27. A computer database comprising: a database store for receiving, storing, and allowing access to; a distributed registry for keeping track of where and how said data and associated meta data are stored in said database; means for representing data objects in said database as nodes of a labeled graph, and representing said associated meta data by labeled links connecting said nodes; wherein said nodes represent data of different types and in different formats, including text, image, sound, video, and structured data; a metaweb server which has access to a user's security profile, and access to said distributed registry; wherein said metaweb server obtains a location of data requested by said user, retrieves said data from data servers which themselves maintain rules regarding access to retrieve and update data from said data servers, and assembles said data into coherent data structures; wherein each object is registered in said registry; wherein said registry keeps track of where data and meta data associated with an object are stored; wherein every data object has a unique index which is used to access the registry; wherein said apparatus retrieves said data object from said index by assembling components of data and meta data from various storage devices across a network; and a viewing tool for accessing said data in said database, wherein said viewing tool comprises means for choosing topics that said user wants to learn about, viewing explanations provided to said user as a sequence of presentations, and accepting annotations from said user; said viewing tool further comprising: a module for allowing said user to navigate through links, see patterns in connections, and reorganize information according to multiple navigational schemes; a module for allowing user to see the detailed local information, and also to see how that information fits into a broader global context; and a topic search engine for selecting at least one topic that a user wants to learn about.
27. A computer database comprising: a database store for receiving, storing, and allowing access to; a distributed registry for keeping track of where and how said data and associated meta data are stored in said database; means for representing data objects in said database as nodes of a labeled graph, and representing said associated meta data by labeled links connecting said nodes; wherein said nodes represent data of different types and in different formats, including text, image, sound, video, and structured data; a metaweb server which has access to a user's security profile, and access to said distributed registry; wherein said metaweb server obtains a location of data requested by said user, retrieves said data from data servers which themselves maintain rules regarding access to retrieve and update data from said data servers, and assembles said data into coherent data structures; wherein each object is registered in said registry; wherein said registry keeps track of where data and meta data associated with an object are stored; wherein every data object has a unique index which is used to access the registry; wherein said apparatus retrieves said data object from said index by assembling components of data and meta data from various storage devices across a network; and a viewing tool for accessing said data in said database, wherein said viewing tool comprises means for choosing topics that said user wants to learn about, viewing explanations provided to said user as a sequence of presentations, and accepting annotations from said user; said viewing tool further comprising: a module for allowing said user to navigate through links, see patterns in connections, and reorganize information according to multiple navigational schemes; a module for allowing user to see the detailed local information, and also to see how that information fits into a broader global context; and a topic search engine for selecting at least one topic that a user wants to learn about. 31. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein said registry further comprises: a hash to an index to keep track of a descriptor for allowing a data object to be stored in a different location than that of associated meta data.