Inspect the properties of another avatar's clothing?

I find it very useful that the SL client provides the means to inspect the properties of objects (both visible and invisible) worn by other avatars. If I see a worn object I like, I can use the property information (object name and creator) to find and acquire the object. I'm sure commercial object creators like this since it might mean more sales for them.

Likewise, I'd like to be able to inspect the properties of regular clothing other avatars wear. However, so far I have not found the means to do this, and I suspect the SL client does not provide the means.

So, does the current SL client provide a means to inspect the properties of other avatar's clothing? If not, is there a script or client plug-in that would allow me to do this?

Obviously, some might view this as "snooping", a violation of privacy. But then what's the difference between this and being able to view the properties of worn objects?

Certainly, I could just ask the other resident to provide me the clothing properties information (or where they got their clothes item), but there are times when one just doesn't want to bother the avatar. I know there are times I'd rather not be asked.

Thanks for any feedback you provide!

Can't do it. What you see of an avatar is basically a baked texture of all layers of clothing and the skin combined. To the client, it is all just one texture.

OK. Is the texture baked on the client side so all the SL servers know is that?

Clearly I don't understand what is done at the client side and what is done at the server side, so I apologize in advance to the experts here.

But obviously SL could implement something where the properties of items in the inventory which are wore by an avator could be communicated to the server and thus be made available upon demand.

For prim clothing and attachments, you can right-click then do Inspect (possible after a More or 2). That will show you the name and creator of the prim.

For regular clothing, I don't think there's anything you can do except ask them.

Textures are baked server side. Anyone who has ever played with the GL Intercept hack can attest to this. It is also much more efficient, as the server only bakes it once and sends the data to the client, instead of every client having to bake every avatar, one bake instead of potentially hundreds. Also it is only one texture to stream instead of potentially:

Skin head, skin upper, skin lower, shirt, undershirt, jacket, gloves, hair, pants, skirt, underwear, socks, shoes

Did I miss any?

Thanks.

I still am fuzzy on the whole architecture of the SL system, so bear with me.

Let me rephrase my question:

Could Linden, if they wanted to, implement a means to allow inspection of another avatar and obtain a list with properties information of all the inventory items (including clothing) worn by that avatar?

If the answer is yes, is this a fairly trivial thing for Linden to implement, or would it be a quite major undertaking?

If it is fairly minor, I may submit a future feature request to Linden.

(I'm assuming that it is not possible for a third party to develop either a script or client plugin to determine that information of another avatar.)

Could they do it? I'm sure they could code it.

You would not be able to script a LSL script or a 3rd party program, as the data never leaves the server.

Would they? Highly unlikely. The usefullness of it is limited and I don't see it being anywhere near a priority, plus I can just imagine what the load would be to keep available another 15 or so pieces of data available to the general public about each and every avatar. The asset server is taxed enough as it is. I hear LL has been forced to start rasing thier own colony of hamsters as they are exhausting the supply of hamsters available to the general public and causing the prices to skyrocket.