A new environment for learning?
A new environment for learning?: “
If
you find yourself with some extra time over the next few days and are
feeling adventurous, you should set aside a moment or two and try out
the beta version of Croquet.
Croquet is a 3-D rendered
‘operating system’ and provides an environment for navigating through,
and representing, information. Users are represented by the
avatar of their choice (I ended up as a rabbit) and can wander through
different spaces. When I saw a demonstration earlier this year,
Croquet allowed users to navigate around in the rendered environment,
find and communicate with others and access their favourite desktop
applications from within the Croquet world.
Croquet is open
source and links computers through peer to peer communications.
It does not need a lot of infrastructure; I saw it working on a pair of
computers linked with an ethernet cable. My first exposure to
Croquet left me dumbfounded. It defies definition and must be
experienced.
Be forewarned – Croquet is really still a
beta. Documentation is sparse to non-existent and the people most
likely to benefit from playing with Croquet (in its current form) are
those who can troubleshoot code. Nevertheless, the application
has great promise and the potential to change the way we do many
things. One of its first possible uses is in creating 3-D
simulations (not unlike Ancient Spaces). Other potential applications include community and social environments as well as collaboration spaces.
You can get more information at http://www.opencroquet.org. I would love to hear what uses you find for Croquet!
“
(Via EDUCAUSE Blogs –.)
‘
learning environment?
perhaps….
