Services
MMI will provide three key services to further its goals:
Data
MMI will provide collect and publish data about as many platforms in the metaverse as possible, along with a comprehensive list the most important publicly-known individuals and enterprises involved in the metaverse.
Published data about platforms will be determined with the input of the advisors, but key items might include:
- Financial data as available, such as revenues from users (when applicable), and investments and spending on virtual world activities by not-for-profit and governmental organizations (which are generally publicly verifiable).
- User data, including measures of population (e.g., the number of distinct users), dedication (e.g., time inworld for each user), and intensity of use.
- Economic data within worlds (when applicable).
- Technological details essential for discussing progress toward interoperability.
Additional published data about individuals and enterprises in the metaverse (other than platform developers) might include: scholars studying virtual-world issues; governmental and non-profit agencies conducting or funding activities in virtual worlds; for-profit businesses with virtual world investments; and policy-makers considering regulation, legislation or other public policy efforts regarding the metaverse. This data set would likely probably be in “wiki” form, so that anyone can edit the list (which is expected to grow rapidly).
Education
MMI would fund live events (similar to the Metanomics events on SLCN.tv) to discuss issues relevant to our mission. Events would be filmed in a variety of worlds by Second Life Cable Network, and would have live audiences in other worlds that support video streaming. We would allow interaction between worlds by developing software that allow text chat in one world to be transmitted to other participating worlds, so that question-and-answer sessions can engage as broad an audience as possible. When possible, we will have real-world events as well. Finally, all events can be streamed live to the internet (on SLCN.tv), with mechanisms for those watching on the web to join in the text chat in all participating worlds.
Forums
MMI would provide neutral ground on which all members of the metaverse community can discuss the state and future of virtual worlds. Each advisor can have their own blog, and participate in lightly-moderated discussion forums on all topics relevant to MMIs goals. We can also have wiki websites for particular topics, as appropriate.
