FAQsCRY opens office in Second Life - Economic Times
Article Source: Economic Times
Date of Issue: January 31, 2008
Title of the article: CRY opens office in Second Life
THE child rights organisation, CRY, has become the first-of-its-kind organisation to put up an office in Second Life - an online world for collaboration and creation where users are represented through customisable human-like images called avatars.
The non-profit organisation in collaboration with Mumbai -based Indusgeeks is eager to build a virtual community for child rights. It has partnered with CRY America and CRY UK for this purpose.
Commenting on the new initiative, CRY chief executive, Ingrid Srinath, said; "The space offers avatars an opportunity to share videos, community development stories and photo essays, assess the condition of marginalised children especially in India, and engage them with volunteers from across the world."
CRY's latest venture in the 3-D world comes at a time when even tech giants like Cisco and IBM have already ventured into Second Life to boost their sales presence. Cisco, for instance, has a "4 sim's presence" in Second Life to promote products through live presentations. While IBM on Monday announced that it plans to expand its business centre for India in the virtual world.
Interestingly, it is not just the technology companies that are venturing into the virtual world but global news agency, Reuters, has opened a bureau to watch the on-goings in the virtual universe. Ohio University too has its virtual campus in Second Life.
Indusgeeks founder & chief executive, Siddharth Bannerjee, said: "Second Life offers people a medium for interaction as it connects real people, challenged by distance, virtually to understand issues. Basically, it adds soul to the internet by making it more visual and interactive."
With a population close to 12 million, the Second Life members spend around $1.3 million every day. CRY'S new office in Second Life also houses a virtual space for products such as greeting cards, gift articles and stationery products.
