For some virtual world fans, the idea of Linden Lab's Open Grid Beta is a dream come true. Like the many data portability initiatives going on in the Web 2.0 space, Open Grid Beta is a test bed for a platform that would allow virtual world residents to use their avatar in any virtual world running Linden Lab's OpenSim software.
MIT's Technology Review claims that "no one wants to have as many avatars as website accounts," but Prokofy, one of Second Life's most well-known residents, isn't quite convinced. In a post of her own (as well as a comment on the MIT article), Prokofy argues that interoperability between virtual worlds introduces a potential for security issues and intellectual property violations without any oversight in place for policing the border crossings:
"Under the guise of making 'universal standards' (called in this scenario 'open standards') which enable 'everybody to connect all different ways,' they are creating openness without any kind responsibility ... There's another way, and that is *not have the roads*. Until you need them. Until FIRST you work out the agreement, THEN you connect. This creation of a web of connectivity pressuring each "service provider" to Balkanize their choices strikes me as destructive."
Prokofy may be right; most users aren't clamoring for interoperability between virtual worlds. The prevailing thought is that early adopters and power users have a desire for avatar portability, and more casual users will enjoy the benefits as well. Virtual worlds in their current state are a much younger and less developed technology than the Web, however, and while it may make sense to build in functionality while the space is still young, implementing it for users may be premature.
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