“IT Road Map” of the 3D Virtual World Up Until 2012
May 25, 2007
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. (NRI: Tokyo; Akihisa Fujinuma, President, CEO & COO) announces an IT Road Map*1 predicting the development of the 3D virtual world up until 2012.
With the spread of broadband networks among households as well as the imroved performance of PCs, the use of the 3D virtual world such as “Second Life” by Linden Lab in the US has been expanding. The 3D virtual world refers to 3D virtual space created by a server on the network, and is also called the “metaverse*2.”
The features of the newly emerging 3D virtual space include such things as that user-generated content (UGC) is created by users and circulated as products using virtual currency within the virtual world. Unlike on ordinary websites, users can experience various activities in the virtual space such as freely moving objects and products within the virtual world through a CG character called an “avatar,” enjoying chats with other avatars and shopping.
With the spread of broadband networks among households as well as the imroved performance of PCs, the use of the 3D virtual world such as “Second Life” by Linden Lab in the US has been expanding. The 3D virtual world refers to 3D virtual space created by a server on the network, and is also called the “metaverse*2.”
The features of the newly emerging 3D virtual space include such things as that user-generated content (UGC) is created by users and circulated as products using virtual currency within the virtual world. Unlike on ordinary websites, users can experience various activities in the virtual space such as freely moving objects and products within the virtual world through a CG character called an “avatar,” enjoying chats with other avatars and shopping.
| Road Map of 3D Virtual World | ||
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Up until 2008: A dawning period during which the 3D virtual world expands |
| In the 3D virtual world, if the overall UGC volume increases, such increase is expected to serve as a primer for attracting more and more users. The increased number of users will further increase the UGC volume, facilitating expansion of the user base and an increase in the amount of content. Spurred on by such growth, a company providing a virtual world is expected to be at the forefront in marketing activities because it owns a vast amount of information related to users. This dawning period is positioned as the stage where companies will seek marketing techniques using 3D features and business possibilities within the virtual world. Accordingly, during this period, experimental activities will begin to make use of the 3D virtual world, such as promotional activities for product sales and the provision of information from companies to consumers. | |
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2009 to 2010: Business using the 3D virtual world will be in place |
| From 2009 to 2010, the use of PCs with improved graphic performance will spread, and consumer use of the 3D virtual world will expand. Reflecting this trend, business using the virtual world will be established. During this period, platforms of electronic commerce using the virtual world will be developed and marketing techniques will be established. User navigation that is different from that on current websites will be designed, and methods to analyze customer behavior will be examined. Furthermore, in light of the possibilities that industries that are regulated in the real world such as pornographic and on-line casino businesses will also expand in the virtual world, the development of legal systems covering the virtual world will be required. |
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After 2010: Various virtual worlds meeting specific consumer needs will emerge and coexist |
| After 2010, open source server software to create 3D virtual worlds will become commonly available, enabling anyone to easily create a virtual world. This will herald the arrival of the “multiverse*3” era where multiple virtual worlds coexist according to specific consumer needs. In the multiverse era, diverse virtual worlds coexist that meet different user needs. For example, a virtual world may focus on freely creating and circulating content. Other possibilities include a virtual world that is provided by a company and where users can have highly satisfactory experiences. With companies participating in multiple virtual worlds based on the intended purposes, the use of virtual worlds will expand. At the same time, interoperability will be secured such as reuse of content and exchange of virtual currencies among virtual worlds. |
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*1: The IT road map is designed to provide NRI’s forecast of trends in information technology over the next five years with the aim of supporting companies in making decisions on IT strategies. NRI’s Information Technology Research Department continues to publish this semiannual report.
*2: The term metaverse is created by adding meta to universe because the 3D virtual world does not physically exist but is an abstract world.
*3: The term multiverse is a shortened form of multiple metaverses.
*2: The term metaverse is created by adding meta to universe because the 3D virtual world does not physically exist but is an abstract world.
*3: The term multiverse is a shortened form of multiple metaverses.
[For general inquiries, please contact:]
Miyako Kusakabe / Yukako Seto
Corporate Communications Department
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.
Tel: +81-3-6270-8100
E-mail:
Miyako Kusakabe / Yukako Seto
Corporate Communications Department
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.
Tel: +81-3-6270-8100
E-mail:
Copyright(c) 2007 Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. All
rights reserved.
No reproduction or republication without written permission.
No reproduction or republication without written permission.