Computer network data distribution and selective retrieval system

A computer network data distribution and retrieval system comprising:

• A) at least two microprocessors connected such that the microprocessors are in communication, forming a network;
• B) at least one data source having data representing at least one object distributed between said at least two microprocessors in said network such that
• i) said data is adapted for categorization into hierarchical detail levels;
• and
• ii) there exists a method of measuring a perceivability value for said at least one object;
• C) a first application program operating on at least one of said microprocessors functioning such that
• i) said at least one microprocessor acts as a network node,
• ii) said application program controls data retrieval from said at least one distributed data source by
• a) measuring a perceivability value for said at least one object
• b) assigning a priority status to said at least one object based on said measured perceivability value,
• c) comparing said priority status for said at least one object with a predetermined or dynamically varied threshold value,
• d) instructing said at least one object to request additional detail about said at least one object when said priority status equals or exceeds said predetermined detail threshold value,
• e) ordering said requests for additional detail based on the priority of said at least one object relative to the priority of any other object requests, and
• f) sending the first-ordered request across the network;
• and
• D) a user operating at least one of said microprocessors.