Open Cobalt

Open Cobalt is a <a href="/facts/Free_and_open-source_software/1cHtjLCB">free and open-source software</a> platform for constructing, accessing, and sharing <a href="/facts/Virtual_world/Shuxbc0B">virtual worlds</a> both on <a href="/facts/Local_area_network/edUDxJ6J">local area networks</a> or across the <a href="/facts/Internet/Xw1rVvJU">Internet</a>, with no need for centralized servers.
The technology makes it easy to create deeply collaborative and <a href="/facts/Hyperlink/LqNsa84e">hyperlinked</a> multi-user virtual workspaces, virtual exhibit spaces, and game-based learning and training environments that run on all major software <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating systems</a>. By using a <a href="/facts/Peer-to-peer/wCCdPb0H">peer-to-peer</a>-based <a href="/facts/Message_passing/RYf3hD3J">message passing</a> protocol to reduce reliance on server infrastructures for support of basic in-world interactions across many participants, Open Cobalt makes it possible for people to hyperlink their virtual worlds via <a href="/facts/3D_computer_graphics/zlWW6eaF">3D</a> <a href="/facts/Web_portal/Fj25GpUE">portals</a> to form a large <a href="/facts/Distributed_computing/o5nyhqTF">distributed</a> <a href="/facts/Computer_network/3w5RM99p">network</a> of interconnected collaboration spaces. It also makes it possible for schools and other organizations to freely set up their own networks of public and private 3D virtual workspaces that feature integrated <a href="/facts/Web_browsing/VRatDzlP">web browsing</a>, <a href="/facts/Voice_chat/JdhMSMjh">voice chat</a>, <a href="/facts/Text_chat/UXwSoP4j">text chat</a>, and access to <a href="/facts/Remote_desktop/gJgglwht">remote desktop</a> applications and services.
Open Cobalt uses the <a href="/facts/Squeak/eCP11lRC">Squeak</a> software environment, which is an open-source <a href="/facts/Smalltalk/Ru2UPVDE">Smalltalk</a> system freely available for Windows, Mac and Unix. As is true of almost any Smalltalk application, Open Cobalt has identical functioning on any supported platform. As a Smalltalk system, it can usually be updated while the system is running without needing a restart.

Open Cobalt open-in-new

Open Cobalt