Comments on: Will virtual worlds contribute to democratize art? http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/ web business models, information systems, high tech, software economics, SaaS, Software + Service, innovation, new product development, digital strategy, software engineering, remote / mobile / wireless technologies, VoIP, IPTV, blogs, telecommunication business models, computer networks architecture, project management, user-generated content philosophy, entrepreneurial finance, outsourcing, operations - logistics - e-procurement - supply chain management, customer relationship management, telecom billing, clusters of innovation, e-Business, e-Commerce, start-up launch, fast-growing ventures management, globalization + some useless stuff (usually getting the most visits & comments) Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:16:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Can Second Life become a touristic spot? « Tech IT Easy http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-33720 Can Second Life become a touristic spot? « Tech IT Easy Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:30:05 +0000 http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-33720 [...] of art are displayed. I kind of like those initiatives as they are a new way to show art (see my post about art in virtual worlds). I must also mention Kula, the Creative Commons Island, where you can find a lot of free art that [...] […] of art are displayed. I kind of like those initiatives as they are a new way to show art (see my post about art in virtual worlds). I must also mention Kula, the Creative Commons Island, where you can find a lot of free art that […]

]]> By: Fidji SIMO http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-31091 Fidji SIMO Tue, 03 Jul 2007 08:38:00 +0000 http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-31091 For the time being, buzz marketing is all what Second Life is for companies; for eBay, it might be a facilitator to transactions of real objects but can't generate a huge incremental revenue for the time being. Anyways, eBay has made it clear that it could use virtual worlds to facilitate transactions of real objects but not to sell virtuals ones: it was a bold move to forbid in Feb.07 the exchange of virtual goods on eBay.com while this market was generating so much buzz! For the time being, buzz marketing is all what Second Life is for companies; for eBay, it might be a facilitator to transactions of real objects but can’t generate a huge incremental revenue for the time being.
Anyways, eBay has made it clear that it could use virtual worlds to facilitate transactions of real objects but not to sell virtuals ones: it was a bold move to forbid in Feb.07 the exchange of virtual goods on eBay.com while this market was generating so much buzz!

]]> By: Vincent van Wylick http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-31086 Vincent van Wylick Tue, 03 Jul 2007 08:22:52 +0000 http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-31086 True, and I don't see much of a downside for eBay to make a move there. It may or may not be successful, but it will definitely create some marketing. True, and I don’t see much of a downside for eBay to make a move there. It may or may not be successful, but it will definitely create some marketing.

]]> By: Fidji SIMO http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30959 Fidji SIMO Mon, 02 Jul 2007 13:58:58 +0000 http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30959 You are probably right on that point and in the state of things, which is why I don't doubt that eBay will wait a lot to see if commerce in virtual worlds is working before launcing everything. It is always the same dilemma with innovation: if you go for it without any proof of viability you take a risk far too high, if you wait until you have better insights about how sucessful it will be then you are too late and won't get as much payback as the first ones! You are probably right on that point and in the state of things, which is why I don’t doubt that eBay will wait a lot to see if commerce in virtual worlds is working before launcing everything. It is always the same dilemma with innovation: if you go for it without any proof of viability you take a risk far too high, if you wait until you have better insights about how sucessful it will be then you are too late and won’t get as much payback as the first ones!

]]> By: Vincent van Wylick http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30956 Vincent van Wylick Mon, 02 Jul 2007 13:16:06 +0000 http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30956 The question is indeed for what types of products a virtual world is suitable. When you look at Word of Warcraft, the virtual economy in virtual goods is booming. Will non-virtual goods work as well? Unless the internet becomes virtual, as in a one-click solution, I seriously doubt it. I think the disappointing visitor figures for Second Life agree with this statement also. The question is indeed for what types of products a virtual world is suitable. When you look at Word of Warcraft, the virtual economy in virtual goods is booming.

Will non-virtual goods work as well? Unless the internet becomes virtual, as in a one-click solution, I seriously doubt it. I think the disappointing visitor figures for Second Life agree with this statement also.

]]> By: Fidji SIMO http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30613 Fidji SIMO Sat, 30 Jun 2007 11:34:38 +0000 http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30613 Concerning the barriers, you are perfectly right: I spent at least one hour to find all the places mentionned in this article, and I was already registered! But the experience of seing pieces of art in 3D is so much better than on a website that I think that users can probably get pass the hassle of installing the program in the near future, if SL becomes just a little bit quicker. Concerning eBay, there is no better place than virtual worlds for eBay to be in. eBay's strenght is the community: on SL, eBay community can really "meet", with a physical appearance, which can facilitate mutual trust (basis of eBay business). On the other hand, eBay weakness, like all ecommerce websites, is that the products exchanged cannot be seen effectively: with 3D, it would become easier. Besides, it would also be possible to see the product in its original environment (in the virtual house of the seller) which would add to the emotional aspect of every sale on eBay. Even the process of auctions can be finally reproduced like in reality. But it implies to re-think all the purchasing process and to decide wether the virtual worl should be an eBay made, or if eBay should distribute its content on SL, so it won't be soon, that's for sure. Concerning the barriers, you are perfectly right: I spent at least one hour to find all the places mentionned in this article, and I was already registered! But the experience of seing pieces of art in 3D is so much better than on a website that I think that users can probably get pass the hassle of installing the program in the near future, if SL becomes just a little bit quicker.

