Second Life Technology and Second Life the Virtual World - the paths diverge.

We at Indusgeeks have been intently tracking developments on open sourcing of the Second Life server code. Because this will be a big step towards the Metaverse that we dream of. The Second Life technology will finally be distinct from the Linden Lab servers. Just as the Internet technology is separate from websites. And just as users can host their websites on any servers.

It has been plain for long that the business of selling virtual ‘land’ (i.e. server space and functions) exclusively cannot last. Linden Lab has long maintained their commitment to open sourcing. They took a baby step with making the source code for the Second Life client side available. Recently they also set up Second Life Gridwhere they address questions about open-sourcing in some detail (amongst other things). CEO Philip Rosedale also outlined plans for a shift in the Linden Lab business strategy in a recent interview with Reuters.

The prospect of hosting the Second Life technology on your own servers creates tremendous business opportunities for developers and users. For instance,3D LAN networks for organizations that can be used for corporate training, business process simulation and as valuable HR tools. Localized grids for different geographies. Low cost, discrete branded virtual worlds for New Media marketing. And many startling and unforeseen possibilities.

More on these opportunities in forthcoming posts.

Cheers and Happy Dusshera!

Second Life and the World of Tomorrow

The Internet is changing and so is the world. The Internet changed the way we viewed the world and each other. The Metaverse will change the way we view the Internet and life. Many call it a corrupting and scary influence. Imagining a future ‘ Matrix’ like world where mankind has retreated within the cocoons of their mind and body. We think otherwise….

All the work that we do on the Internet and on our computers are ‘virtual’ in the correct sense of the word and we have been doing that for ages, so why this uproar about them now ? Because we just “Windowed” the Internet , baby! Just like the Graphic User Interface (created first by Xerox and popularized by Apple) revolutionized the computer experience and put a PC in every home and office desk, Virtual Worlds like Second Life will alter the way we use and associate with the Web.

3 Dimensional Virtual Worlds collectively known as the Metaverse ( a term coined by Neal Stephenson in his cult novel Snowcrash) are already a global phenomenon. Its only now that India is waking up to this global reality. We at Indusgeeks seek to facilitate and expedite this process for companies and individuals looking to participate in creating this World of Tomorrow.

Over the coming days we at Indusgeeks intend to document, propose and reference new developments happening on this exciting new Web of the Tomorrow on Glob and the site, so stay tuned !