Digado stands for Digital Adoption. Its the scenario I think will be most relevant for the future of the metaverse. A generation that regards 3d as a ‘natural environment’. The Xbox, playstation and PC generation. They will adopt the 3d worlds and see the benefits of the digital distribution, communication, education, information and entertainment as something that has always been part of their lives.

This blog lists my research, opinion and news regarding ‘the Metaverse’. A word I define as being a Virtual, Social Network. The goal of this network can be anything from entertainment (gaming worlds such as World of Warcraft), business and creativity (Second Life) all the way down to simply connecting people in a customizable environment (Cyworld).

The question that Digado tries to answer is ‘how can we use Virtual Worlds in a realistic, meaningful way for the businesses of today and tomorrow’. There has been a lot of hype and information clutter surrounding virtual worlds. My objective is to distill the potential of this ‘new’ media, in a usable format. How can it help your business today, and how will it look 5 to 10 years from now.

About the Author

My name is Rick van der Wal. I currently study Communications and Multimedia design at the Hogeschool Rotterdam. I’ve worked as a Marketer and have a slight obsession for all things digital. I believe in the potential of the metaverse. I think Virtual worlds will take its time but will ultimately become a considerable force in information distribution (media). The immersive, rich experiences, and efficient communication Virtual Worlds can offer will give it an advantage over old media, and the ‘traditional’ internet for many purposes.

Do I think Virtual Worlds will replace the 2d web?

No. Like internet didn’t replace the TV, and TV didn’t replace the radio. But in the words of ‘celebrity marketer’ Seth Godin, their ‘industrial complexes’ have been broken. They lose ground and have to make way for a different kind of information distribution. Interactivity, preferred advertising and the power of social network recommendations are strong USP’s of the internet when compared to traditional media. However, these traditional media still have their purposes and serve their own markets. The phase where media becomes more and more digital is largely caused by the process I call Digital Adoption. Media re-inventing itself as the public adopts new technology.

Do I believe Second Life will be the ‘end all’ of the metaverse?

Not by a long shot. I think the SL software is fragile, it has many, many flaws but its unique selling points (USPs) are too good to ignore. A multi-million dollars a month industry based entirely on content created by its users. Second Life is at this moment of writing -2007 - the only Virtual World that is accessible and combines several major trends in its unique feats. There is no doubt in my mind Second Life will get competition, perhaps even become part of a broader network of Virtual Worlds who each serve their own markets.

Roy Cassini

For those of you that have Second Life account, this is my Avatar, Roy Cassini. I have a small outpost in Second Life I use for testing and creating in-world concepts. Feel free to message me with suggestions, comments, questions or anything else you’d like to share!