1. Virtual Reality on the Internet

2. Presentation Outline Introduction Virtual Reality VRML Specification
Examples
Trends

3. 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

4. Virtual Reality

5. Artificial Reality

6. Virtual Reality Ivan Sutherland (60’s) MIT (Sketch Pad) Utah
Body Tracking
Head Mounted Displays
3D Graphics Processors

7. Peripheral Devices
Head Mounted Display

8. Peripherals
Data Gloves

9. Peripheral Devices
Body Suit

10. 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.

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

13. Cave

14. 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.

15. VRML Example #VRML V1.0 ascii Separator{#The blue cube Material{
diffuseColor #Blue }
Cube{
width 2
height 2
depth 2

16. Browser File Extensions
The extension for VRML files is .wrl (for world)
Embedding VRML into HTML
<EMBED SRC=“example.wrl”>

17. X3D Extensible 3D (X3D) Graphics
expressing the geometry and behavior capabilities of the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML 97) using the Extensible Markup Language (XML).

18. Demo
Home Space Builder
Space Designer

19. 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

20. Applications
Collaborative virtual environments for simulation and entertainment
Telepresence, Telecommuting, Teleoperation
Data Visualization Environments
Computer Aided Design
Architectural Modeling

21. Applications Virtual capabilities for the disabled Remote sensing
Tools that support group processes embeded in applications software
used in design, GSS, , VideoConferencing, Project Management

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. VRML Authors Gavin Bell, Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Open Inventor ASCII
Anthony Parisi, Intervista Software
Mark Pesce, VRML List Moderator

25. 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.

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

27. 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.

28. VRML Example #VRML V1.0 ascii Separator{#The blue cube Material{
diffuseColor #Blue }
Cube{
width 2
height 2
depth 2

29. Nodes VRML defines 36 different classes of nodes. shape nodes
cone, cube, cylinder etc.
properties
material, texture, translation etc
group nodes
WWWanchor, separators, etc.

30. Browser File Extensions The extension for VRML files is .wrl
(for world)
Embedding VRML into HTML
<EMBED SRC=“example.wrl”>

31. 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.

32. X3D Extensible 3D (X3D) Graphics
expressing the geometry and behavior capabilities of the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML 97) using the Extensible Markup Language (XML).

33. VRML & X3D X3VRML 97 : DEF MyView viewpoint { position 0 0 10 }
XML : <viewpoint id='MyView' position='0 0 10' >

34. 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.

35. <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"/>

38. 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.

39. ActiveWorlds.com

41. Avatars as Forms of Personal Expression
Avatar Gallery

42. 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.

44. 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..

45. Sims

46. Color-Coded Virtual Reality Navigation Research Tool

47. VR Research