A system for interactively displaying and distributing information. The
information may relate to consumer products, any type of article of
commerce, marketing and advertising layouts, floor plans, planograms or
any other type of information that is capable of being illustrated
graphically. A consumer engages in an Interactive Information Session
with an attendant, such a help desk attendant. During the Interactive
Information Session, the attendant and consumer see synchronized displays
of images or animations of the information, which may be manipulated by
either one of them. The attendant and the user can communicate
interactively by voice or text during at least part of the Interactive
Information Session. In another embodiment, two or more users of a system
according to the invention can collaboratively design a product,
marketing or advertising layouts, planograms, floor plans or other
graphical information in an Interactive Design Session. During the
session one of the users controls the design at any time. Different users
may have control at different times. The users can engage in interactive
voice or text communications during at least part of the Interactive
Design Session.