This document discusses the potential for non-profit and charitable organizations to utilize virtual worlds and social media platforms. It provides statistics on gaming demographics that show a significant portion of users are older than 50 and are female. Examples are given of companies that have hosted events or created virtual spaces in Second Life to connect with target audiences or solicit feedback. The conclusion is that people enjoy connecting and participating through these virtual platforms, indicating potential for organizations seeking to engage supporters.

1. Can the
Third Sector
use
Second Life
and other Social Media
?
Roo Reynolds - Metaverse Evangelist, IBM

3. “This is all a part of the
moving illustration drawn
by his computer
according to
specifications coming
down the fiber-optic
cable. The people are
pieces of software called
avatars. They are the
audiovisual bodies that
people use to
communicate with each
other in the Metaverse.”

12. games
http://flickr.com/photos/ian_d/30859899/
http://flickr.com/photos/earlg/304373180/
http://flickr.com/photos/dailysnap/360147199/

13. games
• 69% of American heads of households
play computer or video games
• The average game player age is 33
• 25% of gamers were over the age of 50
• 42% of online game players are female
• Women aged 18 or older = 30%
• Boys age 17 or younger = 23%
Source: Entertainment Software Association
“Essential Facts about the Computer
and Video Game Industry, 2006”
http://flickr.com/photos/ian_d/30859899/
http://flickr.com/photos/earlg/304373180/
http://flickr.com/photos/dailysnap/360147199/

14. EVE
Online

15. World of
Warcraft
http://www.flickr.com/photos/therift/130671212/

16. The new
golf?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ssanyal/563492429/

19. 55 +
stats
45 - 54
35 - 44
Age
25 - 34
• growth 18 - 24
13 - 17
0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000
User Count
darrenherman.com
2003 2005 2006

20. major league baseball
mlb.com

21. aloft
“Over the past few months, we have actively solicited input from
you, the Second Life residents, on such design features as public
spaces, guest rooms and exteriors – everything from color
palette to space planning. After reviewing all of your comments,
several changes to the overall design of aloft are a direct result
from your feedback. Not only have these changes been applied
to the virtual hotel, they will also be reflected in the “real-life”
aloft hotels.”
http://www.virtualaloft.com/

22. “We developed Scion City to connect with the trendsetters. That's our target
demographic - people who do things first. Trendsetters are instrumental in
promoting brands.”
Adrian Si, Interactive Marketing Manager, Scion

25. http://www.keikotakamura.com

26. http://digitaldouble.blogspot.com/2007/07/watch-worlds.html

27. The Gartner
Hype curve

28. The Gartner
Hype curve
Facebook?
Second Life?

29. The Gartner
Hype curve
Facebook?
Second Life?
Social software?
Virtual Worlds?

31. Cyworld Qwaq 3B
Habbo Hotel Kaneva OLIVE

33. http://flickr.com/photos/generated/416810/
Social
Networking

34. http://flickr.com/photos/shawdm/820926627/
User
Generated
Content

36. Relay for Life
US$118,500

38. conclusions
http://flickr.com/photos/-wit-/275384936/

39. people want to
connect
http://flickr.com/photos/generated/416810/

40. people want to
participate
http://flickr.com/photos/shawdm/820926627/

41. http://eightbar.co.uk

42. http://rooreynolds.com
Roo Reynolds - What’s Next?
http://slideshare.net/rooreynolds

43. Questions and discussion

44. How do virtual currencies and
real money interrelate?

45. How did IBM get started in
virtual worlds?

46. How do virtual worlds compare
with teleconferencing and
videoconferencing?

47. What do you think we be
focussing on in the next 12
months? What kind of
applications?

48. User generated content vs
keeping control

49. Thanks