IBM Finding Business Uses for Virtual World

jbrodkin writes "IBM has an unconventional take on virtual worlds for business use. Rather than strictly adhering to the laws of physics, IBM is letting its employees hold virtual meetings up in the air and under water. Employees are also being given wacky chores, such as kicking a giant boulder 1,400 kilometers. The virtual world, known as the Metaverse, has been in development for two years. Michael Ackerbauer of IBM says, 'I'd say more people are still finding it a novelty than a business tool. But ... if you build enough tools that they can use, they will come.'" IBM seems to be following a trend of involvement in virtual worlds, which we have previously discussed.

"Dude! You got fired for WHAT!?"

[starglider29a]

"I kicked a boulder 1400 meters... and my boss told me to get serious, so I kicked him 1666 meters."

Re:Whacky chores?

[the_humeister]

No, it'll be held in the virtual world and the shareholders will be kicking rocks around.

Re:snow crash

[supervillainsf]

It would be pretty damn funny to see somebody whip out a sword and hack up some IBM senior management avatars

Oblig

[Eevee1]

World of IBMcraft. Every year, all employees get an expansion pack that lets them become a female elf with bigger boobs.

Re:snow crash

[Follier]

"It would be pretty damn funny to see somebody whip out a sword and hack up some IBM senior management avatars"

I doubt that would be the case, as management has a lot more free time to PL and grind teh phat lewts.

Like the Cathy Calendar of Insanity, or the dreaded Cubicle of Holding. Poor bastards wouldn't have a chance.

The Office said it best about Second LIfe

[PrescriptionWarning]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CcxKHjdTQKs [youtube.com]

Dwight: "Second life doesn't have winners or losers."

Jim: "Oh, it has losers."

Patent infringement

[SamP2]

Employees are also being given wacky chores, such as kicking a giant boulder 1,400 kilometers

In recent developments, Sisyphus's [wikipedia.org] lawyers have announced that their client will sue IBM for business method patent [wikipedia.org] infringement.