Introduction To Operating In Second Life Macpa
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This document provides an overview of Second Life, including basics about the virtual world, why companies participate, and examples of how companies are using it. It discusses that over 7 million users from various countries and age groups are active in Second Life. Companies are using it for customer education, training, feedback, meetings and more. Participating requires certain computer capabilities and knowledge of how to get an account, obtain an avatar and secure virtual office space. Several professions exist in Second Life, including virtual law and accounting firms. Taxation of virtual economies is an emerging issue being examined.
Introduction To Operating In Second Life Macpa
- 1. Introduction to Operating in Second Life Tom Hood, CPA.CITP July 25, 2007
- 2. Second Life Basics Internet-based virtual universe simulating real life Users create all content Users retain intellectual property rights to content June 2006 – 300,000 accounts June 2007 – 7,100,000 accounts 30% from US Average age of user = 30 with 35% over 35
- 3. Why be there? Next generation of internet (web 2.0 or 3.0) 3-D Web – expression of the new art and science of collaboration – cut costs, innovate faster, and co-create with customers and partners Virtual worlds are one of the five innovations that will change the way we live over the next five years (Irving Wladawsky-Berger, VP for Technology Strategies, IBM) Gartner, Inc. reports (April 24, 2007) by 2011, 80% of internet users will be involved in some type of virtual world Companies should not ignore the growing phenomenon of virtual words as they will have a significant impact on business during the next five years $’s -- April, 2007 – - $7.2M USD exchanged - $6.5M USD Total User Account balances – up $1M over March, 2007
- 4. Why Be There? It’s social Immersive space is very sticky; i.e., people get to experience your brand Companies can create all of the concepts that a brand stands for in a virtual world without the limitations of real world constraints which can then feedback into the real world for change and possibilities. Length time users spend interacting with a brand is much longer than other advertising mediums
- 5. Adidas Dell Toyota Sun Microsystems Penguin American Apparel IBM Starwood Reuters CNET Networks Yankee Stadium Harvard (and 200+ educational institutions) H&R Block MACPA Who’s there
- 6. “ The real value of second life for Cisco is the opportunity for spontaneous customer interaction…. I bump into customers and partners multiple times a day in Second Life. In 11 years at Cisco, walking through the parkng lot in San Jose, I never get people come up to me and say, I’m a Cisco customer, have a second?” Chistian Renaud, Chief Architect - Cisco
- 7. What are they doing? Customer education & training Employee onboarding (IBM orients all of their international employees using Second Life) Customer feedback on products (Starwood hotels built a prototype hotel in SL) Meetings Presentations using powerpoint, streaming audio & video
- 8. What it takes to get in Robust computer graphics capability High speed internet connection Download software User Accounts Customized avatars with appropriate group affiliations Office space (can rent) Office furnishings Knowledge of advertising and marketing opportunities Knowledge of virtual commerce processes Knowledge of devices to enhance office space such as a notecard giver; website link, etc.
- 9. Professions in Second Life Offices of the Second Life Bar Association boasts 165 members Visit them on-line at http:// www.slba.info
- 10. "Instead of trying to practice purely virtual law," says this Business 2.0 article , "Lieberman has taken a hybrid approach, using Second Life as a meet-and-greet area for new clients, who then take their real-world legal needs offline. And since he took in $7,000 in fees in the first two weeks after hanging up his virtual shingle, he's optimistic.” CPASuccess.com
- 11. Virtual Law presentation in SL Presented by the Business Communicators of Second Life group, virtual lawyer, Benjamin Noble, addresses a crowd of avatars in an interactive session on virtual IP.
- 12. First CPA Firm in Second Life KAWG&F’s Involvement September 2006 – branch office opened Focusing on companies providing services in both real life (RL) and Second Life (SL) as well as companies operating solely in SL To date, have worked on small, exploratory projects and have started working with a company putting together an in-world IPO.
- 13. KAWG&F Offices (first CPA firm)
- 14. Berk (danish accounting firm)
- 15. Even H & R Block is in SL!
- 16. CPA Island
- 17. CPA Island
- 18. Scenes from CPA Island
- 19. Real Time video feeds Integration with web – real link to macpa.org Integration with web – real link to blogs… Integration with web – real time RSS feeds
- 20. Scenes from CPA Island
- 21. Scenes from CPA Island
- 29. Five Laws for Participating in Virtual Words Virtual worlds are not games, but neither are they a parallel universe (yet) Behind every avatar is a real person – there are unwritten rules and expectations for behavior and the culture is developing Be relevant and add value; i.e., “don’t sell to me, play with me” Brand protection comes from really understanding the environment before participating This is a long haul – killer app has yet to emerge and market pressures will lead to merging of current virtual worlds to support free transfer of assets and avatars with the use of a single, universal client. Courtesy of Arlene Ciroula & Byron Patrick – KAWG&F
- 30. Taxation Issues US Congress, Joint Economic Committee looking at public policy questions virtual economies raise – taxes, barter exchanges, property and wealth Question is whether the government should reach inside virtual worlds to impose a real-world tax on the land, homes, and other owned digital property Recommendation expected by August, 2007 Per a representative of KPMG (UK): “…expect within 12 to 18 months this is going to stop being a fringe issue and become and issue of concern…”
- 31. Credits This powerpoint was developed in collaboration with Arlene Ciroula & Byron Patrick of KAWG&F SL: Chili Carson & Bean Wollongong
- 32. For more information… Join the SLACPA (in world) Second Life Association of CPAs Visit CPA Island Contact Rocky Maddaloni (in world)