USER CREDENTIAL VERIFICATION INDICATION IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE
User credential verification indication in a virtual universe is disclosed. A method, system and program product are provided that include verifying a credential of the user of a first avatar in the virtual universe; and establishing a zone that causes an indication of the credential of the user of the first avatar to appear in response to an action being taken relative to the zone.
1 . A method for user credential verification indication in a virtual universe, the method comprising:
verifying a credential of a user of a first avatar in the virtual universe, wherein the credential is selected from a group consisting of: an occupational position, an occupational certification, an education level, an employment status, an income, a social security number, an age, and a driver's license; and
establishing a zone that causes an indication of the credential of the user of the first avatar to appear in response to an action being taken relative to the zone.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication is selected from a group consisting of: a text window, a change in an appearance of the avatar, and a visual indicator.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the zone includes an area in the virtual universe and the action includes the first avatar being placed in the area.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the zone includes an object in the virtual universe and the action includes an avatar taking the action relative to the object.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the object is a badge associated with the first avatar and the action includes a user of a second avatar performing at least one of: mousing over, clicking on, and having the second avatar touch the badge.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication includes progressive levels corresponding to a level of credential verification.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the verifying includes obtaining the credential verification from a third party outside of the virtual universe.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a second credential is selected from a group consisting of: a real-world name on a credit card associated with a user and a real-world location of the user as associated with the credit card information.
9 . A system for user credential verification indication in a virtual universe, the system comprising at least one computing device comprising:
a verifier for verifying a credential of a user of a first avatar in the virtual universe, wherein the credential is selected from a group consisting of: an occupational position, an occupational certification, an education level, an employment status, an income, a social security number, an age, and a driver's license; and
a zone establisher for establishing a zone that causes an indication of the credential of the user of the first avatar to appear in response to an action being taken relative to the zone.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the indication is selected from a group consisting of: a text window, a change in an appearance of the avatar, and a visual indicator.
11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the zone includes an area in the virtual universe and the action includes the first avatar being placed in the area.
12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the zone includes an object in the virtual universe and the action includes an avatar taking the action relative to the object.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the object is a badge associated with the first avatar and the action includes a user of a second avatar performing at least one of: mousing over, clicking on, and having the second avatar touch the badge.
14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the indication includes progressive levels corresponding to a level of credential verification.
15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein a second credential is selected from a group consisting of: a real-world name on a credit card associated with a user and a real-world location of the user as associated with the credit card information.
16 . A program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which when executed, performs a process comprising:
verifying a credential of a user of a first avatar in the virtual universe, wherein the credential is selected from a group consisting of: an occupational position, an occupational certification, an education level, an employment status, an income, a social security number, an age, and a driver's license; and
establishing a zone that causes an indication of the credential of the user of the first avatar to appear in response to an action being taken relative to the zone.
17 . The program product of claim 16 , wherein the indication is selected from a group consisting of: a text window, a change in an appearance of the avatar, and a visual indicator.
18 . The program product of claim 16 , wherein the zone includes an area in the virtual universe and the action includes the first avatar being placed in the area.
19 . The program product of claim 16 , wherein the zone includes an object in the virtual universe and the action includes an avatar taking the action relative to the object.
20 . The program product of claim 16 , wherein the object is a badge associated with the first avatar and the action includes a user of a second avatar performing at least one of: mousing over, clicking on, and having the second avatar touch the badge.
21 . The program product of claim 16 , wherein the indication includes progressive levels corresponding to a level of credential verification.
22 . The program product of claim 16 , wherein the verifying includes obtaining the credential verification from a third party.
23 . The program product of claim 16 , wherein a second credential is selected from a group consisting of: a real-world name on a credit card associated with a user and a real-world location of the user as associated with the credit card information.
24 . A method for user credential verification indication in a virtual universe, comprising:
producing computer executable program code;
storing the code on a computer readable medium; and
providing the program code to be deployed and executed on a computer system, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, cause the computer system to:
verifying a credential of a user of a first avatar in the virtual universe, wherein the credential is selected from a group consisting of: an occupational position, an occupational certification, an education level, an employment status, an income, a social security number, an age, and a driver's license, and
establishing a zone that causes an indication of the credential of the user of the first avatar to appear in response to an action being taken relative to the zone.