Cobrowsing
Encyclopedia
Co-browsing, in the context of web browsing, is the joint navigation through the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...

 by two or more people accessing the same web pages at the same time.

Early co-browsing was achieved by local execution of software that had to be installed on the computer of each participant. More advanced tools didn't have to be installed, but still required local execution of software or at least web-browser plug-ins, extensions, or applets. Most tools were limited to a single user that was able to navigate, while the others could only watch.

Some tools provide very limited co-browsing by only synchronizing the page location (URL) of the page that should be shared. Full co-browsing supports automatic synchronization of the browsers' state and content, including frames, portlets, or even content of the form fields and controls. Some tools can even identify complex media objects such as audio and video players and offer capability of synchronous (coordinated) playback with start/pause/stop functionality.

Co-browsing is very difficult to implement due to strong resistance provided by OS and browser security mechanisms. Co-browsing technology has many inherent challenges such as page personalizations or sites that require user authentication.

Commercial offerings

  • livelook, New Jersey, Java
    Java
    Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...

     plug-in
  • goInstant, Canada, private beta, using mainly JavaScript
    JavaScript
    JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....

     : Node.js
    Node.js
    Node.js is a software system designed for writing highly-scalable internet applications, notably web servers.Programs are written in JavaScript, using event-driven, asynchronous I/O to minimize overhead and maximize scalability....

    , Socket.io and Redis
    Redis
    Redis is used to refer to Romani people.Redis may also refer to:* Redis , an advanced key-value store...

  • channel, based in Amsterdam, uses JavaScript and Erlang
    Erlang
    Erlang may refer to:* Agner Krarup Erlang , a mathematician and engineer after whom several concepts are named** Erlang , a unit to measure traffic in telecommunications or other domains...

  • wisaforce, based in Paris
  • RightNow, Montana, recently acquired by Oracle
    Oracle
    In Classical Antiquity, an oracle was a person or agency considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic predictions or precognition of the future, inspired by the gods. As such it is a form of divination....

    , have a co-Browsing offering

See also

  • Web conferencing
    Web conferencing
    Web conferencing refers to a service that allows conferencing events to be shared with remote locations. Most vendors also provide either a recorded copy of an event, or a means for a subscriber to record an event. The service allows information to be shared simultaneously, across geographically...

     solutions
  • Online banking
    Online banking
    Online banking allows customers to conduct financial transactions on a secure website operated by their retail or virtual bank, credit union or building society.-Features:...

     solutions
  • Collaborative real-time editor
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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