http://www.web3d.org/ Musings, ideas and viewpoints on using X3D en webmaster [at] web3d.org Copyright 2007 2007-10-28T08:08:00-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/virtual-worlds-today-a-realiy-distortion-field-in-the-making/ http://www.web3d.org/site/virtual-worlds-today-a-realiy-distortion-field-in-the-making/#When:07:08:00Z In one year we have seen the hype-ometer of virtual worlds grow from IBM’s early infatuation with Linden Labs and their Second Life virtual world environment go from this: http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2006/11/09/ibm-accelerates-push-into-3d-virtual-worlds/ to this: http://vwinterop.wikidot.com/oct-9th-agenda http://domino.research.ibm.com/comm/research_projects.nsf/pages/virtualworlds.index.html http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/ http://www.interopworld.com/members/ http://metaverseroadmap.org/ http://www.multiverse.net/ http://croqueteer.blogspot.com/ http://www.ibm.com/ibm/ideasfromibm/us/giogaming/073007/index.shtml https://lg3d-wonderland.dev.java.net/ http://metaversed.com/ http://metanomics.metaversed.com/ http://www.electricsheepcompany.com/ http://www.wonderlandblog.com/wonderland/ And let’s not forget some of the more vocal real life characters now in the mix: http://vwinterop.wikidot.com/ (Peter Haggar’s Wiki) http://www.raphkoster.com/gaming/index.shtml (Raph… 2007-10-28T07:08:00-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/we-would-like-to-thank-all-visitors-to-the-web3d-booth-at-siggraph1/ http://www.web3d.org/site/we-would-like-to-thank-all-visitors-to-the-web3d-booth-at-siggraph1/#When:08:15:00Z The August 2007 Siggraph exhibition gathered Web3D consortium members from around the world together to show their latest ISO standard X3D based application for social networking, 3D Medical imaging, scientific visualization and 3D education. This year Web3D had an exhibition booth twice the size as last year with half a dozen web3D company exhibitors. Read on: SenseGraphics showed their new MedX3D browser developed specifically for the medical imaging industry with hands-on demonstrations of H3DAPI, the SenseGraphics software package that medical and dental applications can use to integrate haptics with 3D visualization. SenseGraphics is part of the MedX3D… 2007-08-20T08:15:00-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/is-siggraph-now-hollywoods-version-of-e3/ http://www.web3d.org/site/is-siggraph-now-hollywoods-version-of-e3/#When:19:23:00Z It seems to me that the past two or three Siggraph’s were all about cool content and media entertainment. I mostly only saw tools for creating and managing (and converting) content. For one, just how many motion capture tools does the industry need?! I also saw the usual huge batch of competing modeling tools, training on how to make content, and many cute 3D animations. However, even though I talked to at least three other trade association involved in 3D one way or another, I did not see much in the way of “serious” 3D application tools or development.… 2007-08-17T19:23:00-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/web3d-executive-summer-and-siggraph-2007-update/ http://www.web3d.org/site/web3d-executive-summer-and-siggraph-2007-update/#When:16:43:00Z With August here already, the one thing on everyone’s minds (and monitors and keyboards...) around here is Siggraph, starting on August 5th in San Diego. See us, meet us, visit with us at SIGGRAPH 2007 - booth number 029 - on the exhibition floor. Don’t forget to ask for our newest 2007 SDK, debuting at Siggraph! This year we will be have twice as big a booth as last year with half a dozen Web3D member company exhibitors. I’m excited that we’ll have Planet 9 Studios showing off their gorgeous all new Virtual Cities 2007.… 2007-08-03T16:43:00-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/some-tips-for-getting-around-on-web3dorg-and-getting-your-questions-on-x3d-/ http://www.web3d.org/site/some-tips-for-getting-around-on-web3dorg-and-getting-your-questions-on-x3d-/#When:07:50:00Z I often get questions on where to discuss X3D development and ask questions, where to post new releases, how to get on Web3D email lists and forums, etc. Well, most of these questions can be answered online and accomplished directly on Web3D.org. Here’s how: Some basics on how to get around Web3D.org and take advantages of the site’s many useful features, most of which are public: If you are already a Web3D member, consider becoming a member of the X3D group here (you will need to log into web3d.org first with your web3d login and… 2007-08-03T07:50:00-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/web3d_consortium_executive_directors_update_spring_2007/ http://www.web3d.org/site/web3d_consortium_executive_directors_update_spring_2007/#When:16:41:00Z Today, bloggers are much more apt to blog on VRML rather than X3D, and all too frequently, they bash VRML, usually the VRML of our history, not the X3D work we have going on today. Knash and bash away. VRML is a part of our history, for better or worse. VRML taught Web3D and it’s members lessons about 3D language and formats, archivability, and even basic presentation of 3D rendering techniques. It STILL exists today as probably the most popular (and maybe most reviled?) 