Integrating molecular modeling tools and virtual reality engines: an architecture for a highly immersive molecular modeling (HIMM) environment

A software architecture for the integration of computer aided molecular modeling (CAMM) tools and virtual reality (VR) engines is presented. This approach has been chosen in order to provide with minimal effort a flexible highly immersive molecular modeling (HIMM) environment. The HIMM environment is built from readily available objects, that is CAMM tools and VR engines. Following the object oriented adapter design approach objects can be easily added or exchanged. A prototype has been implemented to estimate strength and limitations of the HIMM architecture.