as we know the ways were made or grown by male aes sedai during the breaking of the world as a thank you to the ogier. we also know that time moves faster in the ways and that you travel along on islands and bridges that spiral around and above eachother. the accsess points are known as way gates and are opened by moving avendesora leaves.

it seems to me that the ways are similar to the skimming weaves. definition from encyclopedia wot -




depending on the channeler the platform they skim on can be anything from a tiled circle to a boat to a series of stepping stones. also skimming in the void may take ages but the skimmer will arrive at his/her destination a few minutes later.

so far both sound pretty much alike, exept Machin Shin; thankfully; isn't an issue when skimming. this could be because the gateway for skimming isn't permenant and as far as we know you can't skim into the ways.

and finaly, during the age of legends, standing flows were 'created' or 'set up' so that non-channelers could use the power in a way often through different ter-angreal. the Talisman of Growth certainly is a ter-angreal, possibly only useable by ogier, and extend the ways to a new place.

so, IMO the ways are an almost permanant Skimming void for the ogier.