Operational Transform (OT) is a technology that allows developers to create real-time collaborative applications, such as Google Docs and Zoho Suite, by ensuring that any changes made by users are instantly reflected across all connected devices. Joseph Gentle, who previously worked on Google Wave, has been instrumental in developing ShareJS, an open-source OT library for NodeJS and browsers, which emerged from his efforts to revive the unique technology of Wave after its cancellation. OT provides significant advantages, including real-time data updates, seamless online/offline integration, and the prevention of accidental data overwrites, while enabling applications to incorporate collaborative features without requiring locks or conflict markers.