Abstract

Journal of Global Information Technology Management, 17: 69–73, 2014 Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: 1097-198X print / 2333-6846 online DOI: 10.1080/1097198X.2014.928559 EDITORIAL PREFACE 1 2 3 4 Jacky Xi Zhang , Hongshi Zhang , Patricia Ordóñez de Pablos , and Yongqiang Sun College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, China Development Research Center, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Government, China University of Oviedo, Spain School of Information Management, Wuhan University, China INTRODUCTION Virtual worlds (VWs) are receiving increased global attention in a wide range of applications in education, business, government, and social contexts. There are many synonyms for VW, such as “multi user virtual environment,” “Web 3.D,” and “3D world.” In this article, we define VW as a computer-based simulated environment intended for its users to inhabit and interact via avatars. VW services are distinct from other traditional online services in terms of their open-ended, immersive, and collaborative nature (Zhou, Fang, Vogel, Jin, & Zhang, 2012). Due to increasing broadband internet access, VWs are rapidly emerging as an alternative means to the real world for communicating, collaborating, and organizing economic activity. Globally, venture capital, technology, and media firms reportedly invested more than $1 billion dollars