Vista: A web-based virtual environment for automatically managing and exhibiting imagery data

This position paper describes the work in progress to develop a web service that facilitates automated management and exhibition of imagery data through a 3D virtual environment. It is designed to take users' imagery data (such as images, videos and presentations) uploaded using the web, and place the data automatically into virtual galleries, cinemas and studios. The service empowers users to utilise the Internet as a global data repository and showplace, and removes from users the burdens of non-trivial management of large volumes of data. The service also introduces several interesting and useful metaphors, such as virtual archives and space-warp tram, which cohere with the imagery world.