The significance of a Realm comes into play when you create a doormat (or
whatever it is called). The best way to explain it is through an example.
Example:
The Matrix exists. Within the Matrix are two Metaverses (Metaversi? :)
Metaverse 1 is called Academia, for academical usages. The terrain within
academia is defined as rolling countrysides with paths that wander between
greek architecture. Metaverse 2 is called Taobh Thiar (gaelic for beyond).
Taobh Thiar is a recreational place where anything goes as long as it makes
sense. You can be walking down the street to enter an open storm drain, and
after a small adventure in the sewers you find yourself exiting into atlantis.
The distinction comes into play where Atlantis resides within Taobh Thiar.
Although you can simply enter somebodies house through any portal (i.e.
window, basement door, etc), it is simple politeness to go through the front
door. Along these same lines, it would be simple etiquette to have a front
door to areas. In the Atlantis example the front door would be the entrance
through the sewers. Sure, I can enter Atlantis at any point, but there
should be an entrance point. In order to have an entrance point you must
have a semblance of unity.
Basically, Realms are sub Metaverses. The definition that a Realm cannot
exist within a realm is rather misleading. You can have links from one
realm leading to another, which would make it seem like you were in the
same realm, but they are distinct.
Of course, this concept could be flawed slightly. The primary idea I have
with realms is to define a grouping mechanism of VRML places. Perhaps
a better example would be a street, where the street is the metaverse
and each building on the street is a realm.
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the Cold Dark Virtual Environment: http://pippin.ece.usu.edu:1180/
"They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape
those who dream only by night." - Edgar Allan Poe