Comments on: Is it finally time for 3D online?

Interest in 3D technology for the Web is picking up, and this time it's no false alarm, says VRML co-creator Tony Parisi.

3D Vital? Not Just Chat

Take a look at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/05/16/BUG1HCOVK71.DTL&type=tech

This is a 3D forensic system from SGI. Note the comment:

"The importance of this system, of this 3-D reconstruction, is that we can face a world that is similar to the one we know," Francesco Camana, technical director of forensics science office of the Italian state police.."

As someone working in the public safety industry and familiar with the emerging DHS requirements for NIMS/NRP, a showstopper aspect of these technologies is the capability to roll-up or aggregate this data into other systems. The web is not simply publish/subscribe; it is an aggregating system. To use 3D for these and C3 applications, we must have standard formats for ALL of the data types we share.

So while Flash is a good app and chat is an application much improved by 3D, the national and global interests for mission critical systems rely on standard interoperable formats. Again, we have to turn to the people and vendors with a long credible history of creating open formats and with COTS products.

X3D is the format of choise, and that this must interoperate on the web is evident to anyone who understands the problem of scalable systems.

U3D and the 3D Industry Forum (3DIF)

Your comment reminded me of 3DIF's lofty goal of a universial 3D file format...

"The purpose of the 3D Industry Forum will be to: Further the adoption of 3D by establishing 3DIF technologies and standards as well accepted and widely deployed offerings utilized by content developers, software and hardware ISV?s, governmental entities and end users..."

I'm not really sure what the implications of U3D are/will be, (particularly for web 3D) but there seems to be an impressive listing of companies involved such as Intel, Adobe, Microsoft...

http://www.3dif.org/

3D Vital? Not Just Chat

Take a look at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/05/16/BUG1HCOVK71.DTL&type=tech

This is a 3D forensic system from SGI. Note the comment:

"The importance of this system, of this 3-D reconstruction, is that we can face a world that is similar to the one we know," Francesco Camana, technical director of forensics science office of the Italian state police.."

As someone working in the public safety industry and familiar with the emerging DHS requirements for NIMS/NRP, a showstopper aspect of these technologies is the capability to roll-up or aggregate this data into other systems. The web is not simply publish/subscribe; it is an aggregating system. To use 3D for these and C3 applications, we must have standard formats for ALL of the data types we share.

So while Flash is a good app and chat is an application much improved by 3D, the national and global interests for mission critical systems rely on standard interoperable formats. Again, we have to turn to the people and vendors with a long credible history of creating open formats and with COTS products.

X3D is the format of choise, and that this must interoperate on the web is evident to anyone who understands the problem of scalable systems.

U3D and the 3D Industry Forum (3DIF)

Your comment reminded me of 3DIF's lofty goal of a universial 3D file format...

"The purpose of the 3D Industry Forum will be to: Further the adoption of 3D by establishing 3DIF technologies and standards as well accepted and widely deployed offerings utilized by content developers, software and hardware ISV?s, governmental entities and end users..."

I'm not really sure what the implications of U3D are/will be, (particularly for web 3D) but there seems to be an impressive listing of companies involved such as Intel, Adobe, Microsoft...

http://www.3dif.org/

Why not VRML

As statet in an earlier post, 3D is a good thing as you can see by its revolution of the gaming industry where you can not make a game without 3D. The succes is based on proprietary 3D engines, with capabilities that far extent what the open source or standard could do.
Making a good 3D standard (engine) is much more complicated than the internet analogy proposed in the article. Therefore it will be proprietary software, like e.g. TurnTool that will probably become the 'standard', due to the visual quality they deliver and user friendliness for the developers. The VRML standard is currently used to 'transport' files from one 3D software suite to another. This is the justification of the standard, not the presentation of a final result.
Respect to all the guys who is making web 3D. I work within the industry and gets the feeling it is starting to take off every day with more and more requests

