Virtual Reality on the Internet

Presentation Outline

Introduction Virtual Reality VRML Specification Examples Trends

Virtual Reality

A computer simulation of reality, using 3D graphics and sound effects, with user interfaces such as special goggles and gloves, to create a lifelike environment for entertainment, experimentation, and training.

Virtual Worlds Artificial Reality

Virtual Reality

Artificial Reality

Virtual Reality

Ivan Sutherland (60’s) MIT (Sketch Pad) Utah

Body Tracking Head Mounted

Displays 3D Graphics

Processors

Peripheral Devices

Head Mounted Display

Peripherals

DataGloves

Peripheral Devices

Body Suit

Bodysuit Tracking the virtual

soldier The DoD wishes to

place soldiers into unobtrusive bodysuits, on locomotion platforms, in order to track those soldiers’ movements and interactions in a networked virtual environment.

Entertainment Industry

The EI needs bodysuits to build efficient and enticing VR applications.

Cave

VRML

The Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) is a language for describing multi-participant interactive simulations--virtual worlds networked via the global internet and hyperlinked with the World Wide Web.

VRML Example

#VRML V1.0 asciiSeparator{#The blue cube Material{ diffuseColor 0 0 1 #Blue } Cube{ width 2 height 2 depth 2 }}

Browser

File Extensions The extension for VRML files is .wrl (for world)

Embedding VRML into HTML <EMBED SRC=“example.wrl”> http://www.parallelgraphics.com/products/cortona/download/ie

xplore/

X3D

Extensible 3D (X3D) Graphics www.web3d.org

expressing the geometry and behavior capabilities of the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML 97) using the Extensible Markup Language (XML).

Demo

Home Space Builder Space Designer

Future Developments

High resolution displays providing a realistic 360 degree image surround

Body and eye position tracking with imperceptible lag

Rich virtual displays with very rapid refresh for realistic environments

Applications

Collaborative virtual environments for simulation and entertainment

Telepresence, Telecommuting, Teleoperation

Data Visualization Environments Computer Aided Design Architectural Modeling

Applications

Virtual capabilities for the disabled Remote sensing Tools that support group processes

embeded in applications software used in design, GSS, E-Mail,

VideoConferencing, Project Management

VRML

The Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) is a language for describing multi-participant interactive simulations--virtual worlds networked via the global internet and hyperlinked with the World Wide Web.

History

VRML was conceived in the spring of 1994 at the first annual World Wide Web Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

Tim Berners-Lee and Dave Ragget Organized a BOF session to discuss Virtual Reality interfaces to the WWW.

VRML Authors

Gavin Bell, Silicon Graphics, Inc. Open Inventor ASCII

Anthony Parisi, Intervista Software Mark Pesce, VRML List Moderator

VRML 1.0

The first version of VRML allows for the creation of virtual worlds with limited interactive behavior.

These worlds can contain objects which have hyperlinks to other worlds or HTML documents.

Requirements

VRML 1.0 was designed to meet the following requirements. Platform independence Ability to work well over low-

bandwidth connections.

Language Specification

VRML defines a set of objects useful for doing 3D graphics.

These objects are called Nodes Nodes are arranged in hierarchical

structures called scene graphs.

VRML Example

#VRML V1.0 asciiSeparator{#The blue cube Material{ diffuseColor 0 0 1 #Blue } Cube{ width 2 height 2 depth 2 }}

Nodes

VRML defines 36 different classes of nodes. shape nodes

cone, cube, cylinder etc. properties

material, texture, translation etc group nodes

WWWanchor, separators, etc.

Browser

File Extensions The extension for VRML files

is .wrl (for world)

Embedding VRML into HTML <EMBED SRC=“example.wrl”>

X3D X3D is the next generation version of VRML

97 and fully backward compatible with it. VRML 97 is an ISO standard. ISO standards

are periodically updated to reflect progress and change in the standardized technology, but you can't replace a standard wholesale.

VRML 97 content will be convertible to X3D.

X3D

Extensible 3D (X3D) Graphics www.web3d.org

expressing the geometry and behavior capabilities of the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML 97) using the Extensible Markup Language (XML).

VRML & X3DX3VRML 97 : DEF MyView viewpoint { position 0

0 10 }

XML : <viewpoint id='MyView' position='0 0 10' >

X3D X3D is currently a stop-gap until 2002

when the two standards will merge together as one markup language.

X3D will enable small, lightweight Web clients to support advanced 3-D capabilities. These applications will reside in the browser instead of a third party software package.

<Proto type="myBox"> <Field id="mySize" type="vec"> <Box size="mySize"></Proto>

then somewhere else in a document

<ProtoUse type="myBox" DEF="aTwoThreeTenBox">

mySize="2 3 10"</ProtoUse>

and thereafter

<ProtoUse USE="aTwoThreeTenBox"/>

Avatars - Humanoids In 3D or virtual reality applications, your

avatar is the visual "handle" or display appearance you use to represent yourself.

avatar(Hinduism) the incarnation of a deity in human or animal form to counteract some particular evil in the world.

ActiveWorlds.com

Avatars as Forms of Personal Expression

Avatar Gallery

Worlds Chat

www.worlds.com Worlds' 3D browser software enables you

to explore a variety of 3D worlds while you meet, chat and interact with people from all over the world.

http://www.blaxxun.com

The Sims

The Sims Online is a massive online world built by thousands of players. You can create your own Sim and play

as yourself or your alternate Sim persona.

You can be rich, powerful, popular, or famous.

You can explore neighborhoods, make friends, host events, or run a business..

Sims

Color-Coded Virtual Reality Navigation Research Tool

VR Research