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The full power of mobile augmented and virtual reality systems is realized when these systems are connected to one another, to immersive virtual environments, and to remote information servers. Connections are usually made through wireless networks. However, wireless networks cannot guarantee connectivity and their bandwidth can be highly constrained. This paper presents a robust event-based data distribution mechanism for mobile augmented reality and virtual environments. It is based on replicated databases, pluggable networking protocols, and communication channels. The mechanism is demonstrated in the Battlefield Augmented Reality System (BARS) situation awareness system, composed of several mobile augmented reality systems, immersive and desktop-based virtual reality systems, a 2D mapbased multimodal system, handheld PCs, and other sources of information such as external data servers.

Visualization has come of age. For a term coined only five years ago. it-and the goal of effectively using visual information-has gained rapid and widespread acceptance. Indeed. the number of commercial “visualization” systems indicates just how overworked that term has become. Nonetheless. visualization. with its basis in computer graphics and its interdisciplinary nature. affects both science and how society performs its daily tasks