B.Sc. Multimedia ComputingMedia Technologies

3D Technologies for the Web

Agenda

Motivations for providing 3D web content Technologies

3DML VRML Shockwave 3D

Development Tools and Processes Deployment Issues Examples

Motivations for 3D Content

Virtual Tours ( Environments, Architectural walk-thru ) Product design presentation and interaction Scientific applications - molecular structures,

navigation of ‘spaces’ Abstract representations of real-world concepts, e.g

navigating file structures or data warehouses via real-time 3D metaphors.

Online gaming

Technologies

3DML VRML Shockwave 3D

3D Technologies for the Web

3D Markup Language (3DML)

3DML

.3dml file has a mark-up syntax similar to HTML Worlds called ‘Spots’ constructed from Blocks Blocks have different characteristics which determine

how they can be used in the construction of the 3DML world.

Blocks for: Navigation Textures Animated GIFs Latest version supports video streaming

3DML

Only supported on the Windows Platform Blocks are regular shapes so difficult to represent

circular structures Download client from www.flatland.com

B.Sc. Multimedia ComputingMedia Technologies

B.Sc. Multimedia ComputingMedia Technologies

B.Sc. Multimedia ComputingMedia Technologies

3D Technologies for the Web

Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML)

VRML Virtual Reality Modeling Language, or sometimes called

'Virtual Reality Markup Language’ Script-based language for defining desktop 3D environments. VRML worlds can be constructed by hand in a text editor More commonly produced from a 3D world created in a

modeling package, like 3D Max or Maya Exported in VRML format. Each camera that is defined within

a 3D modeling package becomes a viewpoint in the exported VRML world. This helps to provide a means to control position and navigation within the world.

Files have .wrl extension Worlds viewed in VRML client - usually within Web Browser VRML is a desktop VR solution as compared with immersive VR

VRML -Create Model

VRML - Example ScriptVRML V2.0 utf8# Produced by 3D Studio MAX VRML97 exporter, Version 2.05, Revision 1.3# Date: Thu Oct 28 15:11:58 2004

DEF Sphere01 Transform { translation -32.45 0 -41.79 children [ Shape { appearance Appearance { material Material { diffuseColor 0.8392 0.898 0.651 } } geometry Sphere { radius 27.82 } } ]}

VRML Supports event sounds and placing of spatial sounds within world

Supports video texturing of objects VRML 1.0 emerged in mid 1990s VRML 2.0 (1997) supports the embedding of animation of objects from 3D modeling environments when exporting to vrml giving so-called ‘moving worlds’

3D Technologies for the Web

Shockwave 3D

Shockwave 3D

• Collaboration from Macromedia (Adobe) and Intel

• Available with Director since version 8.5

• Lingo scripting language extended to include functions which can create and manipulate a 3D world and objects contained within.

Shockwave 3D• Models created in applications such as 3D Studio MAX and exported out to .W3D format.

• Free plug-in for a number of 3D development software packages such as MAX and Maya

• Fairly heavy client required (4MB)

• Lots of good content out on the web

• Have a look at CanDo Interactive• www,candointeractive.com

Deployment Issues

Client-side software required to view & navigate worlds

Bandwidth! - broadband take-up and capacity will determine the future potential for 3D on the Web.

Also Have a Look at Java 3D & Unity 3D

Blaxxon VRML / Java based 3D developed by Blaxxon Technologies ( Windows Only).

www.blaxxun.com

Demicron Wirefusion examples www.demicron.com/gallery

Unity a 3D Development Environment for Mac - deployable on Mac and Windows and the Web

www.unity3d.com