Concurrent interactive visualization and handling of molecular structures over the Internet in web browsers

TL;DR

This paper introduces an open-source web application enabling multiple users to collaboratively view and manipulate 3D molecular structures in real-time via web browsers, facilitating online collaboration and education.

Contribution

It demonstrates the integration of web technologies for concurrent, interactive molecular visualization, advancing online scientific collaboration tools.

Findings

Real-time multi-user interaction over the Internet

Open source implementation using JSmol and Peer.js

Potential for broader applications in online collaboration

Abstract

This preprint presents a web app (essentially a web page-based program) with which two or more users (peers) can view and handle 3D molecular structures in a concurrent, interactive way through their web browsers. This means they can share orientation and zoom level, commands and other operations in almost real time over the Internet through standard web pages. This web app, open source and built with the open source components JSmol for molecular visualization and Peer.js for WebRTC connection, provides a practical tool for online collaboration and teaching at a distance. More broadly, it illustrates the strong integrability of technologies for client-side web programming, and paves the way for similar apps for concurrent work in other disciplines. Web app is available at: http://lucianoabriata.altervista.org/jsinscience/concurrent-jsmol/concurrent-jsmol-visualization.html