3D file format for the web. From the glass half full perspective, we learned a… 2007-05-18T16:41:00-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/web3d_symposium_wrap_up/ http://www.web3d.org/site/web3d_symposium_wrap_up/#When:02:03:56Z I’ve been back from Italy for over a week now already, and I am still combing thru the presentations and papers, emailing with attendees, sorting thru some awesome photos of Perugia and nearby locales, debating when/where future symposiums should be held, so much so that I’d have to say I feel as if I have not yet left Italy! At least not mentally. The body is in California, but my brain and soul are still in Italy… The symposium was inspiring to me in that it has grown (doubled in fact) since last year and we had… 2007-05-02T02:03:56-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/len_bullard_says_there_is_a_discontinuity_between_investors_and_consortia_s/ http://www.web3d.org/site/len_bullard_says_there_is_a_discontinuity_between_investors_and_consortia_s/#When:23:46:19Z I like to read where people are integrating content across the viewers.  The more of that kind of thing people do, the faster we get a real web 3D universe with options apart from the narrow if necessary concerns of investors.  There is a bit of a discontinuity in situations where the investors are asking for barriers to competition while the standards folks and the consortia are trying to eliminate them.  It becomes very confusing with one group preaching POTS and the other preaching open source.  Straight down the middle is better. I was reading… 2007-04-01T23:46:19-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/web3d_exhibits_at_games_development_conference_2007/ http://www.web3d.org/site/web3d_exhibits_at_games_development_conference_2007/#When:07:23:18Z GDC was a success for us on several levels and I’m so glad we made the decision to attend at the invitation of the Khronos Group!  It appears that 2007 is poised to be the year of the metaverse, MMOs, and gaming on many levels, from casual to serious games. Consider this blog my post card from GDC. We took one pod space in the large Khronos booth and even before the show started, we were drawn in by some of their members into fascinating conversations on the direction and potential today for 3D on the web.… 2007-03-15T07:23:18-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/web3d_executive_director_musings/ http://www.web3d.org/site/web3d_executive_director_musings/#When:05:46:31Z As so many of you were witness to last summer, Web3D put on an engaging and very well attended Tech Talk at Siggraph. Since then, many of us have gone back to our homes, our offices, our caves, etc., and as happens in all of our busy lives, we really don’t keep each other all that well informed. I sure would like to communicate with each of you more and I’d like those of you who are only in the public forum to keep me apprised of what you are doing with X3D, and even VRML. Yes, it’s no… 2007-02-19T05:46:31-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/what_vrml_x3d_is_obviously_good_for_or_not/ http://www.web3d.org/site/what_vrml_x3d_is_obviously_good_for_or_not/#When:01:19:00Z If I may say so, something we probably should all know, (like with any language), VRML/X3D is obviously good for what it’s good at, and not for what it is not. There are differences in the vision of it, but if we use it for what it is, and not expect of it things that it is not, then I don’t see where there is any problem at all. 2007-02-15T01:19:00-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/x3d_strength_in_content_longevity_without_compromising_quality/ http://www.web3d.org/site/x3d_strength_in_content_longevity_without_compromising_quality/#When:03:52:00Z Technology commentators often determine subjective “winners” and “losers” in terms of mass market uptake and perceived consumer mindshare. VRML especially has been pronounced dead more times than I can remember yet it survives to this day and thrives in some sectors with the X3D evolution of the standard. 2007-02-13T03:52:00-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/why_cant_we_just_have_one_solid_x3d_implementation_and_all_use_that/ http://www.web3d.org/site/why_cant_we_just_have_one_solid_x3d_implementation_and_all_use_that/#When:21:13:00Z The 19th X3D implementation was recently announced (RTI’s Firefox plugin). For a complete list see the X3D Wiki.  