The populated web: Browsing, searching and inhabiting the WWW using collaborative virtual environments

Abstract

This paper presents new approaches for accessing the World Wide Web using multi-user three dimensional spaces, or collaborative virtual environments (CVEs.) The major sections of the paper deal with the aspects of browsing and navigating, searching, populating and displaying information within, and about the WWW. The methods described are illustrated with examples of working applications developed by the authors which together present an image of a possible future for Web access and collaboration based around the Web and its contents.