Networked Graphics

Chapter 1. Introduction

Over the last four decades the Internet has radically changed many forms of collaborative activity. Email and more recently instant messaging have enabled efficient asynchronous collaboration between remote people. The World-Wide Web (WWW) has enabled a range of different publishing models for individuals as well as large organizations. More recently though, the Internet has enabled new types of real-time synchronous communication between people. Synchronous collaboration tools include video and audio tools, but also network games (NGs) and networked virtual environments (NVEs). Within NVEs and NGs, users can share a virtual space with business partners to brainstorm or they can be immersed¹ in a fantasy world to go exploring ...