Open+Source+Virtual+Worlds

=**Open Source Virtual Worlds **=

Open Source Virtual Worlds is the term often used to describe the platforms, toolkits and browsers that are used to create a virtual community and to connect to other virtual worlds (VW). Open Source also infers that the software for the individual users is free while the administrators of the VW may pay a licensing fee. Open Source is the current term for freeware software.

Virtual Worlds can be split into two categories, those that are destinations and those that are used as a private world for the participants to develop. As many educators are looking at VW’s as a forum for online education or looking more at the processes of how students use their space in the VW rather than the world as a resource and destination, private Virtual Worlds that can be accessed by invitation only are becoming more attractive. There are several major platforms that are used to create Open Source Virtual Worlds. These include OpenSim, RealXtend, a #|Scratch based platform, Open Cobalt and Open Wonderland, a java based platform.

OpenSim or Open Simulator has many similarities to and is compatible with SecondLife and SecondLife’s younger version Teen SecondLife but it is less expensive to the hosts. As with SecondLife, not only has private communities but also contains resources for education. Avatars can cross the barrier into both systems. Many users of Open Sim have stated that it looks just like Second Life but it still is quite buggy. However the developers are working on ironing out any problems as it is still quite new.  Open Cobalt, which has just been released and so is still in its developmental stage, has been created by Croquet, who are also educational developers. OpenCobalt can be hosted on both the internet and intranets and is compatible with Croquet's interactive whiteboard software. Open Cobalt has been designed to be more of a virtual world browser and is not a #|actual resource like SecondLife.

There are many benefits for Open Source Virtual Worlds. They are cheap or free, the participants have anonimity if desired and they also have the ability to alter the virtual world to suit their own purposes. There are also a number of problems which involve how assessment can occur if desired, cyberbullying, and establishing codes of conduct. When investigating resources is involved the problem of monitoring students behaviour is also a factor

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**Some Open Source Virtual World Websites**  [] [] [] [] []