If I’ve missed your implementation please contact me. I am often asked why X3D and VRML players have not consolidated down to 1 or 2 implementations. The question typically comes about due to the costs of maintaining so many different implementations. Why can’t we just have one solid implementation and all use that? Wouldn’t it be much easier if like Flash we had one system for content authors to deploy too? 2007-02-02T21:13:00-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/x3d_earth_and_the_geospatial_web_the_development_of_a_web_viewpoint_service/ http://www.web3d.org/site/x3d_earth_and_the_geospatial_web_the_development_of_a_web_viewpoint_service/#When:20:33:09Z Today Web3D joined forces with the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) to further the development of something called the Geospatial Web, a movement already underway that embraces many values and goals that the Web3D community shares—open standards of course, but also open access to data, community, and the positive transformative power of the Web. 2006-12-19T20:33:09-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/x3d_interoperability_and_widespread_deployment_as_the_goals_for_2007/ http://www.web3d.org/site/x3d_interoperability_and_widespread_deployment_as_the_goals_for_2007/#When:14:10:00Z The X3D working group is concluding another great year with lots of accomplishments. We have had a steady stream of specification improvements, and currently a stable X3D Revision 2 Amendment 1 (aka X3D version 3.2) is undergoing international ISO review. Viewing tools, authoring tools and content keep getting better and better. More people and more software are adopting X3D. Importers and exporters are becoming robust. The benefits of XML and ability to use other XML-related Web standards are adding lots of value. Specification comments & bug reports steadily keep coming in, making our standard stronger and better each time.… 2006-12-18T14:10:00-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/interactive_high_quality_audio_control_using_x3d/ http://www.web3d.org/site/interactive_high_quality_audio_control_using_x3d/#When:19:30:01Z X3D/VRML is a proven standard for creating complex synthesized 3D worlds and visualizations. The spec has evolved to include increasingly sophisticated visual capabilities including particle systems, physics, realistic motion, enhance UI and more. However it is a different story when it comes to the audio and sound manipulation using X3D. The capabilities of the X3D AudioClip Node have not evolved beyond the DirectedSound and PointSound nodes of VRML Version 1.1. In general, the 3D community has struggled with how to link X3D entities and environments to interactive audio control. 2006-12-05T19:30:01-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/the_sweet_spot_of_x3d_is_bringing_3d_graphics_to_a_wider_audience/ http://www.web3d.org/site/the_sweet_spot_of_x3d_is_bringing_3d_graphics_to_a_wider_audience/#When:17:25:00Z I was recently asked this question: “I don’t really see why I want to generate X3D when I can just call OpenGL and write my own code?” Sure, you can. But to write it efficiently requires lots of acquired knowledge. Even writing X3D requires a fair bit of 3D knowledge. But saying Box { size 1 2 2 } is worlds apart from the low-level details of geometry expression in OpenGL: what form of geometry is best for speed, whether to state sort the results, how culling interacts to render thousands of those boxes directly, etc. … 2006-11-21T17:25:00-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/to_the_artists_and_content_owners/ http://www.web3d.org/site/to_the_artists_and_content_owners/#When:11:07:00Z Make it simple. If you spent weeks, months or years creating a symphony and then came back to it ten years later, you would want it to still be playable by competent musicians.  Right? Some 3D artists want the same thing and today, the best deal they have for that is VRML/X3D.  I still have the Irishspace CD, a project that was large in scope when it was created over ten years ago by a team of VRML artists from around the world.  My son pulled it out to test his new computer.  He downloaded a Blaxxun… 2006-11-16T11:07:00-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/vrml_and_x3d_dont_suck_if_we_dont_get_that_we_suck/ http://www.web3d.org/site/vrml_and_x3d_dont_suck_if_we_dont_get_that_we_suck/#When:15:24:00Z There has been a lot of discussion comparing VRML/X3D to Second Life (SL) and MMORPG such as World of Warcraft (WOW). To some it appears that X3D is simply too difficult to use and the money is going to be made in SL or similar “user friendly environment” that are focused on social spaces and shared worlds. The argument further goes that building behaviors and hacking geometry in VRML/X3D are too difficult for mass market use. 2006-11-15T15:24:00-08:00 http://www.web3d.org/blog/permalink/the_quiet_tipping_point_of_commercial_standards/ http://www.web3d.org/site/the_quiet_tipping_point_of_commercial_standards/#When:12:56:00Z In the evolution of a technology family based on standards and specifications, there comes a point where an unnoticeable shift begins away from the academic or early-adopter dominance of the market for that technology and toward the commercial users.  X3D/VRML has reached that point. 2006-10-20T12:56:00-08:00