NetMaps - A Three Dimensional Interface for Web Browsers

The coming information superhighway sets the stage for how we will work and play in the next millennium; building upon the Internet along with powerful new Internet tools such as the World Wide Web. By every measure, the Internet and the Web are experiencing exponential growth. The amount and variety of data on the Net makes it increasingly difficult to find specific information of interest - for new users, especially. A set of tools are proposed which contain a simple graphical user interface based on 3 dimensional objects, for organizing and viewing information on the Web. The organizational structure created is called a NetMap. During Phase I, prototype versions of the tools will be developed and used to generate a sample NetMap. In Phase II, fully functional versions of these tools will be developed along with the ability to use NetMaps in a 3D immersive environment. These tools could be used by anyone to organize or locate information on the Internet.