A virtual environment browser (64) holds a number of clip-in files (70,
72, 74) defining guide characters--locally generated visual aids to
navigation that appear within a generated image of a virtual environment
and follow a user's input (80) navigational commands to provide an
advance cue as to the effects of an input command. Where the virtual
environment data is supplied from a remote source (62) and includes (78)
an indication of a preferred mode for navigating that environment, for
example, flying or walking, the browser (64) detects this indication and
automatically selects the appropriate guide character. Scaling (84) of
the guide character to match the scale of the virtual environment, or
such as to render the guide character unobtrusive, may also be provided.