This study is not to be confused with a random survey, which would require 200ish respondents to be statistically relevant. In our case, all of the survey participants were individuals who were involved in Immersive Internet projects in their organizations in 2008 and the 1st quarter of 2009. We undertook a careful screening process to ensure that no one filled out the survey who wasn’t qualified. You can find the details about our methodology on pages 29-30 of the report. The resulting data gives us a snapshot in time, giving us insight into early adopters’ take on business value in the spring of 2009.

ThinkBalm’s definition of the Immersive Internet is “a collection of emerging technologies combined with a social culture that has roots in gaming and virtual worlds.” Here’s a link to the full definition: http://www.thinkbalm.com/immersive-internet/. And here is a link to ThinkBalm’s inaugural analyst report in which we define and describe what we mean by immersive technologies in more detail: http://www.thinkbalm.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/thinkbalm-immersive-internet-report-nov-20084.pdf. On their own, video conferencing, Web conferencing, and teleconferences are not part of our immersive technology definition unless they are part of a broader solution that includes a 3D (or close-to-3D) space in which the user can navigate, with or without an avatar. Most immersive technologies include avatars.

If you are curious about immersive technologies I invite you to join the ThinkBalm Innovation Community. Here’s a link to more info: http://www.thinkbalm.com/community/. By joining this group of Immersive Internet explorers, advocates, implementers and technology marketers you will have an opportunity to experience first-hand the immersive technologies enabling us to:
* Work in 3D, wherever we are
* Interact with others spontaneously, wherever we are
* Brainstorm with dozens of others to come up with and document hundreds of ideas in an hour
* Collaboratively create “quick and dirty” prototypes with remote colleagues
* See the invisible and doing the impossible

I’ve only skimmed it so far, but you seem to define immersive technology as virtual worlds and games. This was surprising, and to hear of it having an ROI.
Naturally remote working would feature heavily in a global businesses internal remit, but I think it also should apply to real world immersive technology like webinars, video presentaions, webcam conferences, and even text messaging and VOIP and VOIP with video , such as Skype.

Naturally, coming from a video for comunication enabler I am biased, but I think people respind better to real human technology, over avatars and Second Life style environments. Why have a metaphor, when you can have the real thing? Transports may be in a future Star Trek, but we already have sound and video, also remote smell control (USB scent recreators). I don’t think it will be too long before we have desktop lathes (model fabrication) and tyhe sex industry already has remote controlled touch devices.
Virtual mirrors can use real images, withte users own face on the transmitted fashion.
And this is all real world.
I’ve obviously never forgiven Second LIfe for spending my Linen dollars. But I kind of find the real world (technology) “immersive”

Peter