Here is a list of potential business uses and benefits:
- § Social networking
- § Multilingual, multicultural, multinational communication
- § Synchronous, interactive learning environment
- § Streaming audio, video, multimedia presentations
- § Whiteboard PowerPoint presentations
- § VoIP and Babble language translator
- § New employee orientation
- § guided facility tour – scavenger hunt
- § Demonstration of operational procedures
- § Problem solving exercises
- § Team building exercises
- § Marketing research
- § Virtual product demonstrations
- § Event hosting
- § Sales or customer service trainee practice - Interactive role playing
- § Holodeck – simulated situational environments
- § Classroom training spaces
- § Collaboration
- § Skill development
- § Self-paced Tutorials
- § Learning Kiosks - Ohio University Second Life Campus
- § Displays and Exhibits -The International Spaceflight Museum
- § Exhibit
- § Immersive Exhibits - UC Davis' Virtual Hallucinations
- § Training simulations
Training includes applications that take advantage of the
significant information retention associated with simulations
and the shared avatar experience fostering team based learning.
Studies on learning show that lecture based instruction (associated
with complex subjects) results in 5-10% retention, group discussion
based instructions results in 40-50% retention, while simulation
based instruction results in 70-90% retention.
http://energycommerce.house.gov/cmte_mtgs/110-ti-hrg.040108.Parris-testimony.pdf
For an extensive list, links, and brief description of many of these uses and benefits see:
