Technology of VR Group Members: 1. Azura Mat Salim 2. Fadlynna Ilyani Zulkarim 3. Chieng Chin Yi 4. Ernie Darlina Taib 5. Norkhairul Wahab

VRML Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML) Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML) International standard file format International standard file format Describing interactive 3D multimedia on the Describing interactive 3D multimedia on the Internet. Internet. VRML 1.0 created based on the Open VRML 1.0 created based on the Open Inventor file format. Inventor file format. Capabilities were further extended with the release Capabilities were further extended with the release of VRML 2.0 of VRML 2.0 VRML97 replaced VRML 2.0 as the ISO standard VRML97 replaced VRML 2.0 as the ISO standard

VRML Features VRML defines most common attributes found VRML defines most common attributes found in 3D applications in 3D applications Transformation, texture mapping viewpoints and Transformation, texture mapping viewpoints and materials materials Able to compose objects for VRML worlds using a Able to compose objects for VRML worlds using a generic text editor generic text editor Can be used for defining VRML documents and / or Can be used for defining VRML documents and / or as a file interchange format as a file interchange format Support for various scripting languages (e.g. Support for various scripting languages (e.g. JavaScript) JavaScript)

VRML Features Uses a hierarchical scene graph in Uses a hierarchical scene graph in describing 3D objects and worlds describing 3D objects and worlds VRML 2.0 design enables a prototyping mechanism, VRML 2.0 design enables a prototyping mechanism, allows encapsulation and promotes reusability of allows encapsulation and promotes reusability of scene graphs scene graphs VRML browser is required to view VRML objects and VRML browser is required to view VRML objects and worlds. worlds.

VRML Applications Commonly used in creating virtual worlds Commonly used in creating virtual worlds Architectural walkthroughs Architectural walkthroughs Scientific visualization Scientific visualization Sntertainment and industrial designs Sntertainment and industrial designs Lacks the networking and database protocols to Lacks the networking and database protocols to create true multi-user interactive 3D worlds create true multi-user interactive 3D worlds Technology of multi-user worlds requires the Technology of multi-user worlds requires the integration of VRML with other languages such as integration of VRML with other languages such as Java Java 2 key elements in creating a virtual world 2 key elements in creating a virtual world A text editor or build tools A text editor or build tools A VRML browser to view the world A VRML browser to view the world

Java3D Full-featured 3D graphics API Full-featured 3D graphics API Implementation is layered on top of native low-level Implementation is layered on top of native low-level rendering APIs, namely OpenGL and Direct3D rendering APIs, namely OpenGL and Direct3D Part of the Java Media family of APIs Part of the Java Media family of APIs High-level programming language High-level programming language Based on Java Based on Java Shields users from low-level rendering details e.g. Shields users from low-level rendering details e.g. hardware acceleration. hardware acceleration. Supports high levels of optimization and multiprocessor Supports high levels of optimization and multiprocessor rendering rendering

Java3D Easily create virtual worlds that are immersive and Easily create virtual worlds that are immersive and even interactive. even interactive. Lets users to deal with lighting, texture mapping and Lets users to deal with lighting, texture mapping and various other behaviors. various other behaviors. Powerful yet easily mastered graphics capabilities. Powerful yet easily mastered graphics capabilities. Able to support applications that operate on a variety Able to support applications that operate on a variety of output devices of output devices Portability and networking capabilities Portability and networking capabilities May run on different operating systems, different May run on different operating systems, different low-level graphics APIs or different graphics low-level graphics APIs or different graphics hardware. hardware.

Java3D Features Scene graph programming model Scene graph programming model Java 3D rendering control Java 3D rendering control Scalability Scalability Convenience and Utility Classes Convenience and Utility Classes

Java3D In A Nutshell Basically the Java programming interface for interactive 3D Basically the Java programming interface for interactive 3D graphics. graphics. Provides developers and users platform-independent, high- Provides developers and users platform-independent, high- performance applications and applets. performance applications and applets. Greatly simplifies programming as opposed to other low- Greatly simplifies programming as opposed to other low- level APIs such as OpenGL and DirectX. level APIs such as OpenGL and DirectX. An optional package that is installed on top of Java 2. An optional package that is installed on top of Java 2.

MPEG-4 ISO/IEC standard developed by MPEG (Moving ISO/IEC standard developed by MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) Picture Experts Group) Formal ISO/IEC designation is ISO/IEC Formal ISO/IEC designation is ISO/IEC Became an International Standard in Became an International Standard in MPEG-4 builds on the proven success of three fields: MPEG-4 builds on the proven success of three fields: Digital television; Digital television; Interactive graphics applications (synthetic content); Interactive graphics applications (synthetic content); Interactive multimedia (World Wide Web, distribution of Interactive multimedia (World Wide Web, distribution of and access to content) and access to content)

MPEG-4 Features For authors Enables the production of content that has greater reusability, greater flexibility Enables the production of content that has greater reusability, greater flexibility digital television digital television animated graphics animated graphics World Wide Web (WWW) pages and their extensions. World Wide Web (WWW) pages and their extensions. Better manage and protect content owner rights. Better manage and protect content owner rights.

MPEG-4 Features For network service providers  Offers transparent information  Can be interpreted and translated into the appropriate native signaling messages of each network with the help native signaling messages of each network with the help of relevant standards bodies. of relevant standards bodies.  Provides a generic QoS descriptor for different MPEG-4 media. media.  The exact translations from the QoS parameters set for each media to the network are beyond the scope of each media to the network are beyond the scope of MPEG-4 and are left to network providers. MPEG-4 and are left to network providers.  Signaling of the MPEG-4 media QoS descriptors end-to- end enables transport optimization in heterogeneous end enables transport optimization in heterogeneous networks. networks.

MPEG-4 Features For end users  MPEG-4 brings higher levels of interaction with content, within the limits set by the author content, within the limits set by the author  Brings multimedia to new networks, including those employing relatively low bit rate, and mobile ones employing relatively low bit rate, and mobile ones

MPEG-4 Goals To avoid a multitude of proprietary, non-interworking formats and players by providing standardized ways to: Represent units of aural, visual or audiovisual content, Represent units of aural, visual or audiovisual content, called "media objects“ called "media objects“ Describe the composition of these objects to create Describe the composition of these objects to create compound media objects that form audiovisual scenes compound media objects that form audiovisual scenes Multiplex and synchronize the data associated with media Multiplex and synchronize the data associated with media objects, so that they can be transported over network objects, so that they can be transported over network channels channels Interact with the audiovisual scene generated at the Interact with the audiovisual scene generated at the receiver’s end. receiver’s end.

MPEG-4 Implementation Allows for robust communication over limited rate Allows for robust communication over limited rate wireless channels, useful for e.g. mobile videophones wireless channels, useful for e.g. mobile videophones and space communication and space communication Allow the transmission and storage of high-quality Allow the transmission and storage of high-quality video suitable for the studio and other very video suitable for the studio and other very demanding content creation applications demanding content creation applications Interactive web-based video Interactive web-based video Encode video captures with a hand-held camera Encode video captures with a hand-held camera Games market Games market

Overview of Open Inventor TM Presents a programming model based on a 3D scene database that dramatically simplifies graphics programming. Presents a programming model based on a 3D scene database that dramatically simplifies graphics programming. Based on OpenGL indirectly taking the advantage of OpenGL such as platform/window-systems independent. Based on OpenGL indirectly taking the advantage of OpenGL such as platform/window-systems independent. Simplifies the software development process and allows very rapid development of graphics applications. Simplifies the software development process and allows very rapid development of graphics applications.

Design & Architecture Open Inventor includes:- Open Inventor includes:- 3D scene database: shapes, property, group, engine, and sensor object.3D scene database: shapes, property, group, engine, and sensor object. Node kits: mechanism for creating pre-built grouping of inventor nodes.Node kits: mechanism for creating pre-built grouping of inventor nodes. Manipulators: interaction tools for user such as handle box and trackball.Manipulators: interaction tools for user such as handle box and trackball. Inventor component library: to provide some high level interactivity task.Inventor component library: to provide some high level interactivity task. Component library is window-system dependent but is available for most platforms thus maintaining the common look-and-feel for applications across platforms. Component library is window-system dependent but is available for most platforms thus maintaining the common look-and-feel for applications across platforms. OpenGL is used for all shading, lighting, and drawing via the GLX extension provided by OpenGL. OpenGL is used for all shading, lighting, and drawing via the GLX extension provided by OpenGL.

