X3D News Archive August 2005
Aug 31, 2005
A requirement for multi-user X3D applications is that users can simultaneously manipulate applications and share the same experiences over networks. Different applications have different requirements as to what information needs to be synchronized, when that process should occur, and what security is required. The D3net proposal for X3D synchronization establishes an abstract interface where multiple network architectures and synchronization protocols can be used for different X3D applications. In the proposal NetNodes are responsible for “marking” which nodes should be synchronized accross the network. NetNodeManagers implement a protocol.
Proposals for adding efficient network streaming to X3D
Aug 30, 2005
The X3D member community is actively working on Amendment 2 for X3D and UI. Several proposals have been made for handling including I/O streams from networks and devices. StreamingSensor Component proposal develops a set of generic I/O nodes in a portable and efficient way. The EventStreamSensor proposal enables the efficient sending and receiving of events via a network connection such as a TCP/IP socket. EventStreamSensor acts as a high speed gateway between a network stream and the X3D event graph so routes can be set up to/from EventStreamSensor. You can review some of the use cases for network streaming such as multiuser chat. Consortiums members can comment on these proposals in the X3D list. Non member can comment using the X3D-Public mailing list or in the Public Message Boards
Aug 23, 2005
H3D API is a C++ implementation of the X3D standard as an open source API for the development of haptic (touch-enabled) applications. The latest 1.2 release includes several new X3D compliant nodes (e.g. Background, NavigationInfo, BackgroundTexture and BooleanFilter) as well as several extensions to X3D to support stereo graphics rendering and simulated haptics devices.
Aug 16, 2005
DESIRE RadVis is a tool designed for the European Space Agency to display cosmic radiation-level predictions for rapid assessment and visualisation of flux and dose levels for the Columbus module of the international space station. It presents the user with an interactive 3D virtual environment that combines a visually realistic model of the ESA Columbus module with 3D visualisation of radiation flux and dose levels in and around the module. It uses Java and supports ISO VRML 97 and X3D geometry.
Aug 16, 2005
VrmlMerge can merge multiple VRML files (.wrl) referenced by Inlines and EXTERNPROTOs into one big file. It can also replace references to texture files with PixelTextures placed inside of your VRML file. These two features make it possible to distribute entire visualizations as one single compressed file. Lastly it can convert VRML’97 files to X3D files (XML encoding). It can be run as a command line tool, as a GUI application or as an Applet inside your browser
Aug 15, 2005
The Virtual Rendering System (VRS) is a computer graphics software library for constructing interactive 3D applications. It provides a large collection of collection of 2D shapes, 3D shapes, graphics attributes, as well as OpenGL support. VRS has been extended with a new project called vrs_x3d which contains a reader for the X3D format and builds a separate DLL. The reader supports all kinds of static geometry and is intended to be used for complex models. The glutx3d sample application demonstrates loading an X3D teapot model
Aug 09, 2005
The MOVES Institute at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA will hold its 5th annual Open House on August 16-18, 2005. There sill be presentations and demonstrations on XMSF, Viskit/Diskit, X3D Advanced Features, Open Source and Open Standards in Defense Modeling and Simulation, Advanced XMSF Initiatives, and more. View full itinerary.
Aug 09, 2005
FreeWRL is an open source, cross platform VRML97 and X3D browser, with script and EAI support. The new v1.13 adds the ability to use freely distributable font files, EXTERNPROTOS can now reference PROTOS, updated Javascript, Triangle nodes, initial support for containerField, support for 64-bit processors, and more. For Linux; Mac OS X, and other Unixes.
Aug 03, 2005
The X3D Xperience Site has been relaunched to take advantage of the features in the new Flux v.2 Player beta release. The site offers a full-screen, real-time 3D portal to X3D scene interface. The entire navigation and experience is in 3D. The site is also open for community growth; all web3D demos, products, a bulletin board, projects to hype, are welcome.
Aug 03, 2005
The Flux Player v2 (public beta) is released. FLUX v.2 combines broadcast quality graphics with game engine performance for high visual impact and real-time interactivity. Flux v2 is compliant with the Immersive Profile of the X3D standard. The new v2 adds faster rendering, .WMV movies and sound, 2D/3D layers, anti-aliased text and soon, programmable shaders (HLSL only at this point), a Mozilla plug-in, and a skins API. Available for Win32.
Aug 03, 2005
Congratulations to Tu Lam, the first prize winner of the X3Diamond Awards. The goal of the contest was to create a high-fidelity models of actual diamond using X3D. The winning entry was created in BS Contact VRML/X3D. This winning diamond simulates an ideal round diamond using X3D, tapping into the power of hardware shaders to compute the external reflections and internal refractions of the gem. Based on adjustable parameters, the diamond’s shape is dynamically computed using ECMAScript. The diamond texture was created from digital photos of a cubic zirconia.
Runner up: Eckhard Jaeger using Flux
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