I recently got myself a “job” on Second Life, for whatever reason. I found it while browsing the SL Classifieds one day and Googling the name of the company. It turned out to be a great project to be a part of; it’s much more than a job, it’s a performance.

The project/job is called Double Happiness Manufacturing, also known as “Invisible Threads: Sweatshop Jean Factory in Second Life“.

The project uses “virtual” workers to produce a real-world product. As I understand it, there is a computer and printer set up at a real-world location and customers give the order through the computer to the workers in the factory. We, as workers, select options (one person per machine per option) that the customer desires and send the virtual product to the printer, which prints the result on a fabric, where it is assembled and given to the customer to wear.

As an added bonus, this installation of Invisible Threads in which I’m taking part is set up at the Sundance Film Festival! While we work, there is an audio and video stream from the RL installation to our factory so we can see and hear the customers. During our job hours this evening, Robert Redford himself observed our process and said he liked our exhibit. Amazing!

Some videos: Double Happiness Demo, Double Happiness Factory Tour