I've talked in the past about the use open source in both standards and the engines for virtual worlds and the possible new business models that can be created.
So IMHO the move towards open standards by SL & IBM is smart.
However ... a brain computer interface for SL is even smarter.
Ah, yes, future PvP combat dependent upon the power of thought.
Well I always thought "Virtual Earth" had a slightly sinister "Matrix" like sound to it. However a bit more digging and it seems that "Microsoft" does in fact want to turn us all into batteries!
Well, to be precise they state "Method and apparatus for transmitting power and data using the human body" - still it's scary, scary, scary.
I hope my gelatinous gunk filled capsule comes with a free games console!
P.S. Can I also be fabulously rich, smart and good looking this time?
Please Bill, please ...
... necessarily real.
So I've picked up from O'Reilly radar a conference on Virtual Goods.
For anyone who has any doubts about how big a market this is, I'll just pick one trivial example - Gold farming.