The future of stateless computing and desktop environments.

My friends, here's a little trip to the future.

In 2006, SL makes html on a prim widely available. Later that year, they support dynamic websites using AJAX and Flash.

In 2007, Apple announces a deal with Google. They'll integrate their server-side products and dominate the world of web-based applications with their new gMac branded products.

In 2008, Apple releases Mac OS Live, shipping on iPods only.
Plug your iPod into the USB port of ANY computer and reboot into your favorite OSX operating system. Since the computer has an internet connection, all your data is preserved on gMac servers.

Welcome to the world of stateless computing.

Enter LindenLab
After the widespread adoption of stateless computing, LL positions SL as a desktop environment enabling ubiquitous collaboration. As a desktop environment, SL exposes more functionality to the underlying OS, and takes advantage of mature media handling capabilities from the OS. Any window from your computer can now be shared in realtime with anyone else.

Enter the world.
LL positions themselves as the global exchange and trusted authority for Linden Dollars. Then they open source the platform and allow free development.

( Aside:
We begin to see rapid improvements to in-world business applications. Virtual work begins to resemble historical factories. Filing systems look like libraries. Workflows look like assembly lines. People begin wearing multiple hats. The visual representation of function and activity becomes increasingly important. )

Enter the banks and Financial Institutions.
Massive regulatory pressure is imposed on LL to implement controls, corporate governance, and accountability. Trading of the Linden is now available to world currencies markets but LindeX remains the largest such market.

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How do Microsoft and eBay/Skype fit in?
At some point eBay does a deal with LindenLab to provide all the technologies and customer support for in-world transactions of virtual goods. In exchange, Skype is made integral to SL.. connections are automatically established based on virtual proximity.

Microsoft fights to hold market share on multiple fronts. Stateless computing and Mac OS Live ultimately wean people off Windows. gMac products are better than competitive offerings from Microsoft. People no longer need MS Office on the Desktop. Collaboration features are built-in to every app via SL. Eventually, MS Office is retooled for virtual environments and sees a resurgence. Microsoft revisits their old "Bob" virtual desktop environments and begins renting complete "Virtual Offices".

2009: the asset server crashes, the world is thrown into chaos. Society collapses and humans are forced to eek out an exisitance on the margins of the desert. Tina Turner rises to power as the queen of barter town. All disputes are settled in the Thunderdome.

Here's a possibility for MS.

Microsoft, having recently acquired Groove Networks, and appointing Ray Ozzie as CTO, begins behind the scenes development of Groove Virtual Office 13 (code named "Universe". Turbine Games is commissioned to develop the 3d rendering engine, in-world building interface and server platform for hosting people who step outside their peer to peer virtual workspaces. All modules from Groove work within the new 3d virtual space. We see a proliferation of peer to peer virtual office environments.

MS Universe (Office 13) provides realtime peer to peer presence and collaboration in a 3d environment. Applications are initially two dimensional "windows" in a 3d space. MS Universe 2010 (Office 16) provides full 3d visualization for most office applications. Seamless alt-zooming becomes the paradigm replacement for scrolling. People walk through their business process maps and models together.

2006: Gas prices jump to US$5.00 / gallon (the same as it has been in the EU).
2007: Gas prices jump to well over US$7.00 / gallon. Distribution costs skyrocket, food prices increase. Electricity costs become prohibitive.
2008: People start having difficulty obtaining food on their meager salaries. Mass starvations. FEMA is called out and respond by making people wait in lines longer than those in Soviet Russia. Tremendous technological shutdown cripples internet use.

This doesn't include any natural disasters like huge meteorites, icecap melt floodings, volcano eruptions, etc. that might happen.

The asset server might crash, but who'd notice?

2006-2008 OpenCroquet continues to languish even though the best and brightest are still working on it. Things that seem important in the Research lab don't gain any traction in corporate environments.

2009 strip poker comes to ESPN

2009 Armageddon ensues following the above event
June 23, 2010 Philip Rosedale is revealed as the second coming of Jesus Christ, 7 years to the day after the release of Second Life 1.0



P2

2010
Jack is "fired" from Jack in the Box. And he changes his last name in an attempt to hide his identity from the public. That fails miserably.. in which he then attempts to take a trip using one of his time travel antenna-ball toys you will soon get with every Jack Burger meal.

And so Jack goes back to the year 2006 to start a Second Life.
Yes.. back before it all started. Back before millions of parents filed the class action lawsuit against him, before the Jack in the granade launcher accident, before he wore that horrible toupee, and yes.. even before the filming of Jacks Gone Wild.

Hi. I'm Jack. Former CEO of.. well that doesn't matter anymore. But please do not use any strange devices that you may recieve from any franchise with or, even without, the name Jack in it.
Instead.. try one of their stinking Frosty Milkshakes made with real ice cream. And smile Because your kid didn't send your ass back in time.

And if they do. Decide right then that you will not have that brat of a kid. And be shifted back to the future, with no kids, and have the bright idea about a new form of birth control. And praise Jack for giving you the wonderful idea.
Then buy a lot of his stinking Frosty Milkshake made with real ice cream.