The Orange Chair

The nytimes.com blog Bits has an article on the challenges being faced with virtual worlds. Reading it, you might conclude that virtual worlds were all hype and that they are going to fade away. Perhaps this is true. But consider this:

• of all the emerging technology to come forward in the last few years (e.g, blogs, wikis, RIA), virtual worlds are easily the most challenging in terms of adoption both by companies and users
• virtual worlds are likely to stay longer in trough of disillusionment (as Gartner wisely puts it) before moving up and becoming a productivity tool because of the challenges it provides. But I believe it will. Why?
• because virtual worlds is about much more than Second Life. Second Life is a leader in many ways, but lots of other virtual worlds (e.g. Club Penguin, WebKinz) already have been very successful. These organizations have figured out how to be successful using virtual worlds, and others will too.
• virtual worlds need more “horsepower”, but this “horsepower” (in the form of faster networks, better user interfaces, and of course faster servers), will make some of the challenges associated with virtual worlds recede and allow even more companies to take advantage of virtual worlds.

When you do read the post - Google Unplugs Lively as Hype Fades Over Virtual Worlds - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com - you will do yourself a service if you read the comments, too. They provide a bigger perspective, which, of course, is one of the great things about social media.