Collanos
Encyclopedia
Collanos Workplace is a proprietary
teamwork software
that ceased development in 2010.
Installed on each team member’s computer, it builds a team environment and transparent knowledge store that allows to define and organize the content of project teams (Workspace
s). For teams it supports their structured data, such as tasks and notes, and unstructured data, such as files.
Like that Collanos provides users with a possibility to get a unified collaboration peer allowing team members on the internet to bring virtually all collaborative services, shared content and all correspondences in one place without requiring a server environment and storing data only with team members.
Workspaces automatically and transparently synchronize amongst team members’ computers when online. The workspace integrates with existing communication channels and with external web content. Because the technology relies on a P2P
network, workspaces are available both online and offline, no server or additional IT infrastructure is required for a team. Finally, a presence management service lets users see at any given time who of their team mates are online and if they are present in specific workspaces.
Collanos is supported on Microsoft Windows
, Mac OS X
, and Linux
.
A combined peer-to-peer (P2P) and web-based architecture forms the technological foundation and differentiation of the Collanos solution. The company has developed a proprietary technology stack, which includes the peer-to-peer platform (Windows, Mac, and Linux), presence management, optimized synchronization, web-hosted architecture, support for industry-specific templates, and a proprietary customization tool. The product is developed in Java
on top of open-source software components like JXTA
initiated by Sun Microsystems
and Eclipse
by The Eclipse Foundation.
The company's name Collanos is derived from the words Collaboration
and Nous
(Greek: mind
; human thought).
A first English Beta version Collanos Workplace 1.0 Beta was launched on June 19, 2006, targeting English speaking internet users.
Collanos Software was elected for the first time into Cash Magazine's Swiss Top 50 Venture list on December 14, 2006.
On December 14, 2006, Collanos introduced the general availability version 1.0 of Workplace.
A German version was released on February 8, 2007. In March 2007 at CEBIT in Hanover, Germany, Collanos Workplace won the Innovation Prize ITK 2007 in the Office Organization Category.
On May 24, 2007, Collanos released version 1.1 including Chinese language support and establishing a global network for team collaboration.
Collanos Software was one of three collaboration software companies proposed for the Emerging Tech Award 2007 by the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal on November 2, 2007.
Making Collanos Phone available in a first Beta version on January 6, 2008 Collanos complemented it's teamwork services with voice and multiprotocol instant messaging features.
The last updates on either its corporate website or its forums were in spring 2010: as of spring 2011 and in the light of an unresponsive company, it must be concluded that, though the software can still be downloaded and used, the company has ceased development of its product.
Collanos Workplace is cross-platform, based on Eclipse RCP
Technology and runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Thus-far large enterprises were the only organizations that were able to benefit from comprehensive collaboration solutions. With the standardization of internet protocols and prevalence of broadband, Collanos ambition is to ‘consumerize’ collaboration with its scaled-down simple collaboration solution for small teams on the internet. Every computer on the Net, be it Windows, Mac OS X or Linux, can become a member of the Collanos global network for team collaboration. Private or business users can connect with each other without the need of a central server, IT administration or additional infrastructure.
Based on the JXTA
(Juxtapose) peer-to-peer architecture, Collanos allows leveraging the advantages of both classic client/server and web architectures. Users can communicate with their teams securely. Team data is only stored on team members’ computers. Synchronization and storage is fully encrypted, using standard AES 256
.
Functions such as instant messaging, file sharing, project management and working collaboratively on documents are readily and easily accessible.
Proprietary software
Proprietary software is computer software licensed under exclusive legal right of the copyright holder. The licensee is given the right to use the software under certain conditions, while restricted from other uses, such as modification, further distribution, or reverse engineering.Complementary...
teamwork software
Collaborative software
Collaborative software is computer software designed to help people involved in a common task achieve goals...
that ceased development in 2010.
Installed on each team member’s computer, it builds a team environment and transparent knowledge store that allows to define and organize the content of project teams (Workspace
Workspace
Workspace is a term used in various branches of engineering and economic development.-Business development:Workspace refers to small premises provided, often by local authorities or economic development agencies, to help new businesses to establish themselves...
s). For teams it supports their structured data, such as tasks and notes, and unstructured data, such as files.
Like that Collanos provides users with a possibility to get a unified collaboration peer allowing team members on the internet to bring virtually all collaborative services, shared content and all correspondences in one place without requiring a server environment and storing data only with team members.
