Freedom for digital doppelgangers!

This week the BBC reports a new jv between IBM and Linden Labs to create avatars freed from the constraints of any one, particular world.  Firstly the project aims to open up individual worlds so that information can be taken from one world to another; there onwards, work will commence on creating universal characters that can transcend boundaries, allowing users to take their well-honed (and buffed) mini-digi-me’s into other contexts.  But how will the in-world communities react to this news?  Do the principles and codes of conduct of one world translate to another?  And, more importantly, how will this impact on the burgeoning economies of these worlds – will virtual currency be portable between worlds too?  Surely it’s doubtful that the world creators would want to see revenue leaving their domain?  It will be interesting to see how far Linden Lab take the sentiment of universality when it comes to money… 

Read more here.  Photo credit: Dean Terry

Posted by: Ruth at lunchtime on Friday, 12th October 2007