How Virtual Worlds contribute to sustainability

Written by Paula Anguita (20 November 2008)

Again a new step has been taken into improvement of sustainability by use of virtual worlds.

Virtual Worlds, such as the well known 3D-web browser “Second Life”, are a powerful tool to change the way businesses and institutions are operating. And above this; Virtual Worlds can help companies, organizations and institutions to decrease their carbon footprint and to perform without taking too much advantage of natural resources. And, by doing this, contribute to a more sustainable way of life for everyone.

On initiative of Crédit Agricole and together with the team of Stonfield InWorld, a special Learning Management System has been developed to teach employees in the organization how to use Second Life. This week, a group of employees of Crédit Agricole PG, performing as beta-testers of the Learning Package, have started to receive on line lessons of the basics to use Second Life. Basics such as how to use the menu’s and user interface, how to move and fly with the avatar and how to modify the avatar to their own liking.

The great idea behind this project is, that if all employees in an organization understand how to use Second Life, they can organize their meetings and appointments in this Virtual World. The huge benefit for the organization is not only on saving on their traveling budget, but also the decrease of their carbon footprint by much less use of transport, which leads to less pollution of the environment.

Starting with these employees of Crédit Agricole now, the ambitious goal is to teach all 1800 employees of Crédit Agricole PG how to use Second Life before the end of 2009, and to organize the majority of their meetings in Second Life, in stead of having to make business trips and meet in physical life (’real’ life). After the employees have finished their courses, they will have to do a special developed test after which they will receive their personal Web Passport. In this way, the Metaverse will be integrated again and even more in daily, common life.

The team of Stonfield InWorld is continuously active and ambitious to start up and give performance to innovations that concern the use Virtual Worlds, or ‘Metaverse’ and that contribute to a higher level of efficiency for companies and organizations and at the same time help to reduce their carbon footprint and participate in a more sustainable economy and life.

Because of this passion for innovation, the expertise of the Stonfield InWorld team has a fast growing reputation, not only in France where the company is settled in three places: Oloron Sainte-Marie, Toulouse and Paris, but also abroad.

For this reason, co-founder of Stonfield InWorld - Pierre-Olivier Carles - has been invited to the Technology in Business Conference 08 by it@cork in Cork, Ireland on Wednesday 26 November 2008. In his speech, he will explain how Virtual Worlds can reduce companies’ carbon footprints and he will also present the business case for ‘Campus CA’, an e-Learning Solution in Virtual Worlds created for the Credit Agricole Bank.
Anyone who wishes to meet Pierre-Olivier Carles at this conference is hereby invited to get in touch.

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