Once the stuff of science fiction – perhaps a storyline for Doctor Who or the Matrix films – living a life in a parallel universe has now been made possible on the web.
Technogeeks have long been acquainted with computer and online games which simulate real life; for example, by re-creating situations of war. But it now seems the boundaries between real life and the virtual world have become blurred.
It is six months since Northamptonshire business partners Lesley Williams and Peter Dunkley decided to take their internet consultancy firm a step further and open an office in a virtual world.
To do this, the co-directors of depo consulting ltd in Potterspury logged on to secondlife.com, a 3D virtual world built and owned by nearly six million residents from around the world.
Peter said: "Second Life is an example of the 3D internet which people have been talking about for a long time. We felt that now is the time in which people will be able to start selling things using the three dimensional internet.
"It is mad, but it does work. We have friends and colleagues on Second Life who we only see in Second LIfe. We don't know what they look like in real life, or where they come from."
But business is not the only point to Second Life. It also contains casinos, dance clubs, shopping centres, space stations, vampire castles and cinemas.
Once online, you are given the choice of being a free or premium member. Premium members are given Second Life's own currency of linden dollars, with which to buy services and trade.
After joining Second Life, the first task is to choose an identity or "avatar". A Second Life visitor must choose a name and decide what they want to look like.
Peter said: "There are virtual bars and a Blue Note virtual jazz club. I don't have much time for socialising, but I have a friend who is a nurse in Surrey and she is on there a lot and has friends from all over the world. She is hanging out with people from as far away as Australia."
He added: "Women spend more time on there because it is more of a social environment. You can create your perfect home, your ideal figure – our character, Chester, doesn't have a beer gut – and shopping is outrageously cheap."
But, he explained, as with all dealings on the internet some caution has to be taken in believing people are who they say they are.
He said: "From a business point of view, we always have to make sure people are representing real companies. We can't afford to waste a lot of time with people who can't afford to pay for us.
"We do work free of charge with companies who only exist in Second Life, but we need to know beforehand."
But although the virtual world may sound like an elaborate game, Second Life residents are making real money through their use of the system.
The character Anshe Chung has become the virtual world's first millionaire, on profits entirely earned inside a virtual world. Allin Graef, who lives in Germany and created Anshe, made her fortune by buying virtual land and property, creating developments and renting them out.
Peter said: "You will see people saying there is no real money to be made in Second Life, but that is short-sighted."
Last month, 40 per cent of depo's billing was for services provided on Second Life.
When setting up to work in Second Life, Peter bought a virtual island and asked his brother, architect Benn Dunkley, to design a state-of-the-art office building for it.
This was a new challenge for Benn, whose real life projects have included designing a cinema for the home of actor and director Woody Allen, as well as an apartment for Michael Stipe of REM.
Although in real life depo works as an internet consultancy, in Second Life Peter's team – which now includes Benn – also makes money by designing properties and office space for firms. But, although the property does not exist in the real world they charge real money for the designs.
Peter said: "Benn leapt at the chance to take advantage of the freedoms of the virtual world, even introducing an underwater coral meeting room where you are surrounded by tropical fish. It certainly beats the average corporate meeting room.
"Benn is really happy working in Second Life and he is getting a lot of work. For an architect, you can design a building and have it up and running very quickly.
"We like Second Life because it is interesting, but it is also better for the environment. You can arrange meetings in a virtual environment rather than having to commute from building to building.
"It is much easier to get around in a virtual world, so if you wanted to meet someone from a company in Chicago it is easy on Second LIfe. We have customers in the USA, Spain and in New Zealand."
The firm's virtual office is opened by arrangement, or between 3pm and 5pm every day, and it is manned by one of depo's team of virtual people, which include characters named Marissa Meltzer and Chester Orbit.
Meetings are carried out through people typing what they want to say, but a system is now being developed in which characters like Chester will be heard speaking.
Peter believes programmes like Second Life are providing a glimpse into the future of work.
He said: "Within five years, we believe that virtual offices will be established as a genuine alternative for many businesses. Within 15 years, the face of work will be unrecognisable.''
The aim would be that virtual offices could be used to replicate real life offices in every way, so workers may do a day's work but never need to leave home.
Peter said: "The virtual office can replicate the real life office in every way. From access to computer systems, filing cabinets, management oversight and even through to office romances and water-cooler moments; all can be replicated within the virtual office.
"The difference, of course, is that no one has to leave the house and drive into work."