Technology of VR

Group Members:
 Azura Mat Salim
 Fadlynna Ilyani Zulkarim
 Chieng Chin Yi
 Ernie Darlina Taib
 Norkhairul Wahab
 VRML
 Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML)
 International standard file format

 Describing interactive 3D multimedia on the

Internet.
 VRML 1.0 created based on the Open

Inventor file format.

 Capabilities were further extended with the release

of VRML 2.0
 VRML97 replaced VRML 2.0 as the ISO standard
 VRML Features
 VRML defines most common attributes found
in 3D applications
 Transformation, texture mapping viewpoints and

materials
 Able to compose objects for VRML worlds using a

generic text editor

 Can be used for defining VRML documents and / or

as a file interchange format

 Support for various scripting languages (e.g.

JavaScript)
 VRML Features
 Uses a hierarchical scene graph in
describing 3D objects and worlds
 VRML 2.0 design enables a prototyping mechanism,

allows encapsulation and promotes reusability of

scene graphs
 VRML browser is required to view VRML objects and

worlds.
 VRML Applications

Commonly used in creating virtual worlds
• Architectural walkthroughs
• Scientific visualization
• Sntertainment and industrial designs

 Lacks the networking and database protocols to

create true multi-user interactive 3D worlds

 Technology of multi-user worlds requires the

integration of VRML with other languages such as
Java

 2 key elements in creating a virtual world

• A text editor or build tools
• A VRML browser to view the world
 Java3D
 Full-featured 3D graphics API
 Implementation is layered on top of native low-level

rendering APIs, namely OpenGL and Direct3D

 Part of the Java Media family of APIs

 High-level programming language

• Based on Java
• Shields users from low-level rendering details e.g.
hardware acceleration.
• Supports high levels of optimization and multiprocessor
rendering
 Java3D
 Easily create virtual worlds that are immersive and
even interactive.
 Lets users to deal with lighting, texture mapping and

various other behaviors.

 Powerful yet easily mastered graphics capabilities.

 Able to support applications that operate on a variety

of output devices
 Portability and networking capabilities

 May run on different operating systems, different

low-level graphics APIs or different graphics

hardware.
 Java3D Features
 Scene graph programming model

 Java 3D rendering control

 Scalability

 Convenience and Utility Classes

 Java3D In A Nutshell
 Basically the Java programming interface for interactive 3D
graphics.

 Provides developers and users platform-independent, high-

performance applications and applets.

 Greatly simplifies programming as opposed to other low-

level APIs such as OpenGL and DirectX.

 An optional package that is installed on top of Java 2.

 MPEG-4
 ISO/IEC standard developed by MPEG (Moving
Picture Experts Group)

 Formal ISO/IEC designation is ISO/IEC 14496

 Became an International Standard in 1999.

 MPEG-4 builds on the proven success of three fields:

• Digital television;
• Interactive graphics applications (synthetic content);
• Interactive multimedia (World Wide Web, distribution of
and access to content)
 MPEG-4 Features
For authors

• Enables the production of content that has greater

reusability, greater flexibility

• digital television
• animated graphics
• World Wide Web (WWW) pages and their extensions.

• Better manage and protect content owner rights.

 MPEG-4 Features
For network service providers
• Offers transparent information

• Can be interpreted and translated into the appropriate

native signaling messages of each network with the help
of relevant standards bodies.

• Provides a generic QoS descriptor for different MPEG-4

media.

• The exact translations from the QoS parameters set for

each media to the network are beyond the scope of
MPEG-4 and are left to network providers.

• Signaling of the MPEG-4 media QoS descriptors end-to-

end enables transport optimization in heterogeneous
networks.
 MPEG-4 Features

For end users

• MPEG-4 brings higher levels of interaction with

content, within the limits set by the author

• Brings multimedia to new networks, including those

employing relatively low bit rate, and mobile ones
 MPEG-4 Goals
To avoid a multitude of proprietary, non-interworking
formats and players by providing standardized ways to:

