Chatmosphere is a fun and dynamic open-source video chat

It’s free, web-based and ready to be hosted. This web-app is based on the video conferencing tool jitsi, a well-adopted open-source alternative to video conferencing tools like Zoom.

This project started during the first Covid-Lockdown to enable personal exchange based on an open-source infrastructure that can be self-hosted. With the prototype made possible by the Prototype Fund in summer 2021, the proximity-based interaction pattern could successfully be tested. When participants move close to each other, they can start a conversation. Distant participants can not hear the conversation, but can move closer. This enables parallel conversations and fluid changes between conversations. A pattern everybody intuitively does when sitting with others at a big table.

During the last 6 months in the Prototype-Fund funding round, additional features have been added to enable the adoption through bigger groups. Following the initial principle of self-moderation and fluid group dynamics, it is now suitable to bigger formats of non-hierarchical gatherings. A demo version of Chatmosphere is online and can be tested on Chatmosphere.cc

We hope that it will serve all communities who are in need of easily accessible exchange.

This project will be continued as an open-source project, based on community contributions. Financial contributions to maintenance, infrastructure costs or further development a very welcome via Open Collective. 

The Team of Prototype Fund Round 10, 21/22

Yes, we are all designer by trade. We believe that well-designed interfaces and thought-through interactions are a crucial part when it comes to the mass-adoption of open-source software.

Mentions

- First participation at the Prototype Fund

- Early release featured on ycombinator

- Second participation at the Prototype Fund