|  Overview of VRML  |


(Warp date: June 17, 1996)
Burt Webb presented an overview of VRML roughly based on the following outline:

I. Brief intro to VRML language

    A. What is VRML

      1. Text file format to define 3 dimensional worlds on the Web

        a. Simple syntax

        b. Coordinate system

        c. Objects and attributes

        d. Cross platform

    B. History

      1. Mark Pesce & Tony Parisi proposed 3D Web pages at 1st international WWW conerence in May of 1994

      2. Wired Magizine made listserv & web site available

      3. SGI puts Open Inventor into public domain in summer 1994 as the basis for VRML

      4. Mark announces VRML 1.0 at 2nd WWW conf in October 1994 6. SGI releases WebSpace, first VRML browser in April 1995

    C. Basic Syntax - Header, Nodes, Parameters, Links

    D. Nodes

      1. Primitives

        a. Cube

        b. Sphere

        c. Cylinder

        d. Definitions

      2. Changes

        a. Translation

        b. Rotation

        c. Scale

      3. Color

        a. Diffuse color

        b. emmisive color

        c. transparency

      4. Lights

        a. Point

        b. Directional

        c. Spots

      5. Links

        a. Other pages

        b. Textures

      6. Camera

      7. Other topices

        a. Grouping nodes

        b. Matrix transformations

        c. Material Binding

        d. Shading

        e. Complex shape creation

        f. Optimzation

    E. Extensions

      1. Netscape

      2. Pioneer

      3. Superscape

      4. Virtus

    F. Future of VRML

      1. VRML Architecture Group (VAG) convenes to create next VRML

        a. SGI Moving Worlds is major candidate - Simple syntax - Optimization at source - Java integration

        b. Microsoft Active Worlds is major candidate - Complex syntax - Optimization at browser

        c. Moving Worlds is chosen

      2. VRML 2.0

        a. Sound

        b. New object creation system

        c. New navigation system

        d. Sensors

        e. Event tracking

        f. Scripts for behaviors

      3. VRML 3.0

        a. Shared worlds with avatars

II. Demo of Authoring tools

    A. Pioneer

III. Demo of Browsers

    A. Live3D

    B. Sony

IV. Demo of CyberArtists' VRML work

    A. Einar

    B. Taylor

VI. Discussion of resources

VII. Discussion of a NWCA VRML gallery project

    A. Linking to NWCA web page

    B. Appearance and extent

    C. Representing arists

    D. Linking format to artists pages

Bruce Campbell (bdc@hitl.washington.edu) from the UW HIT Lab demonstrated the Sony VRML brower and discussed VRML 2.0. He is working on archiving HIT Lab VR worlds in VRML.

Toni Emersion (temerson@hitl.washington.edu), the Cybrarian of HITLab and maintainer of sci.virtual-worlds newsgroup contributed references to additional VRML materials. Contact her for the URL of the HIT Lab page on VRML.

The main reason for this event was to share resources for VRML and to stimulate the use of VRML as a medium by CyberArtists. The references section will be posted to the NWCA Web page. Anyone who has any additions or correction to this list of resources should post a message to the list.

EVENTS:

See Einar's Orbs and some excellent flat art at the SPO gallery. Intersection of Nickerson and Queen Anne. Until the 28th of June.

Every Saturday evening, the Seattle Experimental Opera takes over the Speakeasy Backroom. Check out Bret's work at the SEXO Cabaret on Saturday, the 27th of June.

Next NWCA Monthly Meeting will be on Monday, the 15th of July, 7 PM in the Speakeasy Backroom. Our featured speaker will be composer and music researcher, Rick Bidlack. His presentation will focus on music he created for a VR world called "OSMOSE". Rick currently works for Midisoft.