KnowledgeForward

One of the characteristics of a good, scripted TV show is that it creates its own universe with laws for how people behave and interesting characters. This characteristic applies whether it’s Dallas or Twin Peaks. Another characteristic of a good TV show is the water cooler talk it inspires - the community of like-minded people that can now get in touch with each other and have something to talk about.

It would therefore seem they have synergy with virtual worlds, which thrive on having a unique vibe and a community of like-minded people who want to socialize. In fact, this is exactly what happened with Firefly, a short-lived Fox TV show according to the article “Firefly Reborn as Online Universe” in Wired.

I would be surprised if the upward trend in users of virtual worlds does not increase dramatically over the next 3-7 years. Their capabilities are just being tested and the saturation point is nowhere in sight. As this happens, many facets of our society will get pulled in as they did for the internet. The media giants, like with Firefly, will see the value in maintaining branded virtual experiences as extensions or replacements for their content. It’s been widely reported that enterprises are beginning to explore how to use virtual worlds for collaboration, simulation, e-learning, and recruiting as well. It is a fascinating time to be watching the evolution of this industry.