Modeling Reality With Virtual Worlds

What are some ways (corporate and otherwise) that these technologies can be used?

Based on an article in wikipedia:
"Many companies and organizations now incorporate virtual worlds as a new form of advertising. There are many advantages to using these methods of commercialization. An example of this would be Apple creating an online store within “Second Life”. This allows the users to browse the latest and innovative products. You cannot actually purchase a product but having these “virtual stores” is a way of accessing a different clientèle and customer demographic". IBM has also created its own virtual world. Based on the article "IBM Learning Programs Get a ‘Second Life", IBM has created a virtual world that is used to conduct employee orientation and mentoring. This allows IBM employees to interact with each other even if they are miles apart. I believe this causes a more sociable work environment for the IBM employees.

What are the benefits of these technologies to society?

The benefits of modeling reality with virtual worlds is that people who tend to anti-social or very shy are able to express themselves without the fear of social rejection. Virtual worlds allow people to become the person they in fact really want to be, allows people travel anywhere, at anytime, without having to leave one's home. People can be able to express themselves in any matter.

Is there a "dark side"?

Modeling the real world with the virtual world has it's dark side. People will depend on these types of worlds to much in the future if used in a large scale. Human interaction in the real world in my opinion is one of the things that make us human and part of life; virtual worlds make it easier to interact because the people are not face to face. But face to face interaction has the human aspect to it because mental and physical emotions play a part in the interaction.