OpenQwaq

{{Infobox software

| name = OpenQwaq

| logo = OpenQwaqLogo.png

| logo size = 120px

| caption = OpenQwaq logo

| released = 2011

| developer = Alan Kay, David Smith, Andreas Raab, David Reed, Ron Teitelbaum, Eliot Miranda, Community source

| repo = {{URL|https://www.github.com/itsmeront/openqwaq}}

| programming language = Squeak-Smalltalk

| operating system = macOS, Windows, Linux

| language = English

| genre = Virtual workspaces, video conferencing, collaboration

| license = GNU GPL v2

}}

OpenQwaq is open source computer software for immersive collaboration, which enables organizations to implement online 3D virtual world workspaces for their specific needs. OpenQwaq is based on the Teleplace technology, a conferencing platform that has been in the market since 2007, with the name Qwaq Forums until 2009.

History

Both OpenQwaq and Teleplace are based on the Squeak open source implementation of Smalltalk and the Croquet Project. The main developers of this family of technologies include Alan Kay, David Smith, Andreas Raab, Ron Teitelbaum, Eliot Miranda and David Reed, whose 1978 doctoral thesis on naming and synchronizations in a decentralized computer system introduced many of the main concepts.{{Cite web |title=Naming and synchronizations in a decentralized computer system by David P. Reed|url=http://deeprecursion.com/naming-and-synchronization-in-a-decentralized|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328082358/http://deeprecursion.com/naming-and-synchronization-in-a-decentralized|url-status=usurped|archive-date=March 28, 2012|author=Marcus Fix|date=Nov 8, 2010}}Croquet 1.0 SDK Manual Teleplace virtual workspaces were used by companies, universities, organizations and U.S. government agencies, such as the Air Force, Army, Navy and Department of Veterans Affairs{{Cite web |title=USDA Awards Contract for Teleplace as a vGov Virtual World Platform|url=http://www.hpcwire.com/ar/hpccloud/2010-05-12/usda_awards_contract_for_teleplace_as_a_vgov_virtual_world_platform/}} for training and collaboration, have applications to telepresence based e-learning,{{Cite web |title=Telepresence Education for a Smarter World|url=http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/prisco20100528/}} and have been used for popular interactive online technology talks.{{Cite web |title=Separating Hope From Hype In Quantum Computing|url=http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/10/09/07/1344210/Separating-Hope-From-Hype-In-Quantum-Computing}}{{Cite web |title=Carboncopies–Realistic Routes to Substrate-Independent Minds|url=http://www.kurzweilai.net/carboncopies-realistic-routes-to-substrate-independent-minds}} Teleplace ceased operations in December 2011.{{Cite web |title=Teleplace gone; 3D ICC steps in to help customers|url=http://www.hypergridbusiness.com/2011/12/teleplace-gone-3d-icc-steps-in-to-help-customers/}} 3D ICC Purchased the IP from Teleplace in 2012. The commercial product is now called Virtend.{{Cite web |title=About 3d ICC Forward|url=http://3dicc.com/about}}

=Initial release=

OpenQwaq was announced on the Teleplace blog and other IT news sites in May 2011.{{Cite web |title=Moving Immersive Collaboration Forward|date=3 May 2011 |url=http://teleplace.wordpress.com/2011/05/03/moving-immersive-collaboration-forward/}}{{Cite web |title=Teleplace open sources OpenQwaq|url=http://www.hypergridbusiness.com/2011/05/teleplace-open-sources-openqwaq/}}{{Cite web |title=Why Teleplace went open source|url=http://www.hypergridbusiness.com/2011/05/why-teleplace-went-open-source/}}{{Cite web |title=OpenQwaq Open Source Project Provides Virtual Workspaces for Collaboration|url=http://campustechnology.com/articles/2011/05/05/openqwaq-open-source-project-provides-virtual-workspaces-for-collaboration.aspx}}

The initial release of OpenQwaq was functionally equivalent to Teleplace with the exception of the video subsystem used for webcam videoconferencing, video playback and session recording, because the proprietary video codecs used in Teleplace could not be included as open source. Developers have then integrated in OpenQwaq the open source video and audio codecs used in the VLC media player. Following a standard open source technology business model, companies offering value added OpenQwaq hosting and consulting services have been formed.{{Cite web |title=3d Immersive Collaboration Consulting|url=http://3dicc.com}} In 2022 3D Immersive Collaboration Corp renamed Immersive Terf to Virtend™{{Cite web |title=3d Immersive Collaboration Corp|url=http://3dicc.com}}

Features

VOIP
Fully Interactive Applications
Document

: Spreadsheet

: Presentations

: PDF

: Whiteboard

: Firefox Web Browser

Avatar

: Simple

:: Allows for custom face image and badge

:: Allows Web Cam to be displayed as face

: Animated Avatar

::OGRE 24 bone

::Supports Biovision Hierarchy (BVH) animations

: Balloon Head

:: With string!

Webcams
Digital video recording
Webcasting
Sound files
Python Scripting of 2d applications and 3d objects
Meeting controls
Drag and drop 3D objects

: Google Earth (kmz)

: Collada (obj)

: VRML (wrl)

: 3ds Max (ase)

Uses

The teleXLR8 project, an online talk program previously based on Teleplace,{{Cite web |title=TeleXLR8 wants to be the "TED" for virtual worlds|url=http://www.hypergridbusiness.com/2010/10/telexlr8-wants-to-be-the-ted-for-virtual-worlds/}} restarted in August 2011 on OpenQwaq.{{Cite web |title=teleXLR8 returns, featuring quantum physicist Gildert on 'Hack the Multiverse!'|url=http://www.kurzweilai.net/telexlr8-returns-featuring-quantum-physicist-gildert-on-hack-the-multiverse}}

=QUBE=

QUBE is a software program based on OpenQwaq.{{Cite web |title=Giulio Prisco: SecondPlace, QwaqLife or TeleSim?|date=7 August 2011 |url=http://giulioprisco.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/secondplace-qwaqlife-or-telesim.html}} It was developed by Pentacle (The Virtual Business School), who use it as a virtual classroom for their executive education courses.{{Cite web |title=Welcome to the Pentacle QUBE|url=http://qube.cc/}}