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 Data Gloves

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 ascii Separator{#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/iexplore/

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 ascii Separator{#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 & X3D X3VRML 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