Doing business in Second Life: e-commerce in 3D online environment. (10th March 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Dongsong; Shrestha, Prabodh
• Is Part Of: International journal of electronic business. Volume 8:Number 2(2010)
• Page Start: 148
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2010-03-10
• Subjects: electronic commerce -- Second Life -- 3D platforms -- online environments -- e-commerce -- virtual worlds -- virtual communities -- web based communities -- online communities -- internet -- world wide web -- avatars -- online shopping -- critical components -- virtual businesses -- real earnings -- 2D architecture -- electronic business -- e-business; Electronic commerce -- Periodicals; 658.05467805
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1470-6067

Abstract

Avatar-based 3D virtual worlds provide an unprecedented environment for e-commerce that potentially allows online shoppers to have similar shopping experience as they have in physical stores. However, existing 3D virtual worlds are lack of critical components for successful e-commerce. Second Life is the only 3D platform that currently enables a user to operate a virtual business with real earnings. In this paper, we analyse the Second Life as a 3D e-business environment. We propose a conceptual framework and discuss the possibility of adapting the traditional 2D e-commerce architecture to the 3D virtual world.