ToolSpace: Web based 3D Collaboration

User interfaces have evolved from punched cards, to text terminals, to windowing systems. As interface standards move into the third dimension, we have the opportunity to ensure that they inherently support cooperative work as well as other modern ideas from areas such as component software and distributed systems. ToolSpace is our prototype of such an environment. Using VRML and Java, ToolSpace workspaces are available over the web through essentially a standard web browser installation. Within the workspace, users can interact with shared objects and ions in real time. With a software abstraction called “tools”, applications can scale with number of users, degrees of freedom of input devices, and sophistication of input filtering.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1999
• Where: VRML
• Authors: T. Goddard, Vaidy S. Sunderam
• Keywords: Internet Technology, Punched Cards, Standard Web Browser, VRML 1999, Windowing Systems