Resumen
This article focuses on the usage of virtual environment in scientific studies. Project ScienceSpace was conceived as an effort to design and evaluate immersive virtual environments for science education from the elementary school through the early years of college. PaulingWorld is the part of the ScienceSpace Project that deals with molecular display and manipulation. In the virtual environment, PaulingWorld allows the user to examine the structure of both small and large molecules from any viewpoint and in a number of single or mixed representations. In a research, the subject interacted with graduate students in Norfolk, England and carried out a series of prescribed operations within PaulingWorld. Results of these experiments showed that users were comfortable with the their representations, found them adequate for collaboration activities, and were easily able to exchange control of the menu. The research provides guidance on the design of the environment and on user interactions with the environment.