VRML FAQ

What's the history of VRML? The origins date back to the middle of 1994. Tim Berners-Lee talked about a need for a 3D Web standard at a European Web Conference. He coined the name VRML (Virtual Reality Markup Language.) as an acronym to parallel HTML. Mark Pesce then persuaded "Wired" magazine to start a mailing list called www.vrml. This started a community of artists, engineers, and visionaries. The name was then changed to Virtual Reality Modeling Language to reflect the emphasis on world's instead of pages of text. This group produced the VML 1.0 specs through e-mail interactions. VRML 1.0 was based on the Inventor File Format from Silicon Graphics. Unfortunately, this still left the worlds motionless. Gavin Bell was the SGI engineer primarily responsible for introducing the VRML community to Inventor. He came up with three requirements he thought were important for 3D web content: composability, scalability and extensibility. In the fall of 1995 Mark Pesce and a group of contributors to VRML formed the VRML Architecture Group (VAG) to steer the VRML 2.0 effort. The original goal of VAG was to define the 2.0 specs. Two proposals were debated in the VRMl community and a vote was taken to select one of the proposals as the VRML 2.0 spec. Two proposals were voted on, one by SGI, Sony, Sun, and other companies and another by Microsoft. The proposal by SGI and the others was selected and adopted as the standard for VRML 2.0. The Microsoft proposal was later renamed ActiveAnimation and made part of Microsoft's ActiveX toolkit. VRML 2.0 was a collaborative effort of the entire community. The International Standards Organization (ISO) then made VRML 2.0 an ISO Standard. VRML 2.0 was replaced by VRML97 in December 1997. The two versions have only minor differences. What is Graphics? 3D graphics are based on the cartesian coordinates system with x,y and z axis. We are programmed to think in 3 dimensions so these worlds are more natural. 3D worlds are not static 3D images but full-scale models that allow user navigation in and around the entire model. Through the use of VRML browser, users navigate by using navigation controls, including the mouse. 3D applications fall into three broad categories: 3D illustrations-involve construction of 3D models. When the scene is complete lighting is added and cameras are set up. The scene is then rendered from one or more camera angles. 3D animation-is a fully developed model instead of a 3D scene. The software rerenders scenes along a predefined path. When the camera moves, the animation is called a "fly-through." 3D worlds-in 3D animation the viewer is passive because movement takes place along a predefined path. In 3D worlds movement is up to the viewer and navigation is made possible by navigation controls in a VRML browser window. What Authoring Tools are available? If you don't want to get into the scripting end of VRML, there are some VRML editors available. These include 3D Studio Max by Kinetix, 3D Website builder by Virtus, CosmoWorlds by SGI, Homespace Designer by CosmoSoftware, V-Realm builder by Ligos Technology, ModelShop VR by Mac. users, Platinum VR Creator by Platinum Technology and Trivista 3D Image Cube and CiteMap Builder. These programs are available on the corresponding homesites and the prices range from free trial versions to a few thousand dollars for a full 3D Animation program. CiteMap trial version is free for download from Trivista and if you want to register it there is a $28 registration fee. This is a useful editor to start with to get an idea of how much fun VRML can be. Many of the high end animation programs like 3D StudioMax can be used to create VRML worlds also. How do I Participate in the design process? The main venue of discussion of technical issues was www.vrml. The repository for VRML information is now www.sdsc.edu/vrml/ There is also newsgroups, books and tutorials listed on this site.

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