IBM Chairman and CEO Sam Palmisano is shown visiting with researchers in a virtual-world replica of China's Forbidden City. Palmisano's avatar was there to announce a new business unit that will work on applying virtual-world technologies to real life. IBM is already working with customers in virtual worlds to find out how 3D Internet environments can change business and society; it plans to adapt the best of virtual worlds and gaming environments to build a seamless, standards-based 3D Internet as the next platform for global commerce and business operations.