SECOND LIFE -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 10/25/2006 -- Did you know... when you can't score tickets to the big game, you will soon be able to get to the game -- virtually -- and sit in the best seats in the house thanks to the application of virtual reality to almost everything in reality? The thrill of this year's Wimbledon was, for the first time, replicated in a virtual tennis court built by IBM (NYSE: IBM). While the game was played out in reality, spectators could sit with their friends or even walk on the court to view the game, ball-by-ball, from any angle. IBM has more than 230 researchers, consultants and developers using virtual worlds like Second Life to experiment with everything from new social networking tools, to the design of hospitals, schools, and businesses. Already, IBM actively uses Second Life to help alumni and current IBMers connect and collaborate through activities such as its recent "Bloc Party."

Read more about IBM's Second Life "Bloc Party" at:
http://greateribm.typepad.com/web_log/2006/10/greater_ibm_vir_1.html
or check out the Wimbledon Second Life demo on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wu3j4-2W3w

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