Why not VRML

As statet in an earlier post, 3D is a good thing as you can see by its revolution of the gaming industry where you can not make a game without 3D. The succes is based on proprietary 3D engines, with capabilities that far extent what the open source or standard could do.
Making a good 3D standard (engine) is much more complicated than the internet analogy proposed in the article. Therefore it will be proprietary software, like e.g. TurnTool that will probably become the 'standard', due to the visual quality they deliver and user friendliness for the developers. The VRML standard is currently used to 'transport' files from one 3D software suite to another. This is the justification of the standard, not the presentation of a final result.
Respect to all the guys who is making web 3D. I work within the industry and gets the feeling it is starting to take off every day with more and more requests

it's about time

I stumbled into a 3D community 5 years ago and I've been hooked ever since..being an artist..I couldnt wait to get my feet wet in VRML!!!..I'm no techy..but I am an internet junkie(also a creator now for www.jewelofindra.com & www.oddessey.org)..I keep hearing folks say..3D worlds are good but you need to have something to do when you get there..I see people spending hours in a 2D chat like yahoo..theres nothing to DO there either BUT meet friends, spend time, share files and interest & hope to connect with someone that shares the same interest (the singles bar for the new generation so to speak)..I say thats all good..but why not do it with a FUNKY twist..3D!!!..I rarely meet anyone online and in life that even knows what VRML is ...much less 3D chat (I'm spreading the word!)..if there is a market for 2D..I can only imagine how that market would react to 3D if they only knew it was out there..I'm with badgirl..marketing is key..look at sims online?...(all the meet-a-mate type sites)people will pay real $ to join a site where they may find a 2D picture of a potential mate..why wouldn't they do the same to find not only a 2D picture..but a real voice, an endless playground and hidden areas to live an entire 3d life of fantasy..dont laugh..it's already happening..dont believe me?..visit jewel and get to know some of it's regulars ..I hope the 5 years I've spent loving VRML is only the beginning of much more to come..I've invested my time and money into it..I can't believe I'm one of a small group willing to do the same :)

it's about time

I stumbled into a 3D community 5 years ago and I've been hooked ever since..being an artist..I couldnt wait to get my feet wet in VRML!!!..I'm no techy..but I am an internet junkie(also a creator now for www.jewelofindra.com & www.oddessey.org)..I keep hearing folks say..3D worlds are good but you need to have something to do when you get there..I see people spending hours in a 2D chat like yahoo..theres nothing to DO there either BUT meet friends, spend time, share files and interest & hope to connect with someone that shares the same interest (the singles bar for the new generation so to speak)..I say thats all good..but why not do it with a FUNKY twist..3D!!!..I rarely meet anyone online and in life that even knows what VRML is ...much less 3D chat (I'm spreading the word!)..if there is a market for 2D..I can only imagine how that market would react to 3D if they only knew it was out there..I'm with badgirl..marketing is key..look at sims online?...(all the meet-a-mate type sites)people will pay real $ to join a site where they may find a 2D picture of a potential mate..why wouldn't they do the same to find not only a 2D picture..but a real voice, an endless playground and hidden areas to live an entire 3d life of fantasy..dont laugh..it's already happening..dont believe me?..visit jewel and get to know some of it's regulars ..I hope the 5 years I've spent loving VRML is only the beginning of much more to come..I've invested my time and money into it..I can't believe I'm one of a small group willing to do the same :)

[Lillian Veranda]

Jewel of Indra Passes Test

I have admit, when I first read all the comments and saw so many people mentioning the Jewel of Indra website, I was sure it was some sort of spam or set up. I mean no site could get that many people to speak up for it if it was not a set up right? So, on a whim I decided to check it out. I was prepared to come back here and tell everyone to shut the h*** up about this Jewel of Indra rip off. But, instead what I found there blew me away. I am not new to 3D. I used to hang out at Active Worlds all the time. But, I gotta tell you, after going to Jewel of Indra I now know that I had never before really experienced 3D the way it should be experienced. I would encourage everyone to just visit http://www.jewelofindra.com before opening their mouths against 3D on the net. If you are not blown away like I was, check the obits because you are already dead.

