Advanced interface into network management workstations

From a telecommunications perspective, VR (virtual reality) is likely to have a major impact in two principle areas. The first area is the obvious one of using VR based services on telecommunications networks. The second area, which is discussed, is the use of VR for conceptualising complex systems and structures, in particular using VR for the visualisation of telecommunication networks. The authors identify an important application domain-network management-that will benefit by the use of VR techniques. There is a major leap between developing systems which act as proof of concept demonstrators and systems which are robust enough to handle the requirements of a real control system, although the authors are progressing the ideas towards the state whereby they can be used practically, both for managing distributed systems and being used by geographically disparate users