Given my strong belief in the promise of virtual worlds applications, I follow closely their ups and downs in the maretkplace. Virtual worlds continue to be most popular in video games, massively multiplayer online environments and other consumer oriented applications. The number of applications in serious areas like education, business, government and health care remains small. So it is particularly exciting when we see working examples of serious virtual worlds applications, because, more than the words any of us can write, they nicely illustrate their potential. Let me highlight a couple of recent such applications.
The IBM Academy of Technology comprises the most accomplished technical leaders from around the world who work across the spectrum of IBM's technical activities. Established in 1989, its key mission is to identify and pursue technical issues affecting the future of the IT industry, especially those that are highly relevant to IBM's overall business and technical strategy. There are currently about 350 Academy members. In addition, there is an extensive global network of regional Academy Affiliate, whose membership includes the key technical leaders in each region.
The IBM Academy is a self-governing entity that elects its own members and officers. Its independence gives it very broad latitude in deciding what activities to pursue and what recommendations to make to IBM's senior management. For many years I was a member of the Academy's Board of Governors, and its Chairman from October 2004 until my retirement in 2007.
Every Fall, the Academy hosts a three-day general meeting to help promote communications and a sense of community among its members, as well as to develop and debate new ideas. Due to the deteriorating economic conditions caused by the global financial crisis all around us, the decision was made in early October to cancel the 2008 general meeting, scheduled to take place a few weeks later, and to replace it with some alternative virtual meeting that would require no travel.
As it turned out, since October of 2007, a small team of Academy members and other experts had been working to develop a virtual world platform for use in Academy meetings. Besides its large annual general meeting, the Academy holds many smaller meetings throughout the year as part of its various studies. Since participants in these studies come from all over the world, travel is always an issue, not just because of the expenses, but also the travel time and general wear and tear involved.