OpenSim is the primary platform upon which FRI has developed its products and services, and to that end well-tuned code is a basic requirement.  Working initially with IBM Research, FRI initiated early explorations into alpha testing of this platform through its large-scale, complex developments in OpenSim-based virtual worlds.  This initial creation was a study of how to create a compelling user experience for future work environments.  

Black Dress Design Studio, FRI's design application for the apparel industry rests on the OpenSim platform, and so the maturity of that platform is critical.  FRI believes the evolution of large-scale grids will bring that maturity and it is the compelling, rich content that will help grow these grids.  There have been many efforts in increasing the performance of the OpenSim platform, but it is the user experience of compelling content that must perform well for mass adoption to take hold.

Compelling content will drive the growth of virtual worlds grids; performance is essential to sustain that growth.  But the compelling content must be there first for the platform to host the business models to follow.

The large-scale grids that will ultimately succeed will be the beautiful ones that everyone wants to visit where the user experience is consistently good.   As part of FRI's  continuing research in this area, FRI has signed a research agreement with Intel Labs for a new research collaboration whose focus is compelling content as a target to optimize the performance of the OpenSim platform for an enhanced user experience.

Imagery from FRI's creations will be exhibited as part of Super Computing 09, where virtual worlds will play an integral part in high performance computing.

Virtual World Immersion

Fashion Merchandising & Marketing

Content Licensing

Virtual Worlds-Based Product Design & Development

OpenSim Performance

Fashion Design Education