Mimicking conversation in a virtual room required the Bell Labs teams to process multiple incoming video and audio feeds and handle superfast 3-D.

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By allowing students to practice their experiments in a virtual lab setting, LearnSmart Labs allows students and instructors to maximize the valuable time spent in the physical laboratory.

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And while some virtual worlds have discouraged the exchange of game money for dollars, Linden Labs condones the practice.

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Linden Labs had announced in April that it was cooperating with FBI scrutiny of the virtual world, including law enforcement officials' visits to the game's casinos.

FORBES: Second Life Goes Legit

Talks are said to have begun with Linden Labs to make the entire simulation available on the internet through the company's virtual world Second Life.

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