See Helix Virtual Worlds for more Blogging

Please see my new blog at http://www.helixvirtualworlds.com/blogs

We would also like to invite you to join our Virtual World community powered by our partner Igloo.

http://www.helixvirtualworlds.com/join

Twitter

Kaline Hax https://twitter.com/kalinehax

Helix Virtual Worlds http://twitter.com/HelixVW

Case Study: Intel's Embedded Conference in Second Life

IBM has been the only company to post a case study on meeting savings on  in Second Life.  This case study shows shifting a real life conference to a virtual world conference saved Intel 265,000 of their 300,000 budget (savings from air travel is not included in this amount).  

By using a little creativity and forward thinking companies do not have slash existing face to face conferences in these economic hard times.  Using Second Life vs. an internal program, non employees are able to attend.  Companies can meet their customers face to face or avatar to avatar.

Case Study

Obama Administrator to appear in Second Life

Kevin Werbach, served on the FCC segment of the Obama transition team, remains as an Administrator as a part-time advisor on broadband issues.

Wagner James Au reports that Werbach, who is a veteran the Virtual World Second Life, will make an appearance this week:

Webach wil be in-world this Wednesday at 1PM PDT on the Metanomics show:  "The Age of Obama: Virtual Worlds,Open Government, and Policy"

Announcing Helix Innovation Hive Event

You are invite you to learn about the NEW Helix Innovation Hive, an initiative that will help change the way you and your organization grow – not just survive – in the current economic environment, and beyond.

On June 25, from 7:30am to 10:00am, we are launching the Helix Innovation Hive and unveiling our first report, Virtual Worlds: A Universe of Opportunity.  It will be held at the Toronto Cricket Club, with a complimentary continental breakfast:

1. Introduction: Helix Innovation Hive
In these disruptive times, we live in a world of great change and uncertainty. There are two major themes of particular concern today:

                                                     a. Relentless Change in Unforgiving Times

                                                     Many organizations are striving to reinvent themselves in our volatile economic climate. How                                                            does your organization stay relevant to customers, while protecting its competitive edge, and                                                              spending more efficiently on innovation?

b. Uncertain Career Assurance and Growth
Have you had to rethink your professional growth trajectory in light of the economic downturn?  Helix’s Innovation Hive can help you develop and sustain your personal innovation leadership, while strengthening your network of professional contacts.

Helix continually has these conversations with our clients, partners and colleagues. We are responding to these challenges by starting a NEW social networking and research community to support innovation and networking at a grass roots level, with both face-to-face experiences and online communities.

2. Launch: Report on Virtual Worlds
Helix is launching its NEW report on Virtual Worlds, titled ‘Virtual Worlds – A Universe of Opportunity’ at the event. The report, based on a two-year comprehensive research program, is designed to offer insights into the universe of Virtual Worlds. The complete 152-page report is priced at $2,999. You will hear from the authors of this report and also see a demonstration of Helix’s new Virtual World Conference Center. The Conference Center was officially launched in Ottawa with the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA) on May 19 at the CATA Innovation Gala.

Reserve today to hold your seat at this exclusive event. We have limited seating for 48 people. The deadline for reservations is June 10.

To RSVP
Contact Alex Watson at:
Phone: 647-477-6254
Email: alex@helixcommerce.com

Event Details
Date: June 25, 2009
Time: 7:30am to 10:00am
Location: Founders Room, Toronto Cricket Club
Address: 141 Wilson Ave., Toronto, Ontario;
Cost: None, complimentary continental breakfast will be served

The Helix team is looking forward to seeing you at our inaugural launch event of our NEW Helix Innovation Center and Virtual World offerings.

Help Support Local Canadian Television Stations

Join us with CATA (Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance) on Friday May 22nd noon - 1:00 PM EDT to help support CTV and our local TV stations.

SLURL:http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bountiful/195/189/26

You can also Search Helix in Second Life and teleport to the Innovation Center

Helix and CATA announce their Canadian Innovation Conference Center in Second Life

Tonight at the CATA (Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance) Innovation Gala, Helix and CATA announced their Canadian Innovation Conference Center in Second Life.  Check out the conference center and join the group to receive the latest news and events.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bountiful/195/189/26   

Helix offers full Virtual World (VW) Services, designs and develops VW experiences for real world companies.  Our services include

• Virtual World Strategy and Benefits
  
• Customized Builds (Strategy to Run)
  
• Conferencing Services (Build or Rent)
  
• Customized Avatar Creations
  
• Customized Island Experiences
  
• Customized Market Research
  
• Marketing and Brand Campaigns
  
• Product & Marketing Solutions
  
• Training & Development
• Recruiting Experiences

For more information please contact us  helixvirtualworlds@helixcommerce.com

www.helixcommerce.com

www.helixvirtualworlds.com

CTV and CATA Call for Canadian Residents of Second Life to Protest at Parliament to Save Our Local TV Stations

CATA Supports Local Television; calls for “Virtual Protest”!

