topical media & game development
VRML
To realize our prototype we used VRML,
which limits us to medium quality
desktop VR.
At this stage, VRML is a good option, since it is a relatively
stable format with a reasonable programmatic model.
In short, what VRML offers is
VRML
- declarative means for defining geometry and appearance
- prototype abstraction mechanism
- powerful event model
- relatively strong programmatic capabilities
Although VRML allows for writing models
(including geometry and appearance) using a plain text
editor, many tools support export to VRML.
As a consequence, often tools are used to create
more complex models.
In addition,
VRML allows for defining prototype abstractions, so reuse
of models and behavior can be easily realized.
Defining dynamic behavior involves the routing of
events that may come from a variety of built-in sensors
(for example a TimeSensor for animations)
to scripts or so-called interpolators, that allow
for the manipulation of geometry and appearance
parameters of the model.
In particular, the use of scripts or the
External Authoring Interface (EAI),
that allows for defining behavior in Java,
is essential for realizing complex behavior.
Summarizing, VRML is a sufficiently rich
declarative language for defining 3D scenes,
with a relatively powerful programming model for
realizing complex behavior.
Some may think that VRML is dead.
It isn't.
The underlying model is endorsed in both
the X3D and RM3D standards,
simply since it has proven its worth.
(C) Æliens
04/09/2009
You may not copy or print any of this material without explicit permission of the author or the publisher.
In case of other copyright issues, contact the author.