Linden Lab is a Research Facility

I don't understand why people don't understand that Linden Lab is a research facility busily enganged in developing software that will afford the general public the ability to build and share information using a collaborative 3D environment.

We pay them money for the priviledge of participating in their research project. As a user pool, we're involved in the steady revision and refinement of the code as testers and bug reporters. This is not a toy; it's not a game. Functionally, we serve the same purpose as people who volunteer to purchase and test experimental drug treatments.

To expect a finished, working product at this point is foolish. To expect LL to operate as a service-oriented business at this point is foolish. When our grandchildren are casually using a 3D client to browse a vast w3b of interactive 3D business, educational, hobby, library, gaming, and personal sites hosted by people and colos all over the planet, we'll be able to tell them that we were there, helping, when it all started.

Oh, it's a game. Give it up already!

And if LL don't learn to become at least partly service orientated, not least in being able to communicate effectively with their customers, we might just remember to tell our grand kids about this small anomolous blip of an oh so promising idea way back when that sadly didnt pan out.

If you paid for the "experimental drugs" you just got scammed

Actually, does anyone remember what Real was like back in it's early days?

Could be a connection there...

Oh! Yes, there IS. What a coincidence

Actually, does anyone remember what Real was like back in its early days?

Could be a connection there...

Oh! Yes, there IS. What a coincidence

BC/BS paid for most of it. The good news is that it worked very well for me and well enough for others that it's now on the market and in it's second stage of refinement. At least I'll be able to tell the grandchildren something.

The point is that all the research has to be paid for. That's what we're doing now. And people do call it a scam at times like these. But I don't understand why they do unless they don't understand what we're doing here.

Interesting, I wonder if they have a paper online somewhere regarding their research. It would be an interesting read.

If SL is an experiment, it's a damn good one. I remember some friends who had as part of their thesis open a small business and being able to market their products. They are now proud owners of their own chain of boutiques and still doing well.

It's amazing how things that start as research/thesis work turn into something as profitable as this. ^_^v

They're not a research facility. They're a private corporation that engages in research as required in order to develop their product. Much like every other company doing anything remotely novel.

Intel (or AMD, Apple, etc.) also engages in research. Does that mean that if the CPU on your computer siezed up every few days, or slowed down to 1/4 its original speed you'd shrug your shoulders and say, "well, they're researchers, and I'm helping them develop the hardware that will one day allow people everywhere to build 3d content and share it with the world". Probably not. There's effectively no difference other than the fact that for some reason you're letting LL out of their responsibility to their users.

SL is currently at the point of being a toy. It doesn't have anywhere near the reliability to be deemed a business or development platform for all but an extremely limited set of uses. And, Khamon, like it or not, LL is trying (or, should be trying) to provide a service. If they aren't able to step up the level of service they provide, they'll find the "gee whiz" factor quickly fades as people become fed up with being treated as beta testers when they're expecting to get proper service and reliable software.

Yes, it costs money to do research. LL has (and started out with) plenty of money. Since they've released a product to the public, they should be ready to support it. They have more than enough cash in the bank to hire and train several more customer service people and bug fixers if they wanted to. You're paying LL for service. They should be equiped to handle it.

Lets just sit back and enjoy the ride.

In 10 years....or so...SL will be amazing.
And you'll be able to say: "I was there from the very first start (or prim)"

Quoted for truth.

Insert obligatory 'we're all hamsters with electrodes on our heads' comment here.


- Newfie

Speak for yourself!
Actually, I've seen several in the forums lately who behave more like goats with electrodes on their butts...

You do not know what you are talking about. I've gotten a check from LL and the company name on the check says "Linden Lab Research". In my book, it makes them a research facility. Yes they are a private corporation like Apple or Intel, but unlike Apple and Intel they include the word "research" in their name.

Briana Dawson

its like the internet its not a toy its self buy you can create things inside of it for various operations such as entertainment and business and communications aswell. they fact that most play games in the platfrom dose not make it a game. it is what it is.

Coincidence?
I was talking to Kris on Yahoo just a couple of hours ago about people we never see anymore, and I mentioned Briana... and here she is, posting!!!

I fail to understand that logic. The use of the word "research" in a company name does not make them a valid research facility, rather than a private corporation. I don't believe there are any restrictions on what companies can use the word 'research' in their company names. They only include the word because it sounds important and memorable.

Look at Research In Motion (RIM). Would you class them as a research facility first? I'd class them as a corporation that makes mobile devices. Sure, there's research involved, but then there's research involved in developing, and marketing, any product.

Are you seriously trying to argue that any word appearing in a registered corporation's name is automatically a valid and non-biased descriptor of what they do? And the absence of a word automatically negates that activity?

Maybe I haven't had enough coffee this morning to see you're being facetious. I really hope that's the case.

[edited to add: Thanks, Moopf. RIM is the perfect example.]

Treatment utilizing a nonproven course of action is more expensive because of the need for greater monitoring, analyzing of results, etc. Of course, if treatments which are already proven aren't working, people will pay to participate in an experimental program and the chance it offers.

Perhaps the research is more of this nature (well, unnatural--that's what it is).

http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~nfm24/benoit/creations.html

Patty? Is that you?
Ma & Pa Hearst

I won't dispute whether or not it's a research facility, but I will say one thing. Don't people typically GET paid to participate in research, not "pay for the privilidge" of doing so? Where's my cut?

In real life, my name is Joe Research. Guess that means I'm a scientist.

Yes, it is. People rely on the Internet. They get pissed when it goes down. I myself joke that I have trouble breathing when my Net is down. But do you think any Internet provider *likes* having an unreliable network? They do they best they can with the technology and experience that they have.

Second Life is a big glob of hardware and software that works extremely well considering what it does. It's not perfect, yes there are some glitches, but it's damn good.

Whether it's a game or a sim, an experiment or a service ... it's here. Take it or leave it. But I believe that its purpose is to become something much more important in the future.


I like to tell people that when I grow up, I want to take drugs that haven't been FDA approved yet. But seriously, I have the utmost respect for all of the people who make successful drugs happen. That world is another one that is far from perfect, but strives to be better every day.

I'd love to be in on the ground floor of an exciting, bleeding-edge opportunity like SL, and I'd be willing to fund that "research" initiative, provided I am furnished with the following:

(1) And up-front statement clearly indicating that this is, in fact, the case.

(2) A detailed prospectus, including clearly-defined objectives, predictions, and analysis.

(3) Some sort of sustainable calculus for determining my costs versus my eventual, realized profits - not from what I make or sell inworld, but from the base product itself.

Otherwise, I'll continue to play penny stocks and junque assets.