Dynamic and mobile VRML gadgets

VRML97 still falls short when it comes to support dynamic, interactive multi-user worlds and shared visualizations. In this paper, we will discuss the use of CORBA and mobile object technology for the realization of VRML gadgets and VRML display agents that allow for updates in response to server-push events. In particular, a user can share a VRML world with another user simply by sending a clone of a display agent. This technique also allows us to create a repository-server for fragments of dynamic VRML visualizations. We will briefly discuss an example where this technology is used to realize collaborative visualizations to support decisionmaking processes. CR