TheU

The Contact Consortium focuses on virtual world cyberspace and has been active since 1995. The organization emerged from the earlier CONTACT initiative, which began in 1982, and it promotes discussions and collaborations among various stakeholders in the virtual environment sector. The website features several special interest groups, such as the Artificial Life Project and the Virtual Worlds Roadmap, which works towards creating a sustainable virtual worlds industry.

Special Interest Groups and Projects

Among the various projects, the Virtual Worlds Timeline and the Computer History SIG are noteworthy, each contributing to the historical documentation and analysis of virtual environments. The Consortium has also supported initiatives like the 2007 LINC restoration project to enhance knowledge sharing in the digital space. Notable past SIGs include efforts focused on community building, virtual education, and the sociocultural aspects of virtual worlds.

Resources and Connectivity

The Contact Consortium maintains an archive of significant projects and presentations from their conferences, which took place between 1996 and 2004. For those interested in engaging with the Consortium or requiring additional information, a contact form is available on their website.