[Lillian Veranda]

Jewel of Indra Passes Test

I have admit, when I first read all the comments and saw so many people mentioning the Jewel of Indra website, I was sure it was some sort of spam or set up. I mean no site could get that many people to speak up for it if it was not a set up right? So, on a whim I decided to check it out. I was prepared to come back here and tell everyone to shut the h*** up about this Jewel of Indra rip off. But, instead what I found there blew me away. I am not new to 3D. I used to hang out at Active Worlds all the time. But, I gotta tell you, after going to Jewel of Indra I now know that I had never before really experienced 3D the way it should be experienced. I would encourage everyone to just visit http://www.jewelofindra.com before opening their mouths against 3D on the net. If you are not blown away like I was, check the obits because you are already dead.

Immersive 3D on the web

I believe that this is the future of the Internet, so any advances in this direction is possitive. There are a lot of people working on making this genre a reality, so it will materialise eventually. There is amazing scope for this, from commercial sites to game development, plus revenue creation. What remains unanswered, is who will take the lions share? Will the small players have to yealed to the major players?

There is major potential to make serious money from this genre, but who will try and control it? Can the small developers compete with the major and highly funded organisations? Time will tell.

We have all seen this before. The monopily of a format. Is this going to happen here? One format adopted so that no other can be used? I think it is time to allow competition to grow the full force of creativity to show exactly what 3D can offer on the web.

Kind regards Brian

Immersive 3D on the web

I believe that this is the future of the Internet, so any advances in this direction is possitive. There are a lot of people working on making this genre a reality, so it will materialise eventually. There is amazing scope for this, from commercial sites to game development, plus revenue creation. What remains unanswered, is who will take the lions share? Will the small players have to yealed to the major players?

There is major potential to make serious money from this genre, but who will try and control it? Can the small developers compete with the major and highly funded organisations? Time will tell.

We have all seen this before. The monopily of a format. Is this going to happen here? One format adopted so that no other can be used? I think it is time to allow competition to grow the full force of creativity to show exactly what 3D can offer on the web.

Kind regards Brian

Immersive 3D web content

I believe that Immersive 3D content on the web is the future. However, who will controll it?

Will the smaller players be able to compete with the major players? That is the question.

There is some amazing work being done with individuals not associated with the major organisations, who may create a threat to their investment. Time will tell what happens.

Will the major players try to monopololise the situation to make it impossible for the smaller players to get ahead? At the end of the day, it is all about dollars, not what can be achieved for the betterment of the casual web surfer. I believe that the potential to make some real money through this genre is incredible, so it stands to reason, that the major players will try and knock out their opposition where they can. We are living in the future of the internet and the results will be interesting, however, there is a bigger fish to be caught, that of Interactive Television. With it's huge bandwidth, will offer far more realistic Immersivce 3D content. This is why the majors are so worried about the small fish gaining any ground. Think about it, makes sence does'nt it?

Kind regards Brian

Immersive 3D web content

I believe that Immersive 3D content on the web is the future. However, who will controll it?

Will the smaller players be able to compete with the major players? That is the question.

There is some amazing work being done with individuals not associated with the major organisations, who may create a threat to their investment. Time will tell what happens.

Will the major players try to monopololise the situation to make it impossible for the smaller players to get ahead? At the end of the day, it is all about dollars, not what can be achieved for the betterment of the casual web surfer. I believe that the potential to make some real money through this genre is incredible, so it stands to reason, that the major players will try and knock out their opposition where they can. We are living in the future of the internet and the results will be interesting, however, there is a bigger fish to be caught, that of Interactive Television. With it's huge bandwidth, will offer far more realistic Immersivce 3D content. This is why the majors are so worried about the small fish gaining any ground. Think about it, makes sence does'nt it?

Kind regards Brian

[Astinsan]

didn't they say that about flash?

I remember hearing the same think about movie clips on the internet. Now its in so many places that its annoying. (flash ads, myspace's dern audio player)

Lets also remember that HTML took nearly 20+ years to get right. And no it didn't start with Mosaic. It was first demoed By Douglas Englebart in 1969. Used to link all previous research with the new research data. It was called Hypertext.

[Astinsan]

didn't they say that about flash?

I remember hearing the same think about movie clips on the internet. Now its in so many places that its annoying. (flash ads, myspace's dern audio player)

Lets also remember that HTML took nearly 20+ years to get right. And no it didn't start with Mosaic. It was first demoed By Douglas Englebart in 1969. Used to link all previous research with the new research data. It was called Hypertext.