, to work with individuals to develop profiles that showcase their knowledge and expertise and provide them with specialized training, integrating LinkedIn’s functionality and networking capabilities with Right Management’s industry-leading outplacement solution – RightChoice®. And later this year, Manpower will roll out a social networking community that connects individuals to customized career development insights and invites them to proactively navigate and manage their careers.
“The discussion will focus not only on how work is changing as a result of technology, but how the workforce is changing,” said Tammy Johns, Manpower’s Senior Vice President for Global Workforce Strategy. ”By regularly convening thought leaders of this caliber, investing in innovative technology platforms, producing cutting edge thought leadership, we are helping to define work practices, providing our clients and potential candidates invaluable insight about what’s now and next in our industry.”
Don Tapscott’s book, “Grown Up Digital” focuses on a workplace evolution. He has been documenting what he calls the Net Generation since his own children, now adults in their twenties, have grown up. This generation is characterized by creativity, ability to collaborate and comfort with multitasking across digital media and even simultaneous multiple realities. Tapscott believes that their culture will come to dominate the world of work.
“As a new global culture and economy take shape, available technology and human creativity are transforming how the workforce operates,” said Rita J. King, CEO and Creative Director of Dancing Ink Productions. “This conversation, broadcast live to the internet from Second Life, will facilitate dialogue on this critical topic and illuminate best practices for the workplace at a time of metamorphosis.”
Observers from around the world are invited to take part in this event by registering for the live stream at the Dancing Ink Productions website (link: http://dancinginkproductions.com/live-events). Participants will be able to view and participate in the event both from Second Life and from the web. Those participating from the web will be able to communicate in live, real-time chat with event participants in Second Life.
About Dancing Ink Productions
Dancing Ink Productions (DIP) is a full-service creative company that develops business strategy, policy, immersive narrative and mixed media, mixed-reality content including games, conferences and cultural intelligence for a new global culture and economy in the Imagination Age. DIP works across multiple social media platforms and within virtual worlds on cost-cutting solutions to amplify creativity and innovation while bringing together geographically dispersed members of the evolving global workforce, culture and economy. For clients taking their first steps in the digital culture, DIP streamlines the experience and creates strategic plans for participation. For experienced clients, such as IBM, the American University in Cairo, Manpower Inc. and Linden Lab, we collaborate on identifying and sharing a brand’s core narrative through creative mixed-media including data visualization and documentaries. DIP works with governments and organizations to contextualize the evolving culture of the Internet, providing cultural intelligence and strategic foreign policy guidance toward and a fundamental understanding of how culture is shifting in the Internet era.
About Manpower Inc.
Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) is a world leader in the employment services industry; creating and delivering services that enable its clients to win in the changing world of work. With over 60 years’ experience, the $22 billion company offers employers a range of services for the entire employment and business cycle including permanent, temporary and contract recruitment; employee assessment and selection; training; outplacement; outsourcing and consulting. Manpower’s worldwide network of 4,100 offices in 82 countries and territories enables the company to meet the needs of its 400,000 clients per year, including small and medium size enterprises in all industry sectors, as well as the world’s largest multinational corporations. The focus of Manpower’s work is on raising productivity through improved quality, efficiency and cost-reduction across their total workforce, enabling clients to concentrate on their core business activities. Manpower Inc. operates under five brands: Manpower, Manpower Professional, Elan, Jefferson Wells and Right Management. More information on Manpower Inc. is available at www.manpower.com.
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