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from video tape) and compromised on file size through a variety of approaches <strong>in</strong> order to keep the files as<br />

small as possible. Even so, many still fall outside our desired 5 megabyte upper limit for file size.<br />

We chose the QuickTime <strong>format</strong> for several reasons. First, viewers were available for all platforms. (We<br />

make the general UNIX viewer, xanim, available for download<strong>in</strong>g from our server.) In addition, because there<br />

was no simple edit<strong>in</strong>g approach for the MPEG <strong>format</strong>, sav<strong>in</strong>g MPEG files as QuickTime movies was the only<br />

way to access them without go<strong>in</strong>g back to the orig<strong>in</strong>al digital files (often no longer available). In addition,<br />

QuickTime plays more smoothly than MPEG on a Mac<strong>in</strong>tosh.<br />

4.3 3D Files<br />

Scientific visualization offers <strong>in</strong>tuitively accessible <strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion about research results and is recognized by<br />

many researchers as an important part of the scientific process. In the laboratory--whether it is a physical<br />

location with test tubes or an immersive environment <strong>in</strong> cyberspace--3D visualization of data enables<br />

exploratory analyses and aids <strong>in</strong> processes such as <strong>in</strong>teractive steer<strong>in</strong>g through databases. With Web-based<br />

technologies, the lay viewer now has the opportunity to fly <strong>in</strong>to and through these files <strong>in</strong> much the same way<br />

as the experienced researcher.<br />

We chose to <strong>in</strong>clude a limited number of VRML files <strong>in</strong> features where exploration of a 3D data set<br />

would enhance the <strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion presented and the experience of the viewer. This work depended on conversion<br />

of visualization files created for CTC users <strong>in</strong>to VRML <strong>format</strong>.<br />

The two <strong>in</strong>itial applications approach this goal <strong>in</strong> different ways. The first, a biomolecular model,<br />

affords an experience similar to that of the researcher, present<strong>in</strong>g a challenge to the viewer <strong>in</strong> terms of<br />

navigat<strong>in</strong>g the file. It has an embedded hypertext l<strong>in</strong>k that functions as an illustration caption, expla<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g what<br />

the viewer sees. This allows the viewer to explore the environment and learn about the chemistry of the<br />

enzyme molecule by click<strong>in</strong>g on a part of it. We <strong>in</strong>tend to expand the use of this technique <strong>in</strong> future features.<br />

The second example of 3D illustration, a set of sample files from a geographic <strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion systems<br />

(GIS) database of New York State, allows the viewer to fly over selected regions of the state look<strong>in</strong>g at the<br />

distribution of vegetation, for example, and is geared more toward enterta<strong>in</strong>ment.<br />

To accommodate viewers new to VRML, we grouped the VRML files together with access through an<br />

<strong>in</strong>troductory page, Virtual Reality Tours, where <strong>in</strong>troductory <strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion and a l<strong>in</strong>k to the VRML repository<br />

are provided. The repository ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s up-to-date <strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion on software and <strong>format</strong>s. Mov<strong>in</strong>g from the<br />

Virtual Reality Tours page <strong>in</strong>to a model, viewers f<strong>in</strong>d a user <strong>in</strong>terface (designed by Cornell University<br />

undergraduate Daniel Switk<strong>in</strong>) <strong>in</strong> the form of a remote control. At this po<strong>in</strong>t, they select a specific model, load<br />

it, and fly <strong>in</strong>to it. Viewers exit the models through l<strong>in</strong>ks <strong>in</strong> the models themselves or through text l<strong>in</strong>ks on the<br />

Virtual Reality Tours page, which rema<strong>in</strong>s visible dur<strong>in</strong>g their VRML session.<br />

5.0 Self-evaluation and Future Plans<br />

Development of Explorations ended on April 1, 1996 when it was released publically, and while the site has<br />

been ref<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> response to feedback, no major changes have been made to the publication s<strong>in</strong>ce. Our aim <strong>in</strong><br />

develop<strong>in</strong>g Explorations was to apply the latest available technologies to create a highly <strong>in</strong>teractive, excit<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

and <strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion-filled multimedia experience through the World Wide Web. This forced us to explore the<br />

limits of such new technology and to develop new capabilities for onl<strong>in</strong>e documents. This is an ongo<strong>in</strong>g<br />

process.<br />

5.1 Overall Design<br />

We experienced an unwelcome design constra<strong>in</strong>t work<strong>in</strong>g for cross-platform application. Because of the effect<br />

that differences <strong>in</strong> screen resolution have on the size of the images on the page, we enlarged the design as<br />

much as possible to make the publication look reasonable on high resolution screens; this necessitated<br />

additional vertical scroll<strong>in</strong>g for low-end Mac<strong>in</strong>tosh screens (13" RGB monitors). In the future, we hope that<br />

new technologies such as Java* will resolve this problem by allow<strong>in</strong>g the images to be resized on the fly.<br />

This was our first use of frames and we hope that the artificial boundaries they enforced can be<br />

overcome though design and a more flexible frame structure similar to the grid system used <strong>in</strong> conventional<br />

publications. Depend<strong>in</strong>g on the evolution of Web standards, we may look for alternatives to the frames<br />

approach to page design. Access to the broadest possible audience will be an important factor <strong>in</strong> the decisionmak<strong>in</strong>g<br />

process.

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