OZ Virtual was a 3D world viewer created by OZ Interactive that enabled real-time collaboration communications in shared spaces on the Internet with a strong focus on creative content production.

The viewer supported the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML

VRML

VRML is a standard file format for representing 3-dimensional interactive vector graphics, designed particularly with the World Wide Web in mind...

 2.0) a standard for creating and experiencing virtual reality

Virtual reality

Virtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...

 worlds on 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...

. It came with an avatar

Avatar (computing)

In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...

 editor that allowed the user to select from a set of pre-defined avatars with body movements and modify their appearance. Users could communicate using voice chat using low bandwidth codecs supplied by Voxware.

One of the features of this VRML

VRML

VRML is a standard file format for representing 3-dimensional interactive vector graphics, designed particularly with the World Wide Web in mind...

 browser was that anyone browsing a given URL could see and interact with any other users visiting the same URL at the same time, thus making it an instantaneous shared virtual space.

Timeline:

1. The first version of the software was released in beta on July 24, 1996, with support for VRML
   VRML
   VRML is a standard file format for representing 3-dimensional interactive vector graphics, designed particularly with the World Wide Web in mind...
   
    1.0, avatars, and social interaction.
2. A subsequent release on December 11, 1996 added support for VRML
   VRML
   VRML is a standard file format for representing 3-dimensional interactive vector graphics, designed particularly with the World Wide Web in mind...
   
    2.0 including support for VRML 2 scripting using 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...
   
   .
3. OZ Virtual 2.0, released March 12, 1997, enabled editing of avatars, and embedding of various components of OZ Virtual onto web pages using ActiveX
   ActiveX
   ActiveX is a framework for defining reusable software components in a programming language-independent way. Software applications can then be composed from one or more of these components in order to provide their functionality....
   
    technology
4. The OZ Virtual technology was spun off from OZ Interactive into a separate company named SmartVR on November 24, 1999.

Partnerships:

• OZ Virtual was used to broadcast, in 3D using motion capture, a live concert co-hosted by Intel and OZ Interactive.
• OZ Virtual 2.0 was used to create a 3D product showcase for Ericsson
  Ericsson
  Ericsson , one of Sweden's largest companies, is a provider of telecommunication and data communication systems, and related services, covering a range of technologies, including especially mobile networks...
  
  .
• OZ Virtual 2.0 was also used to create a 3D world composed of Cartoon Network
  Cartoon Network
  Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
  
   characters for Time Warner
  Time Warner
  Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
  
  .
• Atlantic Records
  Atlantic Records
  Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
  
   used OZ Virtual to create a 3D site for its artists.
• The Van Gogh Museum offered 3D renderings of some of Van Gogh's pictures which were created in OZ Virtual and made available on the museum's website..

External links

• OZ Virtual Journey to the Dark Star is a comprehensive review of the OZ Virtual VRML browser
• Forbes: The land of OZ provides a brief history of OZ Interactive, makers of OZ Virtual
• OZ Virtual: Promotional Video is an archived version of an early promotional video for OZ Virtual
• Collection of press releases for OZ Virtual