Myth: "Sun's web solutions are proprietary" BUSTED: Gaming!
So you say Sun's web solutions are proprietary! HA! First of all, I would argue that Sun's web solutions have NEVER been proprietary since they've always been based on open standards like LDAP, HTML, IMAP, SMTP, etc... But, that's old news.
Here's the new news. Sun is back in full force and kicking in the Web 2.0 doors at startups and traditional customers alike. Of course, it's easy for me to say as a Sun employee but you want proof!
So, I'm going to focus on gaming and education - a strong interest of mine - and gaining lots of momentum....
Project Darkstar - A Gaming Server (All OPEN SOURCE)
Project Wonderland - The client-side Virtual World (ALL OPEN SOURCE)
Example #1: Media Grid's Immersive Education Initiative. The Immersive Education Initiative is an international collaboration of universities, colleges, research institutes, consortia and companies that are working together to define and develop open standards, best practices, platforms, and communities of support for virtual reality and game-based learning and training systems.
Example #2: Virtual Worlds in the Corporate World. Here Sun is listed with all the other big guys though you have to wait until page 5 to see it. One section states: "Sun Microsystems, meanwhile, is developing MPK20, a virtual world extension to its 19-building facility in Menlo Park, Calif. According to Nicole Yankelovich, principal investigator of the collaborative environments group, at any given time more than half of Sun's employees work remotely (which Sun encourages because it reduces the need for office space and has environmental benefits). Virtual worlds are a compelling alternative to the boring old audio conference. "We need a way to bring everyone together and get some informal brainstorming going," she says." More info can be found at CIO Magazine.
Example #3: Digital Native Blog. Just an example of people outside of Sun who are starting to blog about this. There are tons of others like this.
Example #4: MiRTLE.
A project at the University of Essex to provide a mixed reality environment for a combination of local and remote students in a traditional instructive higher education setting.
Example #5: Stuff from Sun Up until now, I've been very careful not to include any examples that came from Sun bloggers since I know you will think that is skewed. But, I would be remiss if I did not at least point you to Sun blogs on the subject. Blogs about Darkstar & Blogs about Wonderland. I must also give you this link to Sun in Education. Lastly, and a personal favorite of mine: Ways that Sun is "eating our own dog food" and utilizing our OPEN SOURCE gaming technologies to foster learning environments that reach the needs of our newest employees - employees who are digital natives. Meet Karie Willyerd, our CLO (Chief Learning Officer).
I hope that this gives you a good unbiased sampling of why Sun's Web Solutions are NOT Proprietary! Enjoy!!
-Robin
