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Circular globe configuration. S<strong>in</strong>gle l<strong>in</strong>ks are not visible from this viewpo<strong>in</strong>t.<br />

Intr<strong>in</strong>sic dimensions<br />

Some of the features we can use to improve legibility are: size, color, brightness, distance and shape. Others like sound and sp<strong>in</strong> aren't supported <strong>in</strong> VRML<br />

version 1.0. Textures are optionally used as an esthetic enhancement, because most platforms and browsers can't assure a decent frame rate. Two <strong>in</strong>tr<strong>in</strong>sic<br />

dimensions are used together to map a l<strong>in</strong>k's attribute. Us<strong>in</strong>g two <strong>in</strong>tr<strong>in</strong>sic dimensions for one <strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion (for example brightness and size for the age)<br />

further improves the legibility. The bookmarks file, other than the name and the URL of a l<strong>in</strong>k, stores <strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion about its date of creation and last access. It<br />

is also very easy to get the type of l<strong>in</strong>k from the URL: the first part <strong>in</strong>dicates if it's http, ftp or else. Here's how all this <strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion is mapped:<br />

Color and shape are used to represent the type of l<strong>in</strong>k, for <strong>in</strong>stance:<br />

blue cube: http<br />

green sphere: ftp<br />

yellow cone: gopher<br />

red cyl<strong>in</strong>der: telnet<br />

Brightness and size are used to show the age of a l<strong>in</strong>k (last access)<br />

small and dark: old l<strong>in</strong>ks<br />

big and bright: freshly accessed l<strong>in</strong>ks.<br />

As the background is black, big bright objects are more visible.<br />

Some l<strong>in</strong>ks with different size, brightness, color and shape<br />

If textures are used, a special one marks VRML l<strong>in</strong>ks.<br />

Text is only used to label l<strong>in</strong>ks and globes with their names and is pasted on both sides of a rectangular panel below each l<strong>in</strong>k (this way it can be read from<br />

two sides).<br />

Navigation h<strong>in</strong>ts<br />

A path connects all globes, guid<strong>in</strong>g the unconstra<strong>in</strong>ed navigation allowed by most VRML browsers. Landmarks are present <strong>in</strong> form of stars. These stars have<br />

two roles: that of usual landmarks, mark<strong>in</strong>g a special po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>in</strong> the data space, and that of quick navigation methods, allow<strong>in</strong>g the user to smoothly move to a<br />

location by select<strong>in</strong>g the star (like by click<strong>in</strong>g on it with the mouse).

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