Design & Architecture (cont’d) New nodes and behaviors can be added by the programmer in a number of very easy ways. New nodes and behaviors can be added by the programmer in a number of very easy ways. Dynamic shared objects (DSO) allows any new node to be available for any Inventor application for reading/rendering. Dynamic shared objects (DSO) allows any new node to be available for any Inventor application for reading/rendering.

Other Languages for VR 1. AC3D AC3D is popular 3D object/scene modeler available for Linux, Windows 95/NT, and SGI. AC3D is popular 3D object/scene modeler available for Linux, Windows 95/NT, and SGI. It outputs POV-Ray, VRML (1 and 2), RenderMan, Dive, Massive and other format. It outputs POV-Ray, VRML (1 and 2), RenderMan, Dive, Massive and other format. Benefits Benefits Multi platform program - AC3D file format compatible across platforms.Multi platform program - AC3D file format compatible across platforms. Built-in fast OpenGL 3D renderer with adjustable field-of-view - instantly see results of your actions in 3D. Spin the model or switch into 'walk mode' for Quake-style control.Built-in fast OpenGL 3D renderer with adjustable field-of-view - instantly see results of your actions in 3D. Spin the model or switch into 'walk mode' for Quake-style control. 24-bit color palette with adjustable diffuse; ambient; emissive; shininess and transparency24-bit color palette with adjustable diffuse; ambient; emissive; shininess and transparency

Other Languages for VR(cont’d) 2. Minimal Reality. Set of software tools for the production of virtual reality systems and other forms of three-dimensional user interfaces. Set of software tools for the production of virtual reality systems and other forms of three-dimensional user interfaces. Consists of a set of subroutine libraries, device drivers, support programs and a language for describing geometry and behavior. Consists of a set of subroutine libraries, device drivers, support programs and a language for describing geometry and behavior. Benefits: Benefits: Applications developed using MR will run at most MR sites with little or no modification to the source code.Applications developed using MR will run at most MR sites with little or no modification to the source code. Complete source code is provided with the MR distribution (Open source).Complete source code is provided with the MR distribution (Open source). The MR toolkit was designed to be easy to extend.The MR toolkit was designed to be easy to extend.

Other Languages for VR(cont’d) 3. TCL/TK Visual Tcl is a high-quality application development environment for UNIX, Windows, Macintosh, and AS400 platforms. Visual Tcl is a high-quality application development environment for UNIX, Windows, Macintosh, and AS400 platforms. Features: Features: Extensible widget and geometry manager support.Extensible widget and geometry manager support. Create compound widgets and widget libraries.Create compound widgets and widget libraries. Visual Tcl features new ready-to-use widgets: combo box, multicolumn list box, progress bar.Visual Tcl features new ready-to-use widgets: combo box, multicolumn list box, progress bar. Predefined compounds available including scrolled text, scrolled list box, scrolled canvas, horizontal and vertical splitters.Predefined compounds available including scrolled text, scrolled list box, scrolled canvas, horizontal and vertical splitters.

Other Languages for VR(cont’d) 4. X3D Next-generation open standard for 3D on the web. Next-generation open standard for 3D on the web. Extensible standard that can easily be supported by content creation tools, proprietary browsers, and other 3D applications. Extensible standard that can easily be supported by content creation tools, proprietary browsers, and other 3D applications. Replaces VRML, but also provides compatibility with existing VRML content and browsers. Replaces VRML, but also provides compatibility with existing VRML content and browsers. Benefits: Benefits: There are significant commercial and open-source movements for advancing X3D.There are significant commercial and open-source movements for advancing X3D. X3D content is modular and reusable.X3D content is modular and reusable. X3D supports optional XML encoding for tight integration with other Web technologies.X3D supports optional XML encoding for tight integration with other Web technologies.

Summary VRMLJAVA3DMPEG4 Open I’ventor AC3D Minimal Reality Tcl/Tkx3D Genre format for interactive 3D on web 3D graphics API Standard i’active video Toolkit & API for i’active 3D 3D object/ scenemodeler S’ware to produce VR system App. Developm ent Environ- ment Open Standard for 3D on web L’guageVRMLJavaC++Callable Using C, C++, Fortran Tcl/TkMultiple Multi- platfor m Scene graph- based AppsI’active 3D virtual worlds I’active 3D virtual Worlds I’active web- based videoI’active 3D graphics app. Creation of 3D objects VR Sys. & 3D user interface 3Danimationplayer