Vivaty: A Smart Idea

The Media Machines announcement of rebranding itself as Vivaty, a consumer services vendor, is a very smart move.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/31/dreaming-of-a-3-d-web/?ref=technology

The notion that the 3D Web could be created in a single vendor's big iron server farm has always been flawed. Web emergence is organic in conception and nature. By providing consumer services for unified communications through a Facebook widget, Vivaty is pioneering the real 3D web where the topology is determined by the choices of real people as they select their partners on the network.

By using the X3D standard, Parisi and company are making good on the promises of a decade ago that the 3D web would not be captured by a single company or vendor. The best deal for artists is the ability to sell their content into multiple markets at different scales. This is the best lifecycle approach possible for the long term as well as the more lucrative free market where prices will adjust to demand.

The work on the X3D Network Sensor takes center stage now. The ability to build portals into these worlds so that hookups are also self-selected and avatars can move among the worlds given the H-Anim standard means that language-based interoperability will be a reality sooner rather than later.

This has legs.

So Will That Be Lindens or Real Money?

From the House hearing on virtual worlds:

"Virtual worlds and spaces are quickly becoming powerful tools with the potential to transform enterprise and government processes..." IBM Vice President Colin Parris told the panel.

Maybe, but IBM won't be getting the contracts. They've been suspended from getting Federal contracts.

http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2008/03/ibm-suspended-f.html

After all the hoopla IBM generated in the standards world over OOXML and Microsoft 'ethics', this is distinctly ironic. After the big financial push from IBM last year to create interoperability standards that seduced Linden Labs only to see SL pushed aside in favor of the Beltway-originated, CIA financed Forterra, one would think it is time for Congress to consider standards in virtual worlds instead of insider deals.

http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2008/03/interview-forte.html

If the web had been created the way these parties have set out to do it, Microsoft and Unisys would own it.

Maybe they can get Obama Girl to dance on Colin's desk.