Modifying time progression rates in a virtual universe

A method comprising:

• determining that an avatar -performs a first activity at a first rate of movement within an area in a virtual universe;
• detecting a client, associated with the avatar, wherein the client renders an appearance of the avatar at the first rate of movement according to a data processing rate;
• instructing the client to modify the data processing rate, wherein the modifying of the data processing rate causes the -avatar to slow down performance of the first activity within the area from the first rate of movement to a second rate of movement;
• and
• performing a second activity at the first rate of movement while the avatar performs the first activity at the second rate of movement, wherein the second activity counteracts the first activity.

A system comprising:

• a machine configured to connect to a communication network, the machine configured to process data in a virtual universe;
• a temporal variation device configured to connect to any one of the machine and the communication network, wherein the temporal variation device comprises a temporal variation controller configured to
• determine a first area of the virtual universe, wherein time progresses at a first time progression rate in the virtual universe, and
• modify the first time progression rate in the first area to a second time progression rate different than the first time progression rate, wherein said modification causes actions in the first area to occur in accordance with the second time progression rate while actions occur in a second area of the virtual universe in accordance with the first time progression rate;
• a temporal variation effects monitoring device configured to analyze the effects of said modification of the first time progression rate;
• and
• a temporal variation display controller configured to display an indicator, viewable via the machine, of said modification of the first time progression rate.

A computer program product comprising a machine-readable, tangible storage device(s) and machine-readable program instructions stored on the machine-readable, tangible storage device(s) to modify time progression, the machine-readable program instructions, when executed by a CPU:

• detect an event that occurs in a virtual universe;
• analyze a potential impact of the event on the virtual universe;
• determine, based on the analyzing of the potential impact of the event on the virtual universe, that the potential impact will affect a first area of the virtual universe more than a second area of the virtual universe, wherein time progresses at a first time progression rate in both the first area and in the second area the virtual universe;
• and
• modify the first time progression rate in the first area to a second time progression rate different from the first time progression rate, wherein said modifying causes actions in the first area to occur in accordance with the second time progression rate while simultaneously actions occur in a second area of the virtual universe in accordance with the first time progression rate.