Keynote address

Is it possible for 3D Virtual Worlds to be as ubiquitous and relevant as the 2D Internet? Will a broad consumer audience find as much social connection and value in a 3D world as it does in the 2D experiences of Twitter and Facebook? Will conducting business in virtual meeting rooms or attending virtual conferences be as natural and valuable as in real life? Will consuming virtual goods be as commonplace as commerce on Amazon or Ebay? Will standards emerge that enable scalable and interoperable experiences between Virtual Worlds? Virtual Worlds? At Linden Lab, we certainly think that all this, and more, will happen. In this talk, I´ll describe what we´re doing to make the vision a reality. From our humble startup beginnings a decade ago, through a hype-fueled expansion, Second Life continues to grow. We´re now undergoing a substantial transformation, renovating our platform and experience as we grow beyond our early adopter roots. I´ll take you behind the scenes and describe what we´re up to, the technology that we´re banking on, and hopefully inspire you with some of the incredible experiences our residents have created.