Pixels and Policy

The U.S. Government is More Wired than Ever. But Is It Secure?

Over the past few years, the U.S. government has led the way in integrating virtual world technology in to the physical workspace.

From the Department of Energy to the Marines, government is a major consumer of cutting-edge virtual world and simulation technology. But is Uncle Sam getting too dependent on virtual platforms?

Pixels and Policy takes a look at our government's avatar addiction, and the potential downsides of the habit.

 

Liberalizing and Stabilizing Developing Nations Through Broadband Accessibility

A few weeks ago we reported on how Brazil is positioning itself to become the Internet and virtual world development hub of South America.

Now a report just released by market research firm Strategy Analytics has the data that shows developing nations are likely in for a telecommunications boom over the next year, with Brazil leading the way.

Pixels and Policy takes a look at the report and what a mass expansion of broadband Internet means for the developing half of the world.

Khalistan: Analyzing the Secessionist Indian State that Only Exists Online

The foreign policy community has always been troubled by the legal dilemmas created when breakaway regions of existing countries clamor for international recognition. Former President George W. Bush provoked outrage in Serbia after acknowledging the independence of Kosovo, long a bitter and controversial subject in the Balkans. The entire region seemed headed for conflict until timely threats and deals prevented widespread bloodshed.

The border disputes provoked by secessionist movements like those in Kosovo often provoke bloodshed. But what happens when a secessionist group urges for the formation of an ethnic or religious homeland without possessing any physical territory? Pixels and Policy investigates the interesting case of Khalistan, the Sikh homeland that exists only in the virtual world.

Why So Many Organizations Struggle for Success in Virtual Worlds

One of the most interesting and controversial discussions currently taking place amongst the virtual world cognoscenti is also one of the most vexing for the companies and government agencies hoping to capitalize on the growing communication power of virtual worlds.

Despite the best efforts of developers like Cisco, the Department of Energy and a mix of other public and private organizations, many more corporate/government Second Life installations fail than survive and thrive.

Pixels and Policy takes a look at why.

How the Intelligence Community Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Virtual Worlds

Social media and virtual worlds have nabbed headlines as potential game-changers in every field from business to political discourse, and most of that praise is well-deserved. But there is one community of experts consistently skeptical of the utility of virtual worlds.

Can recent improvements in the privacy and information security of virtual worlds win over the government intelligence community? According to some recent reporting by The Economist and Security Director News, even covert agents are warming to the potential communication power of firewalled worlds.