It is clear that `cool applets' alone will not solve the problem of developing well thought out educational material. However, interactive simulations will add significant value to educational material, and hopefully stimulate the students' interest in subjects such as physics which many consider uninteresting or arcane.
Java appears to be the best technology available now. It is not yet clear how Java will develop in the next couple of years, though we can be sure that it will change significantly. While the development of Java is primarily driven by the needs of commercial Internet users, it seems reasonably equipped for use in scientific contexts. The issues of speed, display technology (VRML/Java rendering), and stability are our primary concerns. We see collaborative tools as a particularly exciting development that will add another level of interaction to educational tools.