Second Life at Work

The Agriculture Department is going virtual, and employees may soon be able to conduct business through 3-D avatars rather than traditional teleconferencing, email or good old-fashioned staff meetings.

According to a posting on Federal Business Opportunities, the department seeks a Second Life-like system that can be used behind a secure firewall rather than by the general public. The virtual world would allow several agencies to collaborate easily yet securely, integrate old and new technology and create a network for "collaboration, training, rehearsal, analysis, simulation, experimentation, and socialization."

Virtual worlds aren't new, but the idea that business can be conducted through lookalike avatars in a 3-D conference room is a more recent manifestation of this technology. World of Warcraft is a fantasy fighting game, while Second Life and There.com allow users to create their virtual equivalent and then shop, build houses, get jobs and develop relationships. Second Life's Work Solutions program helps companies conduct sales trainings, simulate emergency evacuations and run virtual meetings. But the platform isn't more forgiving than the real world--if you fall asleep during the boss' speech, your avatar does too.

Agriculture's solicitation closes on Feb. 24.