Comments on: ThinkBalm Storytelling Series Issue #3: How To Give New Users A Good First Experience http://www.thinkbalm.com/2009/02/24/thinkbalm-storytelling-series-issue-3-how-to-give-new-users-a-good-first-experience/ Immersive Internet insights & expertise Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:05:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Erica Driver http://www.thinkbalm.com/2009/02/24/thinkbalm-storytelling-series-issue-3-how-to-give-new-users-a-good-first-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-71 Erica Driver Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:56:29 +0000 http://thinkbalm.com/?p=1211#comment-71 Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Mo. I'm glad you found the report to be helpful. The technology selection issue is a *huge* one -- one that we will write more about in the future. The main criterion that would impact whether an organization should implement a "walled garden" is their use case. If it's an immersive learning environment designed to teach drug reps how to sell to busy doctors, or to teach truck drivers how to drive big rigs, a walled garden may be fine. Also, security and privacy concerns, and ease of use, are other factors. Keep the great comments coming! Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Mo. I’m glad you found the report to be helpful. The technology selection issue is a *huge* one — one that we will write more about in the future. The main criterion that would impact whether an organization should implement a “walled garden” is their use case. If it’s an immersive learning environment designed to teach drug reps how to sell to busy doctors, or to teach truck drivers how to drive big rigs, a walled garden may be fine. Also, security and privacy concerns, and ease of use, are other factors. Keep the great comments coming!

]]> By: Mo Hax http://www.thinkbalm.com/2009/02/24/thinkbalm-storytelling-series-issue-3-how-to-give-new-users-a-good-first-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-70 Mo Hax Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:40:29 +0000 http://thinkbalm.com/?p=1211#comment-70 This was actually quite timely and I was pleased to read most of it confirms other discussions involving first-timers, greeting, others. Thanks, as always, for distilling the core ideas into a business-consumable format. These themes and realities have been around for years now, but seeing them presented this way is encouraging. This was timely for me. With the election of a new IBM Virtual Universe Community guild master (mistress) IBM is currently enjoying a renewed focus on the VUC greeter/outreach initiatives within the company, something that has been near to my heart for a long time (see beginner video tutorials at <a href="http://imohax.com/heyavatar" rel="nofollow">http://imohax.com/heyavatar</a>). Thinking about this outreach is clearly important to any company pondering business use of virtual worlds. One addition I would like to have read more about is how the choice of platform for anyone new to virtual worlds should include consideration of user longevity. One key component I have observed that differentiates those that stay from those that play a bit and leave is finding that connection, that core interest, or community. The larger platforms, such as Second Life, provide the best opportunity for those new to make a personal connection with something of specific interest. Over time, that adopter's ability and openness to other platforms and worlds tends to open to their benefit and that of the company. I personally believe it is a mistake to introduce beginners to a closed 'walled-garden' virtual world that does not include the possibility for those beginners to explore for themselves outside those protected walls once they are ready. Private islands and business islands along with guided onboarding to avoid problems have proven successful approaches well before and including IBM's recently publicized success with the Academy of Technology. I look forward to participating in this conversation more as we ramp up our VUC outreach program. Thanks again. This was actually quite timely and I was pleased to read most of it confirms other discussions involving first-timers, greeting, others. Thanks, as always, for distilling the core ideas into a business-consumable format. These themes and realities have been around for years now, but seeing them presented this way is encouraging.

This was timely for me. With the election of a new IBM Virtual Universe Community guild master (mistress) IBM is currently enjoying a renewed focus on the VUC greeter/outreach initiatives within the company, something that has been near to my heart for a long time (see beginner video tutorials at http://imohax.com/heyavatar). Thinking about this outreach is clearly important to any company pondering business use of virtual worlds.

One addition I would like to have read more about is how the choice of platform for anyone new to virtual worlds should include consideration of user longevity. One key component I have observed that differentiates those that stay from those that play a bit and leave is finding that connection, that core interest, or community.

The larger platforms, such as Second Life, provide the best opportunity for those new to make a personal connection with something of specific interest. Over time, that adopter’s ability and openness to other platforms and worlds tends to open to their benefit and that of the company.

I personally believe it is a mistake to introduce beginners to a closed ‘walled-garden’ virtual world that does not include the possibility for those beginners to explore for themselves outside those protected walls once they are ready. Private islands and business islands along with guided onboarding to avoid problems have proven successful approaches well before and including IBM’s recently publicized success with the Academy of Technology.

I look forward to participating in this conversation more as we ramp up our VUC outreach program. Thanks again.

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