 Represent units of aural, visual or audiovisual content,

called "media objects“

 Describe the composition of these objects to create

compound media objects that form audiovisual scenes

 Multiplex and synchronize the data associated with media

objects, so that they can be transported over network
channels

 Interact with the audiovisual scene generated at the

receiver’s end.
 MPEG-4 Implementation
 Allows for robust communication over limited rate
wireless channels, useful for e.g. mobile videophones
and space communication

 Allow the transmission and storage of high-quality

video suitable for the studio and other very
demanding content creation applications

 Interactive web-based video

 Encode video captures with a hand-held camera

 Games market
 Overview of Open Inventor TM

 Presents a programming model based on a 3D scene

database that dramatically simplifies graphics
programming.
 Based on OpenGL indirectly taking the advantage of
OpenGL such as platform/window-systems independent.
 Simplifies the software development process and allows
very rapid development of graphics applications.
 Design & Architecture
 Open Inventor includes:-
• 3D scene database: shapes, property, group, engine, and sensor
object.
• Node kits: mechanism for creating pre-built grouping of inventor
nodes.
• Manipulators: interaction tools for user such as handle box and
trackball.
• Inventor component library: to provide some high level interactivity
task.
 Component library is window-system dependent but is
available for most platforms thus maintaining the common
look-and-feel for applications across platforms.
 OpenGL is used for all shading, lighting, and drawing via
the GLX extension provided by OpenGL.
 Design & Architecture (cont’d)
 New nodes and behaviors can be added by the programmer
in a number of very easy ways.
 Dynamic shared objects (DSO) allows any new node to be
available for any Inventor application for reading/rendering.
 Other Languages for VR
1. AC3D
 AC3D is popular 3D object/scene modeler available for
Linux, Windows 95/NT, and SGI.
 It outputs POV-Ray, VRML (1 and 2), RenderMan, Dive,
Massive and other format.
 Benefits
• Multi platform program - AC3D file format compatible across
platforms.
• Built-in fast OpenGL 3D renderer with adjustable field-of-view -
instantly see results of your actions in 3D. Spin the model or switch
into 'walk mode' for Quake-style control.
• 24-bit color palette with adjustable diffuse; ambient; emissive;
shininess and transparency
Other Languages for VR(cont’d)
1. Minimal Reality.
 Set of software tools for the production of virtual reality
systems and other forms of three-dimensional user
interfaces.
 Consists of a set of subroutine libraries, device drivers,
support programs and a language for describing
geometry and behavior.
 Benefits:
• Applications developed using MR will run at most MR sites with little
or no modification to the source code.
• Complete source code is provided with the MR distribution (Open
source).
• The MR toolkit was designed to be easy to extend.
Other Languages for VR(cont’d)
 TCL/TK
 Visual Tcl is a high-quality application development
environment for UNIX, Windows, Macintosh, and AS400
platforms.
 Features:
• Extensible widget and geometry manager support.
• Create compound widgets and widget libraries.
• Visual Tcl features new ready-to-use widgets: combo box,
multicolumn list box, progress bar.
• Predefined compounds available including scrolled text, scrolled list
box, scrolled canvas, horizontal and vertical splitters.
Other Languages for VR(cont’d)
 X3D
 Next-generation open standard for 3D on the web.
 Extensible standard that can easily be supported by
content creation tools, proprietary browsers, and other
3D applications.
 Replaces VRML, but also provides compatibility with
existing VRML content and browsers.
 Benefits:
• There are significant commercial and open-source movements for
advancing X3D.
• X3D content is modular and reusable.
• X3D supports optional XML encoding for tight integration with other
Web technologies.
 Summary
VRML JAVA3D MPEG4 Open AC3D Minimal Tcl/Tk x3D
I’ventor Reality

Genre format for 3D Standard Toolkit 3D object/ S’ware to App. Open

interactive graphics i’active & API for scene produce Developm Standard
3D on API video VR system ent for 3D on
i’active 3D modeler
web Environ- web
ment
L’guage VRML Java C++ Callable Tcl/Tk Multiple
Using C,
C++,
Fortran
Multi-
platfor        
m

Scene
graph-    
based

Apps I’active I’active I’active I’active Creation VR Sys. 3D

3D virtual 3D virtual web- 3D of 3D & 3D animation
Worlds based graphics objects
worlds user player
video app. interface