Web3D

Jyun-Ming Chen

Fall 2001

Contents

• Definitions, components

• Examples

• Task breakdown

• Survey of available technologies

• Recommended platform

• Details …

Components of Web 3D

• WWW browser• Display

– … of 3D objects/scene

• Interactive– Different modes of

GUI

• File I/O– Most do NOT have;

READ-ONLY

Tasks of Web3D

• Scene composition– Static, dynamic– Geometry, material,

texture, …

• Authoring interface– Internal: within 3D

scene– External: w/ other

components of the page

• Approach– VRML(Plugin) + EAI

– Pure Java

– Proprietary

• Advanced:– Self-defined data type

– C/S (client/server)

– NVE (networked virtual environment)

– Integrate with other API

Eyematic (plugin required)

Web3D.ORG

• Organization for setting up standards

• Sources• Technology

comparison

• (www page)

Course Rundown

• Introduce VRML 97– Focus on core nodes

• Emphases:– Internal Scripting w/ JS– Prototype: the proper use of

• A preview of future:– Blaxxun3d– X3d– …

• Applications

VRML97

• Shapes, geometry, appearance

• Animation, sensor, geometry

• Texture, light, environment

• Scripts, prototypes

• Follow SIGGRAPH98 course slides

• Supplement by examples– Sourcebook

– Self-testing

• Spec details

• Take a look at cheat sheet

• In-class demonstration using VRMLpad

On Homework Submission

• Set up your website• I will examine your w

ork on due date/time– Make sure it works und

er IE/Blaxxun

• Keep wrl unzipped

• Details of the assignment will be posted on website– Make sure you’ve impl

emented every required feature

X3D

• Based on VRML97• Core part concepts:

– Low-footprint engine• (java applet, small browser

plugin)

– Address limitation of s/w renderer; not capable of dealing with all details of VRML97 lighting model

– Support a simplified but powerful API similar to EAI

• Shape– IndexedFaceSet, Index

edLineSet, PointSet

– creaseAngle• 0, 3.14

– Convex TRUE

• Appearance– ImageTexture

X3D (cont)

• Light– DirectionalLight

– No color (only white lite),

– ambientIntensity

http://www.virtualrealms.com.au/vrml/tute01/tutorial.htm