Dec 02, 2004
The X3D Binary encodings specification is now available for public for review. This defines a mapping of the abstract objects in X3D to a specific X3D encoding written out in a compact binary form, taking advantage of geometric and information-theoretic compression techniques. Compressed binary X3D files may be referenced from files using other X3D encodings, and may itself reference other X3D files encoded using other X3D encodings.
The addition of a compressed binary encoding for X3D enables a unique combination of fast, secure communication of 3D data for a wide variety of visualization and web-service applications - while using an open ISO standard. Many of the vertical market-focused initiatives within the Web3D Consortium that use X3D as a foundation technology, such as the CAD Distillation Format (CDF) specification - an X3D-based format to distill the essential elements of complex CAD and architectural data for use throughout an enterprise, will automatically benefit from this expansion of X3D’s capabilities.
Interested developers are encouraged to review the specification and submit comments to the Web3D Consortium before February 1, 2005 (in advance of ISO balloting)
