I’ve recently returned from Washington, DC where I attended the Federal Consortium on Virtual Worlds, held at the National Defense University and organized by the Information Resouces Management College. In short, it was designed to be a gathering of different branches of our US goverment to learn, share, and collaborate what virtual worlds are. There were also vendors there – showing and telling, smiling and selling.
Linden Lab’s Second Life had a significant presence in most of the presentations I saw. Sue Linden (perhaps better known as the winged goth nymph) and Pathfinder Linden (you all know him) ran Introduction to Second Life classes the day before the main events. I was lucky enough to be in the area and have the time to volunteer and help out in the classes. There were computers for about 25 students per session, and there was a morning and afternoon session. These were totally full, and in fact, we had one person so interested, he chose to just sit in without a computer. I heard from someone who should know that there was 200 inquiries for those 50 slots.
This demand for on-site education and orientation (note the distinction – outworld, not inworld) set me to thinking. And thinking I did, refining an idea as I listened to others talk of thier learning curve to figure Second Life out, sharing the frustration of how they couldn’t even move and blue windows kept popping up, nodding sagely as the explained how they could not simply access Second Life from inside the government networks (to which I said “aw” to them, but really thought to myself “yay! my government understands network security!”).
And so, on the flight home to good ol’ Minnesota, I started writing a new business plan. Something that could mix my enjoyment of virtual spaces and experiences, my ability to turn techie talk in common understanding and my need to help people and make a difference in life (real and virtual).
And, so, let me introduce: CritCom
CritCom is a specialized group off my Critical Computer company, which provides all the same services and attention to business to small companies that an IT manager provides for large companies. It will be focusing on bringing an orientation and education about virtual worlds – specifically Second Life – to folks in state, county and municipal offices. Hands on, over your shoulder, good old fashioned face-to-face, my-pencil-taps-the-place-on-your-monitor-I-want-you-to-see education and consulting.
So Real Life plus Virtual Life now equals My Life.
I think there will be some adjustment for my SL friends to understand why I may be so doggon busy all the time now when I’m online, but I think they’ll understand over time. I’m not sure how I can balance a social life and a work life either… so it will be a learning curve for me, too. I doubt I’m the first, nor will be the last, to log into a presentation on a big screen to have a *hug* saved up in my IM buffer for all to see (note to self, turn off external video to log in).
In my time, I’ve trained young and old, CEOs and new hires, the eager and the disinterested. I’m realling looking forward to putting those skills back to work.
Tags: CritCom, education, federal consortium, Information Resource Management College, irmc, Minnesota, national defense university, NDU, Pathfinder Linden, second life, Sue Linden, training
