The History of Open VNC Viewer: From its Humble Beginnings to its Current Status

In the early days of computer networking, the term 'network computer' was often used interchangeably with 'thin client.' This was a time when connectivity and remote access were becoming increasingly important, and researchers at Olivetti & Oracle Research Lab (ORL) in Cambridge, UK were working on a project that would change the face of remote computing forever.

The Videotile, a thin client developed by ORL, was one of the first devices to use the RFB protocol, which is still the foundation of VNC today. The Videotile had an LCD display with pen input and a fast ATM connection to the network, making it a revolutionary device for its time.

The name Virtual Network Computer (VNC) originated from ORL's work on the Videotile project. In essence, VNC is software-only, meaning that it doesn't require any special hardware to function. This made it an attractive solution for remote access and control of computers over a network.

One of the key features of VNC is its ability to negotiate capabilities with handshaking between clients and servers. This ensures that both parties can use the most appropriate options supported at their end, making it a highly flexible and scalable solution.

In 1999, AT&T acquired ORL, but unfortunately, this led to the closure of the research lab's efforts in 2002. However, some developers who worked on VNC while still at AT&T Research Lab continued to work on open-source and commercial VNC software under the name RealVNC.

Today, RealVNC Ltd claims the term 'VNC' as a registered trademark in several countries, including the United States. Despite this, the RFB protocol remains extensible, which has allowed for several forks of VNC over the years without compromising compatibility.

The original GPLed source code has fed into many other versions of VNC, making it a testament to the power and flexibility of open-source software. In fact, several members of the development team who worked on VNC while at ORL went on to form RealVNC in 2002, allowing them to continue working on VNC under that name.

In conclusion, the history of Open VNC Viewer is a story of innovation, collaboration, and perseverance. From its humble beginnings as a research project at Olivetti & Oracle Research Lab to its current status as a widely-used remote access solution, VNC has come a long way. Its ability to adapt and evolve over the years is a testament to its enduring relevance in an ever-changing world of technology.

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