Workspaces automatically and transparently synchronize amongst team members’ computers when online. The workspace integrates with existing communication channels and with external web content. Because the technology relies on a P2P
Peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer computing or networking is a distributed application architecture that partitions tasks or workloads among peers. Peers are equally privileged, equipotent participants in the application...
network, workspaces are available both online and offline, no server or additional IT infrastructure is required for a team. Finally, a presence management service lets users see at any given time who of their team mates are online and if they are present in specific workspaces.
Collanos is supported on Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, and Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
.
A combined peer-to-peer (P2P) and web-based architecture forms the technological foundation and differentiation of the Collanos solution. The company has developed a proprietary technology stack, which includes the peer-to-peer platform (Windows, Mac, and Linux), presence management, optimized synchronization, web-hosted architecture, support for industry-specific templates, and a proprietary customization tool. The product is developed in Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
on top of open-source software components like JXTA
JXTA
JXTA is an open source peer-to-peer protocol specification begun by Sun Microsystems in 2001. The JXTA protocols are defined as a set of XML messages which allow any device connected to a network to exchange messages and collaborate independently of the underlying network topology.As JXTA is based...
initiated by Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
and Eclipse
Eclipse (software)
Eclipse is a multi-language software development environment comprising an integrated development environment and an extensible plug-in system...
by The Eclipse Foundation.
History
Collanos Software was established in November 2003 in Switzerland by Franco Dal Molin. Before that Dal Molin founded Object Solutions and sold it to GFT Technologies. He funded development via personal savings, family and friends, near-sourcing some of the development in Ukraine.The company's name Collanos is derived from the words Collaboration
Collaboration
Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, — for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing...
and Nous
Nous
Nous , also called intellect or intelligence, is a philosophical term for the faculty of the human mind which is described in classical philosophy as necessary for understanding what is true or real, very close in meaning to intuition...
(Greek: mind
Mind
The concept of mind is understood in many different ways by many different traditions, ranging from panpsychism and animism to traditional and organized religious views, as well as secular and materialist philosophies. Most agree that minds are constituted by conscious experience and intelligent...
; human thought).
A first English Beta version Collanos Workplace 1.0 Beta was launched on June 19, 2006, targeting English speaking internet users.
Collanos Software was elected for the first time into Cash Magazine's Swiss Top 50 Venture list on December 14, 2006.
On December 14, 2006, Collanos introduced the general availability version 1.0 of Workplace.
A German version was released on February 8, 2007. In March 2007 at CEBIT in Hanover, Germany, Collanos Workplace won the Innovation Prize ITK 2007 in the Office Organization Category.
On May 24, 2007, Collanos released version 1.1 including Chinese language support and establishing a global network for team collaboration.
Collanos Software was one of three collaboration software companies proposed for the Emerging Tech Award 2007 by the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal on November 2, 2007.
Making Collanos Phone available in a first Beta version on January 6, 2008 Collanos complemented it's teamwork services with voice and multiprotocol instant messaging features.
The last updates on either its corporate website or its forums were in spring 2010: as of spring 2011 and in the light of an unresponsive company, it must be concluded that, though the software can still be downloaded and used, the company has ceased development of its product.
Features
Collanos Workplace allows within minutes to share documents, have online discussions, and manage tasks, all in a single, consolidated space. Built on reliable peer-to-peer technology, Collanos Workplace software allows to work anywhere, anytime, both online and offline.Collanos Workplace is cross-platform, based on Eclipse RCP
Eclipse (software)
Eclipse is a multi-language software development environment comprising an integrated development environment and an extensible plug-in system...
Technology and runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Thus-far large enterprises were the only organizations that were able to benefit from comprehensive collaboration solutions. With the standardization of internet protocols and prevalence of broadband, Collanos ambition is to ‘consumerize’ collaboration with its scaled-down simple collaboration solution for small teams on the internet. Every computer on the Net, be it Windows, Mac OS X or Linux, can become a member of the Collanos global network for team collaboration. Private or business users can connect with each other without the need of a central server, IT administration or additional infrastructure.
Based on the JXTA
JXTA
JXTA is an open source peer-to-peer protocol specification begun by Sun Microsystems in 2001. The JXTA protocols are defined as a set of XML messages which allow any device connected to a network to exchange messages and collaborate independently of the underlying network topology.As JXTA is based...
(Juxtapose) peer-to-peer architecture, Collanos allows leveraging the advantages of both classic client/server and web architectures. Users can communicate with their teams securely. Team data is only stored on team members’ computers. Synchronization and storage is fully encrypted, using standard AES 256
Advanced Encryption Standard
Advanced Encryption Standard is a specification for the encryption of electronic data. It has been adopted by the U.S. government and is now used worldwide. It supersedes DES...
.
Functions such as instant messaging, file sharing, project management and working collaboratively on documents are readily and easily accessible.