Google Unplugs Lively as Hype Fades Over Virtual Worlds

For the past several weeks in class we have been having the discussion about where virtual worlds stand in our industry and whether they will move forward in success or failure. Reading the technology section in the New York Times today, there was an article, by Ashlee Vanice, about how Google plans to put the kibosh on its Lively application at the end of the year. The company claims that that they want to prioritize themselves and focus on projects which are most important (I am assuming that means things such as G1). However, the article states that, in the past, Google has been more than willing to leave the beta tag on its debut applications for months and months while Lively has only been out since July and already found itself facing the end of its run. Will we see this application in the future, or is done for good?

In other virtual reality news, the article also discussed dying enthusiasm with Second Life. Reactions to the things that go on in Second Life are similar to those found in class. Vanice writes that the things appealing in Second Life to it's hardcore enthusiasts are generally boring or creepy for most others. Stephanie is definitely not alone! Some say that there is not that much to do in Second Life, and while it was thought to be the thing that shook up online business, it is falling quite short for some.

We speak about all the ways in which these online worlds can add value and innovation to the meetings and events industry, and with the current economic crisis providing businesses with a lack of capital, the tools that these applications possess seem like the perfect fix! Perhaps these virtual worlds are only appropriate for specific industries, such as ours. Are developers of these programs marketing their products to too broad a market? The article never really mentioned the impact, if any, of virtual worlds on the hospitality industry. Will the creepsters win and see their virtual worlds gain a second wind in the eyes of technology consumers, or will the creeped out triumph, making this new and somewhat odd technology a thing of the past?