What is VRML?
VRML stands for Virtual Reality Modeling Language. It is a language used over the global Internet to decribe 3D "worlds". The first version allows simple objects to be placed at a given point in 3D space, the object having a simple array of properties affecting how it is shown. For example, lighting can be defined to come from a particular direction, an object can have author-defined shininess etc. VRML worlds contain any number of objects, and can be hyperlinked just as HTML documents can. It is planned that future versions of the language will allow for a greater set of properties to be available to the author, such as animation, "motion physics" (e.g. a bouncing ball), and provision for real-time multi-user interaction.

VRML and Chemistry
Unfortunately, V1.0 of the VRML language is not particually well suited to use the representation of Chemical data. The main problem is it's relative complexity, and a complete lack of support for common programming methods (for example : looping, IF statements, etc.). The outcome of this is that it is both very difficult and time consuming to manually type out source to a VRML world representing a recently researched molecule for example, unless the molecule is a small one. In order for the source to be created you really need to use a third party tool that converts molecular formulas or atomic coordinates into the 100's of spheres, cylinders, and cones needed to represent the atoms and electron systems. Because VRML is so new, and not yet as widely accepted on the internet as HTML, there has been no significant push to develop such a tool. However, VRML still represents an excelent oppertunity for the teaching of Chemistry, especially in areas such as the physical shape of atoms, hybridisation of orbitals, etc. Looking to the future, once time is incorparated into VRML, it will then become possible to watch fully 3D-molecules reacting with each other, seeing the reaction mechanism in one smooth transition, instead of having to study mechanisms in 3 or 4 disjoint stages.

Hardware / Software Requirements
In order to view VRML worlds you must have a VRML browser compatable with your hardware. There is still no clear "leader" in this field, but Netscape has been working on their plug-in, which can be downloaded from their site at http://www.netscape.com. If you live in Europe though, then you will be far better of using a mirror. A good example is the site at http://micros.hensa.ac.uk, where you can find the plugin by following Browse : Netscape ....

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