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Taking technology created to keep children entertained, Jamestown-based multimedia company Digitell Inc. has created a virtual world to suit business professionals.

A virtual world so large the company has set a record for the largest online business conference.

Jim Parker, Digitell Inc. owner, said that on Wednesday and Thursday the company held a virtual reality conference for the Risk and Insurance Management Society that was larger than any other held before. He said that on Wednesday the conference had 500 visitors, with more than a 150 visitors on Thursday. Parker said that three years ago his staff set out to produce the virtual reality conference world to suit any suitors business needs. By taking technology used in video games like World of War Craft, Digitell Inc. has designed environments from standard real-life business conference with lectures and information booths to a more environmental world set with water skis and hang-gliders for the Meeting Professionals International, New York chapter.

VirtualU is Digitell's virtual world and is a unique experience. The 3D environment creates an experience that feels like you are actually in a seminar or at an event. Raise your hand and ask questions, interact with your colleagues on a one-to-one basis or speak up in front of a crowd.

The VirtualU universe can support hundreds of unique virtual worlds and up to 65,000 simultaneous users. The number of simultaneous users each world supports will be different depending on the application. Users walk around the virtual exhibition as a customizable avatar, which is a computer presentation of an individual. Users can interact and chat with each other, publicly or privately. There are a variety of 'spaces' available for people to utilize as well.

''Were looking now at the fruit of our investment,'' Parker said. ''It's just like the real world, but people can do it from the comfort of their own homes.''

Parker said the city and Industrial Development Agency helped Digitell receive money to build its virtual worlds.

''That is what I think is most impressive is that this is happening right here in Jamestown and not in some place like Silicon Valley,'' he said.

Parker said this wasn't the first conference the company has held, but was the first with more than 100 people. He said it took around six months to create the virtual world for the largest online conference, but usually it takes about two month for typical virtual conference worlds.

Digitell is a full-service multimedia company who specializes in working with professional associations worldwide.

Digitell started by recording events in the 1980s and has been an industry leader in adopting new technologies, initially from cassette tapes to CD-ROMs and now to virtual conferences and exhibitions.