Attend meetings without travelling with Teesside University's DLab

Sep 30 2010 by John Hill, The Journal

WOULD you turn down an offer of free office and display space? John Hill talks to the Teesside team who are offering small businesses a chance to set up home in a virtual world.

HAVE you seen how expensive it is to get a train down the spine of the country these days?

It hardly seems worth it if you’re skulking down to a meeting with clients or other folks in your company, only to say about five or six words and slither back up again.

This is why virtual worlds should in theory be an ideal solution for businesses looking to meet without travelling, or showcase their wares across the world without shipping them.

Virtual worlds such as Second Life have allowed computer users to dip their toes into this strange but oddly thrilling water, while companies such as IBM are already piling into virtual meetings.

While there are platforms available to companies with a bit of money or a bit of computer expertise, Teesside University’s DLab is giving 76 North East SMEs the chance to move into their own 20 by 20 square metre virtual plot for free.

Project manager Gordon McWilliam says: “The way we see it is when you’re in this landscape it doesn’t matter if you’re a company of 25 people travelling around the world or a company of two in a back bedroom.

“It’s about getting a brand online where you can be seen by a larger audience. On Google you often have to search for a company online. We wanted to create an area that has a level playing field.” DLabs has spent one year creating the Northern Design Quarter, a 16km online business park developed with a virtual world platform called Blue Mars.

Businesses can get used to the workings of the world in the orientation suite before taking advantage of exhibition and conference space. They can design their own building on their plot, and can showcase products in 3D model form either to the general public or a few people in the know.

Meetings and products can be sealed off using virtual walls, and the platform features encryption to provide security for businesses.

The £1m project has been funded by Teesside University and the European Regional Development Fund competitive programme 2007-13. As a result of this funding, 76 businesses in the region can occupy a space for free. Companies with less than 250 staff and turnover of under £34m can apply for a space for two years.