vrml virtual reality modeling language
DESCRIPTION
VRML virtual reality modeling language. what is it?. standardised (sort of) notation for virtual reality over the web text file (use normal text editor) bit like a programming language also special world building software. how do you use it?. you need a VRML viewer Netscape/IE plug-in - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
VRML
virtual reality modeling language
what is it?
• standardised (sort of) notation for virtual reality over the web
• text file (use normal text editor)
• bit like a programming language
• also special world building software
how do you use it?
• you need a VRML viewer– Netscape/IE plug-in– stand alone VRML viewer
• and a world– find one on the net– write your own!
interactivity over the web???
• 'world' is downloaded
• interaction is local– moving within the world
• links to the web?– can be linked to from web pages– active objects link back
versions
• VRML 1.0 first version 'static' worlds - only viewpoint changes
• VRML 2.0 animated objects in world tidying up etc.
N.B. VRML browsers highly inconsistent
VRML file format
• filename (URL) ends ".wrl”– c.f. .html, .gif, .jpg etc.
• VRML 1.0 first line: #vrml 1.0 ascii
• VRML 2.0 first line: #vrml 2.0 utf8
• can have binary versions too
contents of VRML file
• one or more nodes– general format
DEF object objecttype { fieldname value . . . }
– or simply: objecttype { fieldname value . . . }
types of nodes
• objects that appear in the world– e.g. sphere, cone, cube etc.
• nodes that alter subsequent objects– e.g. texture, color, transformations
• nodes that group other nodes– also limit the effect of transformations etc.
Examples
When you are looking at a virtual world in Netscape you can use:
View Menu - Page Source
and similar commands in other browsers.
sphere
#VRML V1.0 ascii
Sphere { radius 1}
add colour
#VRML V1.0 ascii
Separator { # groups things together Material { diffuseColor 1.0 0 0 # red green blue } Sphere { radius 1 }}
or texture map an image
#VRML V1.0 ascii
Separator { Texture2 { filename "big_alan.jpg" } Sphere { radius 1 }}
a cone
#VRML V1.0 ascii
Separator { Material { diffuseColor 0 0 1 # bright blue } Cone { height 3 }}
put them together ...#VRML V1.0 ascii
Separator { Separator { # for sphere Texture2 { filename "big_alan.jpg" } Sphere { radius 1 } } Separator { # for cone Material { diffuseColor 0 0 1 # bright blue } Cone { height 3 } }}
transform ...
… Sphere { radius 1 } ... Transform { translation 4 2 0 # 4 to the right and 2 up }…Cone { height 3 }…
putting bits together
simply several cuboidstexture mapped with wood grainand with a photo.
again and again
WWWAnchor { name "http://www.hiraeth.com/alan/" description "Alan's home page" WWWInline { name "alan.wrl” } }
• include other VRML files
• add hyperlinks