What happens when the 2D, asynchronous Web collides with 3D, collaborative digital worlds? As the power of rich web applications, aggregation, and filtering are proven on the Web, how will these technologies be connected to interactive, 3D virtual worlds? Conversely, how will 3D worlds be used to better manage data, convey information, and enable new forms of communications?

The user-created online world Second Life provides a unique insight into these issues. By granting broad intellectual property rights to its residents and embedding the tools needed to build almost anything, SL has enabled large scale creativity that bridges the 3D and web worlds. Projects ranging from games and shopping malls to medical research and education have been built on top of Second Life's core technology and then linked to companion web sites, blogs, and wikis. This is only the beginning, however. Currently, Firefox is being embedded within Second Life so that web content can act as a fundamental building block of the world as animations, textures, or audio.

This session will cover the cutting-edge ways in which the Second Life community has embraced both 3D world and web technology in order to achieve the complementary goals of creating the worlds of their dreams and solving real-world problems. Beyond that, it will also discuss ways in which virtual worlds can better connect to—and participate in—the web as a whole.