Ottawa, May 18, 2009 -- The Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA) has joined the call of Ottawa TV station CTV, to support local TV by calling for a review of how cable and satellite companies misuse content from TV stations.

“Basically, our local TV stations create the content, and the cable and satellite companies take it for nothing and get paid to do so,” said John Reid, CATA President.  “This is a disaster for local High Tech companies, which often rely on their TV station for that all-important first piece of profile.  Coverage is hugely important in establishing a reputation and product awareness.  If the local TV companies falter, we will be facing another blow against High Tech -- which is already weak because of the economic climate.  This system has to be fixed.”

CATA is calling on local High Tech companies to join the CTV petition, and to gather for a “virtual protest meeting” in Second Life.  Second Life is a virtual 3D world where people can socialize, gather, chat and explore.  CATA’s Second Life community is being championed by Helix Commerce International Inc.

 

In Second Life you can join us in front of the Parliament building at the newly opened, Helix CATA Canadian Innovation Center on Friday, May 22^nd from12 Noon – 1:00 PM

SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bountiful/195/189/26   Be sure to join the CTV group to receive updates and show your support.

In the meantime, CATA is urging its High Tech members to join CTV Ottawa’s Open House at 1500 Merivale Road in Ottawa on May 23, 2009 between 10am and 1pm. This is the community’s opportunity to tour the facilities and meet the professionals who deliver local television, both in front of the cameras and behind the scenes. 

“If you want to continue to have access to a powerful media platform, sign the online petition,” said Mr. Reid.  He asked his members to visit www.savelocal.ctv.ca/ottawa to help keep local TV news and programming available in the community. 

Memorial University is Recognized for Excellence in Innovation for Using Second Life

Memorial University just won an award recognizing their innovative use of Second Life for teaching and learning.

Canadian Network for Innovation in Education (CNIE) recognized Memorial University for the integration of virtual world technology in a course.  The award was received at the CNIE 2009 awards banquet on Tuesday May 12th.

The Weather Island

Its taken me a long time to get around to checking out the skiing on the Weather channel.  What a scream.  I am however a much better skier in RL than I am in SL.  This is going to take a lot of practice.   I think maybe I should stick to the ski lodge.

RMB City in Second Life

     I spent time today on the RMB City Island in Second Life.  Grand opening was on January 10th 2009.   

RMB City is Second Life art community. This project is an experiment exploring the creative relationship between real and virtual space, and is a reflection of China's urban and cultural explosion. Grand Opening was January 10, 2009.

RMB City is developed by Cao Fei (SL: China Tracy) & Vitamin Creative Space. Facilitator: Uli Sigg (SL: UliSigg Cisse). Presenter: Serpentine Gallery.

After living in both China and Indonesia, I love seeing the ox pulling the broken truck cab.

Only in Second Life can you run a marathon in high heels.  

Education in Second Life

I have toured around to many universities in Second Life, the list is long.  Business, engineering, library, science, IT,  legal, and distance learning departments are just a few who are taking advantage of the Second Life platform.  The islands are being used for recruiting, training, teaching, lecturing, testing, and I have even talked in on meetings between professor and student in a virtual office of a professor, complete with credentials and family photos framed on the office wall.  One school of business even offers retail space for students to create an SL business using information they have learned in their courses.

Loyalist College in Ontario Canada is reporting that their testing scores have increased by 28% because of training and testing they are doing in SL for a border crossing patrol program they have.

Today an article was posted on the SL Blog by George Linden about yet another University entering Second Life.  The National Autonomous University of Mexico is the largest university in Latin America, with the Engineering School alone having 11 K students.  UNAM is currently building their campus in SL for Engineering School Distance Education Programs and also connecting with companies in the Real World to help take engineering design and training to the next level.