Concerning eBay, there is no better place than virtual worlds for eBay to be in. eBay’s strenght is the community: on SL, eBay community can really “meet”, with a physical appearance, which can facilitate mutual trust (basis of eBay business). On the other hand, eBay weakness, like all ecommerce websites, is that the products exchanged cannot be seen effectively: with 3D, it would become easier. Besides, it would also be possible to see the product in its original environment (in the virtual house of the seller) which would add to the emotional aspect of every sale on eBay. Even the process of auctions can be finally reproduced like in reality. But it implies to re-think all the purchasing process and to decide wether the virtual worl should be an eBay made, or if eBay should distribute its content on SL, so it won’t be soon, that’s for sure.

]]> By: Vincent van Wylick http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30606 Vincent van Wylick Sat, 30 Jun 2007 10:09:11 +0000 http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30606 Some of my comments take a while to appear on this blog, too long I think, but it was about my general feelings on art. I'm sure it will be here soon. Some of my comments take a while to appear on this blog, too long I think, but it was about my general feelings on art. I’m sure it will be here soon.

]]> By: Vincent van Wylick http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30605 Vincent van Wylick Sat, 30 Jun 2007 10:08:22 +0000 http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30605 (continued from the last comment) To answer your question though, I personally think Second Life presents a little too much of a barrier to entry to users. It is so much easier for a casual visitor to go to a website, than go install a program, and then find a museum. If you think of network effects, it just seems to me you want to make access as easy as possible for that to happen. From an interview with <a href="http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2007/06/01/interview-with-ebays-meg-whitman/" rel="nofollow">Meg Whitman, I do know that eBay is interested in moving to the virtual space, so who knows. (continued from the last comment)
To answer your question though, I personally think Second Life presents a little too much of a barrier to entry to users. It is so much easier for a casual visitor to go to a website, than go install a program, and then find a museum. If you think of network effects, it just seems to me you want to make access as easy as possible for that to happen. From an interview with Meg Whitman, I do know that eBay is interested in moving to the virtual space, so who knows.

]]> By: Vincent van Wylick http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30604 Vincent van Wylick Sat, 30 Jun 2007 10:07:52 +0000 http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30604 Art is a funny thing in that it really is two things. The first is educational—it inspires society, it inspires creativity. The second is a financial instrument. And that is based on scarcity, just like diamonds. So will art ever be democratised? I think it already is, in the educational sense. Most museums are free or cheap, most art is accessible. Will it seize to be a financial instruments? Probably not, some art will always be perceived as more unique (scarce) than others and generate higher (insane) prices. Incidentally another great example, next to second life, which I have been following is <a href="http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Saatchi's free gallery</a>. I tried to get my mother, who is an artist, on there for years. Art is a funny thing in that it really is two things. The first is educational—it inspires society, it inspires creativity. The second is a financial instrument. And that is based on scarcity, just like diamonds.

So will art ever be democratised? I think it already is, in the educational sense. Most museums are free or cheap, most art is accessible. Will it seize to be a financial instruments? Probably not, some art will always be perceived as more unique (scarce) than others and generate higher (insane) prices.

Incidentally another great example, next to second life, which I have been following is Saatchi’s free gallery. I tried to get my mother, who is an artist, on there for years.

]]> By: Fidji SIMO http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30398 Fidji SIMO Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:38:28 +0000 http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30398 I would love to meet you there too... But as you can see with the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen of Dresde, we are definitely no far from being able to import the Louvres in SL... This about democratizing the ways to access art, but what is even more interesting is that SL also democratizes the ways to create art, as some great programmers are making amazing and synamic sculptures... There is a real ecosystem in development, as some sheer art collectors of SL art are appearing, as well as a sense of originality and uniqueness. I would love to meet you there too… But as you can see with the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen of Dresde, we are definitely no far from being able to import the Louvres in SL… This about democratizing the ways to access art, but what is even more interesting is that SL also democratizes the ways to create art, as some great programmers are making amazing and synamic sculptures… There is a real ecosystem in development, as some sheer art collectors of SL art are appearing, as well as a sense of originality and uniqueness.

]]> By: matthiastech http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30394 matthiastech Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:17:46 +0000 http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30394 I am very glad to see initiatives about art on Second Life. The medium (SL) will improve and in some years time we will be able to meet in the (virtual) Louvre hopefully - without leaving our home... Of course the real Louvre will always be much more interesting and fascinating. But for me it could be a chance to meet you (and discuss art) without travelling far. I am very glad to see initiatives about art on Second Life. The medium (SL) will improve and in some years time we will be able to meet in the (virtual) Louvre hopefully - without leaving our home…

Of course the real Louvre will always be much more interesting and fascinating. But for me it could be a chance to meet you (and discuss art) without travelling far.

]]> By: A Fresh Start (up) » Blog Archive » Will virtual worlds contribute to democratize art? http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30040 A Fresh Start (up) » Blog Archive » Will virtual worlds contribute to democratize art? Wed, 27 Jun 2007 20:04:47 +0000 http://techiteasy.org/2007/06/27/will-virtual-worlds-contribute-to-democratize-art/#comment-30040 [...] have just made a review on Tech IT Easy of the different types of artistic expressions (creation or presentation) that can be found on [...] […] have just made a review on Tech IT Easy of the different types of artistic expressions (creation or presentation) that can be found on […]

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