[x3d-public] call for open-source X3D browser written in C++/C# with Windows support

[Don Brutzman <brutzman@nps.navy.mil>]

With the loss of Media Machine's Flux as an open-source codebase, one of the
biggest needs for the X3D community and industry is to regain an open-source
X3D browser written in C++/C# with good Windows support - Internet Explorer,
PowerPoint, Excel, etc.

My team at NPS intends to continue writing proposals to gain support for
achieving such a capability in 2008.  We believe that such an open-source
codebase is needed to complement already-existing and emerging commercial
browsers.  This addition will have multiple benefits:

- provide an inspectable version of how to implement X3D capabilities in
	C++/C#, further improving X3D interoperability and deployment
	in the same manner achieved by the open-source Xj3D codebase in Java

- accelerate production and reduce costs for commercial companies that are
	implementing advanced X3D components and capabilities, including
	new technologies such as medical visualization and X3D Earth

- encourage global enterprise-wide installation and use of X3D capabilities
	in Windows and the Microsoft Office suite, which are widely used in
	government and industry

- support formal security assessment, validation and certification for an
	X3D browser that can be adopted and deployed by government agencies,
	U.S. and international, using an exposed version-controlled codebase
	independent of hidden or proprietary software which might otherwise
	hide unacceptable security risks

- further grow X3D adoption and deployment, which helps all Web3D companies,
	and members

We have many X3D implementations already, with a steadily growing list at
http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/help.html

Responses and discussion are welcome, both publicly and privately.  Thanks
for considering these possibilities.

all the best, Don
--
Don Brutzman  Naval Postgraduate School, Code USW/Br       work +1.831.656.2149
             MOVES Institute, Monterey CA 93943-5000 USA  fax  +1.831.656.7599
Virtual worlds/underwater robots/X3D/XMSF     http://web.nps.navy.mil/~brutzman

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