The island opens May 1st  SLURL (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ingenieria%20UNAM/212/128/23) 

Upcoming Changes for Adult Content in Second Life

Second Life has always been an open environment where residents can explore and participate in a wide variety of activities.  This has created a rather large amount of content inworld that makes Second Life an amazing creative virtual world.  Along with this creativity has come a vast amount of "adult" and "fetish" content and activities.

Over the next few months, Linden Labs will be implementing some changes around Adult content to give all residents more control of how they manage their content.  They plan to create an environment where everyone can have control over their own personal preferences.

Their goal is to improve Second Life for everyone.

During the next few weeks Linden Labs will be seeing input from many segments of the SL community.  It will be interesting to see what is defined as "Adult".  It will also be interesting to see how they will verify age, will it only be according to credit card verification?  Many children have access to their parents card numbers.

The Helix Island and several other private islands are listed as PG sims.

Dr. Cindy Gordon - CIO Peer Forum

April 24th, Dr Cindy Gordon aka Sydni Lane in Second Life, will be speaking at the CIO Peer Forum in Toronto.  Her speech will be broadcast live in Second Life at the Helix Virtual Worlds Innovation Center http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bountiful/204/114/26

Nokia Island

I spent time today with Digistar Brouwer, manager of the Nokia Island.  Nokia has created some fun aps for inworld cell phones.  For several months I have been using a Nokia N95 phone that has a poofer that sends out blah blah blah, busy, and BRB.  It's a fun way to let other avatars in Second Life know that your avatar is busy.  The latest Nokia phone has a Twitter ap,  you can now send out your tweets while you are in Second Life.  

For some time now companies like Vodafone and Nokia have been using SL to have their communities send SMS messages to Real Live celll phones from SL.  I am anxiously awaiting the next virtual cell phone application that Nokia creates.

The N96 smart phone supports Second Life along with smart phones from Sony, Samsung, Ericcsson, Motorola and LG.  Second Life can now be run on more than 70 3G enabled handsets.

Science and Innovation in Virtual Worlds

One of my favorite islands in Second Life is the Tech Museum of Innovation, based in San Jose, CA.  After visiting the island several times in SL, I decided to use it as an example of innovation in my many virtual world presentations.  While teaching a workshop at KM World in San Jose last September, I was able to visit the Tech Museum in Real Life.  I was there a couple of days before the Leonardo exhibit was to open.  I was very impressed with the Second Life (Virtual Worlds) display that they have created.  I love the movement activity where you can stand, make motions and watch your avatar make the same motions.  The Millennials are the first generation to grow in virtual worlds, this exhibit is a great hands on environment for children of all ages to learn.

Helix Virtual Worlds Canadian Second Life Developer

Helix Virtual Worlds is a division of Helix Commerce.  We specialize in developing and building island experiences in Second Life, we are a full service consultancy with several web 2.0 experts on board.  We have a full team of designers and developers in Second Life to build, script and create your virtual world experience.

We have just finished our innovation center for hosting conference and will be opening it soon to the public.  You can search in Second Life under Helix or Innovation.

Helix is located in Toronto, Ontario Canada

Kaline Hax - Second Life Avatar

Kathryn Gibson

647 477 6254

April Fools Announcement - Second Life Behind Company Firewalls in Alpha Testing

April 1, 2009 Linden Labs announced  that their stand-alone version of Second Life solutions is available in alpha phase.  IBM, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), New Media Consortium (NMC), Intel, and Northrop Gramman are all currently using this install.

This is a server solution that is completely independent of the main Second Life environment.

It's now in alpha phase with plans for a limited closed beta phase in the summer and general availability later this year. 

This is good news for those companies who like the 3D advantages of a virtual world experience but have concerns about the content that abides on Second Life.  Training sessions, client interactions, knowledge transfer and conferences can all be conducted behind a company firewall.

Looking forward to seeing more as the in the box, corporate solution for behind company firewalls becomes available. 

Hopefully this isn't a bad April fools joke.   

Parliament Building

Several months ago we created the parliament building.  Today we placed the building on the lower part of the Helix Commerce Island.  The parliament building will be an Ottawa landmark for our Innovation as a Nation Island.  Our building can be seen on Bountiful, Helix's Innovation Island.

CN Tower in Second Life

We have created the CN tower in Second Life.  This is the first Canadian landmark that we are building.  The Real Life Canadian Icon is located on Front Street in Toronto, Ontario and had maintained the title as the tallest free standing structure for 31 years.  The tower is still the largest building in the Americas.

You can visit the CN tower on the Helix Commerce Island named Bountiful.