Gather.Town, an interactive video-conferencing tool
Video conferencing
Description: Gather.Town is an interactive and customisable web-conferencing tool. It is different from other similar ones such as Zoom or Skype in that, instead of just showing the webcam of users, it also provides a virtual space or room. Within this virtual space, which can have many different forms -that of a classroom or an office, for example- each user has an online self, i.e. a customisable avatar representing themselves. Users can move around in this virtual space, see who is also there (in the form of an avatar) and interact with other users. This interaction can be in the form of a chat or a virtual meeting. All in all, Gather.Town replicates a gathering in the physical world by providing virtual rooms and avatars with a “retro” appearance, or with clear aesthetical similarities to that of 8-bit videogames of the 1980s. It offers a free limited version and does not require having an account for use, although logging in provides access to more features.
Evaluation: Gather.Town can be a valuable and engaging tool since it offers an interactive approach to web-conferencing and online teamwork. It is customisable and thus suitable for educators - in fact, Gather.Town has some pre-built virtual environments made specifically for classroom usage, such as pre-built classroom, campus, or lab settings. It also allows users to create their own spaces and add elements such as whiteboards or podiums to reproduce a classroom setting. Gather.Town can serve the purposes of collaboration, communication, education, and recreation. For learners, it can stimulate engagement and creativity by providing them with the opportunity to create virtual spaces and activities and collaborate with others on a web-conferencing platform with a gamified twist. Gather.Town has basic graphics that allow functioning across several operating systems with minimal lag. We recommend having a look at Carleton University’s article
on Gather.Town.
Cost: Free for up to 10 users in the same space + paid options available.
Usability and tech notes ▼
Time efficiency 
Time needed to learn how to use a tool and its time-saving potential: Medium. It requires some setup time to configure an avatar and understand the functioning of the tool, but it is simple enough.
Interface language(s) The number of languages in which the tool is currently available/adaptable to: English, Portuguese, or Mandarin.
Respect for privacy What data does the tool collect and why? What security measures are there? GDPR compliant? : Medium/high. Gather.Town collects personal information such as email addresses, first and last names, and avatar-related data. This information is collected to provide, maintain, and improve its services, monitor usage, and detect technical issues. For payments, it may collect financial data. However, it does not sell this data to third parties and uses industry-standard methods for data encryption and key management. Gather.Town uses cookies that users can opt out of. It acknowledges users’ right to access, modify, and delete their data. Gather.Town states compliance with the GDPR. See more here.
Saving work for future use Can work be saved for future use?: Yes, progress gets saved on users’ profiles.