Open Standards for Real-Time 3D Communication

 RmX3DPlugIn X3D importer/exporter for ATI RenderMonkey 1.5 shader authoring tool

Jan 16, 2005

RmX3DPlugIn is a X3D importer/exporter for ATI RenderMonkey 1.5 shader authoring tool. It aims to be conformant with X3D Ammendment 1 proposal.  Capabilities include the export of X3D as both worlds and prototypes for maximum reuse of shader representations, and script representations of RenderMonkey’s built-in variables. It fully supports shaders written in both the OpenGL Shading Lanugage and HLSL. Further updates on this tool are expected and user feedback is appreciated.

 10 reasons to migrate from VRML 2.0 to X3D

Jan 14, 2005

X3D is a considerably more mature refined standard than VRML so authors can achieve the behaviors they expect. But many people still ask, why XML-savvy X3D is a better development choice than continuing to use VRML 2.0. This Top Ten list gives several compelling reasons.

 JContact: Java Wrapper for BS Contact 6.1+ X3D/VRML Player

Jan 14, 2005

JContact is a set of Java wrapper classes for the BS Contact 6.1 & 6.2 X3D/VRML player. The classes are designed to work in conjunction with the JNIWrapper library. JContact allows the BS Contact ActiveX control to be used as an AWT component in a Java application. It includes a Java API, closely following the VRML97 EAI spec (but enhanced), which provides access to the browser object and the scene graph (nodes and events). An X3D test scene is included in the distribution.

 X3D Technical, Summit for Members - January 14, 2005

Jan 14, 2005

Sun Microsystems will host the X3D Technical Summit at their corporate meeting facility (Auditorium in Building 3) in Santa Clara, CA, Friday January 14, 10:00-17:00. In addition to X3D successfully advancing to International Standard (IS) at ISO, we have an annual opportunity to propose amendmentss (i.e. improvements and extensions) to the specification. Amendment 1 recently shipped and is under review. Our goal at the X3D Technical Summit is to determine 2005 priorities, member support and coordination for working group efforts building X3D ISO Specification Amendment 2. All Web3D Consortium members are encouraged to attend.

 Web3D 2005 Symposium registration now open

Jan 10, 2005

Registration for the Web3D 2005 Symposium (Tuesday 29th March - Friday 1st April) is now open. Full registration for the Symposium includes:

• Access to all sessions, including paper presentations, keynote speeches, tutorials and workshops.
• Lunch on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
• Refreshments in all morning and afternoon session breaks.
• Dinner and Drinks Reception on Tuesday 29th March.
• Web3D Showcase and buffet meal on Thursday 31st March.
• Coaches to/from the University accommodation centre and the conference venue and social events.

 X3d-Weaver project to turn DreamWeaver MX into an X3D editor

Jan 06, 2005

The X3D-Weaver project is an Extension set that turns Dreamweaver MX into a real cool X3D-Editor.  This includes tag-inspectors, syntax highlighting, tag hints, code fragments, objects, edit dialogs and much more. Currently in alpha with screenshots available.

 Blender Python X3D import script (early alpha)

Jan 06, 2005

Blender is a very popular, free integrated 3D graphics creation for modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, realtime interactive 3D and game creation and playback with cross-platform compatibility. This Blender Python X3D importer script (early alpha version) lets you load X3D models into Blender. The author notes the huge number of XML parsers for most languages and hence compatibility with the X3D format.