GPGPU Test in Open Cobalt

Video of a Lorenz Attractor GPGPU object being calculated within an Open Cobalt virtual world. GPGPU (general-purpose computing on graphics processing units) techniques leverage a computer's graphics processor (GPU) to perform calculations that in most applications are traditionally handled by the computer's main processor (CPU). User interface elements within the Open Cobalt world can be used to dynamically color, rotate and translate the object. This is a continuation of Matthew Chadwick's explorations into GPU-computed chaotic attractors of dynamical systems in virtual worlds. The results are visually impressive. What's even more impressive is that you can navigate through these clouds in real-time. It's good to see this being worked on within the Open Cobalt code base. Thank you Matthew!

Open Cobalt Alpha Trailer

A demonstration video for the upcoming Open Cobalt 1.0 alpha release filmed entirely from within Open Cobalt. Happy holidays to all who have made our exciting project possible!

Metaplace Closing

In a recent email to its subscribers, the web-based virtual world company Metaplace announced that it is closing down its virtual world service on January 1, 2010 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time. Here is an except from the email: "Over the last several years, we here at Metaplace have been working very hard to create an open platform allowing anyone to come to a Web site and create a virtual world of their own. Unfortunately, over the last few months it has become apparent that Metaplace as a consumer (user-generated content) service is not gaining enough traction to be a viable product, requiring a strategic shift for our company." I wonder who might be next...