SL gets a lot of press for being a sensational platform for those looking for sensational pursuits -- sex, gambling, combat, etc. However, there is another side to the virtual world that doesn't get the same amount of coverage, and that's its value as a testing ground for proving concepts, virtual or otherwise.

This article goes over that idea. Corporations who are in the development stage of their product can utilize SL as a laboratory, saving time and money over the traditional method, which can be costly and take a long time to manage. The article mentions to aspects of experimentation: working on a product, and working on experimentation methods themselves. One leads to the creation and distribution of an object, the other helps develop methods of experimentation itself, helping to create tools that non-programmers can use.

As with many proprietary technologies, however, security can be a concern. Given SL's reputation for griefing, some companies might think twice before committing to developing an important project in SL. Ideas about age verification and increased security might help assuage those companies' fears, but those technologies are still to be tested and tried. Until then, the future of SL as a testing ground remains in the design stages.

(Via CNN)