Re: [www-vrml] Tim BL Is Baffled, Too

[Brian Hay <bhay@construct3d.com>]

Neil TREVETT wrote:

> Brian - how close is this ideal to actually happening in your view?   Be 
> honest! :)

Honestly!?  ;-)

1) redevelopment of the web3d.org was a great first step and is 
reasonably well done (from a marketing standpoint) and XHTML standards 
compliant.

2) the website I feel needs to be extended to more of a community portal 
(as per my last post). This goes beyond just community forums (which 
don't provide clear issue, feature and progress tracking).

3) email mailing lists have served VRML well but the technology is now 
largely obsolete and does nothing to enhance community participation and 
attract new (young) community contributors. Web-based interfaces are 
much more accessible, searchable and can easily be delivered via BOTH 
web and email.

4) tough decisions need to be made. I feel it's time to consolidate all 
the various information sources, divided communties and participation 
mechanisms into one central interface (i.e. web3d.org). This includes 
the various working groups (hanim.org, geovrml.org, web3d.org. xj3d.org, 
mailing lists, comp.lang.vrml etc).

5) more emphasis needs to be placed on content. CONTENT IS KING. Back in 
the "glory days" of VRML great content is what attracted people like me. 
Newbies don't look at an ISO spec and dream of what they can do with it! 
They look at great content, dream and then learn. The spec is the 
absolute LAST thing newbies look at! Content demos, reviews, how tos, 
tutorials etc are required and should be displayed front and centre of 
the web3d.org website.

As this list constantly highlights, X3D is saddled with the history, 
politics, nostalgia, personalities and technology of the 1990s. We now 
need to acknowledge this and move on, building on what has come before 
but also having the courage to discard that which no longer works or is 
not relevant to the next generation of VR creators and developers. If we 
don't attract new blood, we veterans will eventually tire of the 
infighting, drop off the twig and X3D will fade away.

Regardless of what the Web 3D Consortium decides to do, the above 
measures are what I intend to do with my websites. I'm tired of debate 
and just want to get on with it.

Just my 2c.

--

Regards,
Brian Hay.

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