The Observation Deck

For the last year plus a few months, I've been deeply involved in Second Life. This is a virtual world of 3D, where business, recreation, and a thriving economy exists. Virtually any business, career, product or concept exists and is part of the economic flow within SL.

Many major publications have covered Second Life, from many major magazines, newspapers and television shows. The best way to become aware of what it is, and how much impact it has, is to visit the site: http://www.secondlife.com/

I would suggest reading the links to the business articles or if you prefer, the articles regarding the social aspects also, written by again, respected publications.

Here's a partial list of what you'll see for links on that page:

Boston Globe
Financial Times
Baltimore Sun
Miami Herald
Chicago Tribune
Women's Wear Daily
Business 2.0
CNN.com
Business Wire
Gartner Says 80% of Internet Users Will Ha...
Business Week
ConnPost.com
LA Times
Massive Flooding Drowns Online World
Guardian Unlimited
USA Today
Washington Post
Mercury News
MSNBC.com
AP ASAP
IBM Developer Works
Sidney Morning Herald
Get a Second Life, why don't you?
CNN Money
Coldwell Banker's Second Life
Information Week
- Second Life to Transform Internet, Browser...


I am involved in Second Life quite deeply, and if after you read the links on the left side of the index page, links to articles by CNN, Money, Business Week etc, and on the right side, information about the economics, and you would like to explore the possibility of bringing your business presence into Second Life for one or more of the many reasons, ie: added exposure, product identification, national or global networking and more, all crossing the boundries of virtual world and "real world", contact me. The same goes for just exploring the future of the internet where the future is now. I can help you get situated and introduce you to the movers and shakers in SL.

In one business publication,"the second best career in 2007 is to be an attorney in Second Life". G.M., Cisco, Volkswagon, Macintosh, IBM, all have a strong presence in SL, among many others.

Once you explore this vast and rapidly expanding world and market, you too will ask yourself the question, "isn't a virtual world just another aspect of reality?"

Mark Allan Crnolatas
P.S. At least you might want to come in and see and hear some live bands, shop some designer malls and do some skydiving too.

Ok, once you get there, where do you go to see all the great stuff that's there?

The navigation is not intuitive.

it sounds like opium

Like going to a new city but without any AAA trip info, it's rather hit and miss.
If you've downloaded the client, then go to the bottom, hit the Search button, and up comes a window, choose ALL from the tabs up top. In the empty slot, type whatever you'd like to see. Just for example: clothes. You'll see hundreds of locations pop in. Choose one and in the advertising for that particular place, under it will be a button "teleport". Hit that and you'll arrive there. Another way is to choose "Popular places", from the top tabs, and you'll find the most popular places at that moment. That's how many get around at first, until you get to talking with people, asking for recommendations.

The best way, the way I was helped, and probably half the inhabitants, is to either be on the phone with someone who knows their way around, or have an instant messenger going too. I don't mind phone helping someone, since my computer isn't powerful enough to run MSN, AOL, ICQ or others at the same time.

Mark Allan Crnolatas