Linden Lab's New Acquisition (Lifestyle Application)

Linden Lab is making strategic changes to Second Life virtual world and just acquired OnRez and xStreetSL, making the websites Second Life's official central marketplace. It seems to me that Linden Lab is getting ready to attend to new and more general users.



While the current tool sets provided by Second Life viewer sits between the position to serve content creators (want more capacities and flexibilities than the current version) and shoppers (need a simplified navigation and more interesting activities), I wonder how they will approach to the improvement of UI design that can carter to virtual business and/or promote virtual lifestyle and digital entertainment. (The front page of Second Life does say something about what Linden would like to focus on and offer to their citizens).

Other virtual worlds (Lively by Google is out):
1. Open Grid (Open Life viewer by Kristen Lee) PC/Mac/Linux (2008-9)
There has been a Kristen viewer for PC to render dynamic lighting and shadow. A Mac version has been released for 2009. (built upon the original open source code from Linden Lad is under GPL)
2. Roblox
Virtual world plus block building game sounds like a very smart idea.

3. Jumpstart 3D Virtual World (for age 3 to 8, necessary?) PC/Mac (2007-8)
Considering children's cognitive development in its UI design, instead of teleport in this virtual world avatars jump to the destination (showing the jump physically). Simplified navigation (move forward/backward/left/right) with arrow keys and mouse click (control mechanics used in many casual games) and other audiovisual assistance make the control interaction easy and fun.