media landscaping

Micosoft Offers Billboards in Virtual World

Microsoft ratchets up the pressure on Google Earth by launching Virtual Earth, a 3D add on to their mapping application. 

The MIT Ad Lab points out that they have also integrated virtual billboards to the landscape that look like what you would see in Second Life. 

The Billboards are clickable just like a standard web display ad and are served through Massive Technology, a company they bought in May.

Harvard Law moves to Second Life

Harvard Law professor, Charles Nesson, really gets new media.  So much so that he has created a course that will live in Second Life and will require all students to make their arguments in the blogosphere, not just in a mock courtroom.

Of course, he created a video explaining the course, which was quickly posted in You Tube by an ivy league blogger who labels him as "insane".  This might not be far off, as Nesson admitted that he smokes pot before he teaches class.  His wikipedia page says he taught a class in Jamaica this summer.  Nice.

The course desription reads like this:

The subject matter of the course is the creation and delivery of persuasive argument in the new integrated media space constituted by the Internet and other new technologies. Our premise is that “First World” and corporate domination of entertainment media, laws, and news can be balanced by the voices of individuals, groups and universities who use new media intelligently. We challenge students to attempt this themselves by choosing an issue of concern to them and using the media we study to make their case for change in the court of public opinion.

Nesson could have easily just taught this in the classroom, but instead he will force himself and the students to make their arguments within the media they are debating.  The Blogosphere. 

The best part is that the course is open to anyone who drops by.  The Harvard Crimson says:

Although at-large participants earn no accreditation for the course, [everyone in Second Life] is invited to view lecture tapes and discuss class materials with professors and other students on Berkman Island, a space in Second Life that resembles Harvard Law School.

I have not spent very much time in Second Life, but this is enough to get me back in there.

Politics Enters Second Life

This past Thursday (8/31), former Virginia Governor and potential Democratic Presidential Candidate Mark Warner made a virtual town hall appearance in Second Life.  (Via SWF)  This is the first known use of Second Life by a political figure, but I am sure it won't be the last.

Mr. Warners Avatar sat on a stage and took questions from anyone who stopped by.  Transcript and more screenshots can be found here.

Ted Leonsis of AOL is advising him on Web 2.0 and he seems to be getting it.

Second Life is still in its early days, but is wildly popular with early adopters and holds huge potential opportunities for marketers who enter early.

If you aren't up to speed on Second Life, you should really check it out.  Here are some good places to start:

Virtual Firsts in Second Life including the first Auto Maker, Clothes Retailer, Sporting Event and Advertising Network.

BusinessWeek did a Cover Story on SL that is an interesting look at the businesses that are thriving there.

Rubel's Coverage

Jaffe's Coverage