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IBM Sametime gets 3D with OLIVE from Forterra


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NOTE: The darn press release is dated 2008 and just got sent to me .  Sheesh


Forterra Systems
has updated their OLIVE system to 2.2 which includes IBM Sametime support for their virtual 3D meeting worlds. OLIVE stands for On-Line Interactive Virtual Environment. Here is what the system looks like from one example

Image:IBM Sametime gets 3D with OLIVE from Forterra

The software claims to reduce costs even more with the media sharing services and audio capabilities.  Sametime already has native audio and video meeting services so that can't be right.  Now streaming a movie file is an added benefit, but I imagine this could be done without all the virtual stuff.

IBM has already backed away from any virtual world activity inside of Second Life, which they pushed heavily at one point.  The market doesn't need this type of interactivity in the enterprise. Face to face video makes perfect sense.  Pretending via an avatar does not.

Here is a quote from the press release issued by Forterra Systems:

With the challenging financial times most enterprises are curtailing travel and rethinking how their organizations hold events, training sessions, conduct periodic meetings, or improve their collaboration processes. Audio and Web conferencing are inexpensive, ubiquitous, and generally easy to use. However for meetings involving complex or longer topics the participants can be challenged to grasp the discussion context and maintain focus due to multi-tasking. Virtual meetings in OLIVE are proving to be less expensive yet more engaging and productive for users.
Again I ask how the introduction of time wasting to make an avatar, steer it around a room and constantly move it around does not increase multi-tasking.

IBM seems to think this will work however
"Our customers are asking how their communications and collaboration strategy can combine real-time presence, voice and data sharing capabilities with the richness of virtual worlds,” noted Bruce Morse, vice president of unified communications and collaboration, IBM Lotus. "We believe Forterra's plug-in to Sametime will provide important functionality for our customers, and be an easy means for users to start experiencing a virtual world."


Let's have a discussion on this. I want your input!