The world is about to turn nasty. I don’t mean the world is about to turn nasty on you, personally, but its going to be a much harder world to do business in, as economic disruptions throughout Europe make strikes much more likely.
Greece already is as close to a shutdown country as is possible, France is just about to undertake a 24 hour national strike, Scotland’s public sector staff have been forced to agree to a 0% increase this year, next year and 0.5% the year after, so they are going to strike.
Travel across Europe is going to be near impossible during the strike in France. All aircraft will have to detour round France to fly, they don’t fly over France to get to Rome from London by choice, its kind of the cheapest way there. So prices will go up and travel will become even more restrictive.
I think its fair to say these strikes will not get better soon.
So I’m overjoyed to read about The Virtual World Conference — a global conference held on a virtual world.
I was slightly less overjoyed to see it on Second Life, due to the Lindens’ documented problems, the fact that our last experience of an event went horribly wrong, and the problem of not knowing who I am talking to — I will be Texas Arizona, and trust me its not just a clever name.
But I am going to subscribe and looking forward to it, I pray with my whole heart that the SGI boys and girls have spoken to Linden Labs, have said, “Oi, don’t let us down here boys! This could be the way conferences are held in the future.”
So lets hope in six months from now I can attend BETT or the Museums Association Conference without worrying about BA strikes, French truck drivers or anything else. Where I can log in two minutes before the talk I want to attend, ask questions, give feedback and be in the office as soon as its finished.
Although really, it would have been easier and slightly safer to use OpenSim, but I pray for a good day! And look forward to using my “elevator pitch” I have just learned at the MIT Business School training in a virtual world.
(A version of this article originally appeared on Mark Duffy’s Second Places team blog and is printed here with permission from the author.)
- Avoid disruptions with virtual events - September 7, 2010