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What does the Web3D Consortium do?
What does the Web3D Consortium do?
For more information refer to the Consortium's About Us page. The Web3D Consortium is a good thing. Consider asking your organization to join, or join as a professional or student member.
Who is on the Consortium Board of Directors?
The Board of Directors consists of two-year and one-year term members. Elections cycles turn at SIGGRAPH every year. The By-Laws describe the duties and responsibilities of the Board members.
What are the Consortium Teams?
Each team has a web page, an archived mailing list, and a team leader to coordinate the group's activities. Further details can be found from the Consortium's Teams Web Page.
What Is VRML?Short answer: VRML is an open format for 3D graphics on the Internet. Long answer: (from The Annotated VRML 2.0 Reference Manual by Rikk Carey and Gavin Bell):
VRML, sometimes pronounced vermal, is an acronym for the Virtual Reality Modeling Language. Technically speaking, VRML is neither virtual reality nor a modeling language. Virtual reality typically implies an immersive 3D experience (such as a head-mounted display) and 3D input devices (such as digital gloves). VRML neither requires nor precludes immersion. Furthermore, a true modeling language would contain much richer geometric modeling primitives and mechanisms. VRML provides a bare minimum of geometric modeling features and contains numerous features far beyond the scope of a modeling language. So if VRML is not virtual reality or a modeling language, what is it? There are several answers to this question. At its core, VRML is simply a 3D interchange format. It defines most of the commonly used semantics found in today's 3D applications such as hierarchical transformations, light sources, viewpoints, geometry, animation, fog, material properties, and texture mapping. One of the primary goals in designing VRML was to ensure that it at least succeeded as an effective 3D file interchange format. The second answer is that VRML is a 3D analog to HTML. This means that VRML serves as a simple, multiplatform language for publishing 3D Web pages. This is motivated by the fact that some information is best experienced three dimensionally, such as games, engineering and scientific visualizations, educational experiences, and architecture. Typically these types of projects require intensive interaction, animation, and user participation and exploration beyond what is capable with a page-, text-, or image-based format (i.e., HTML). Another answer is that VRML provides the technology that integrates three dimensions, two dimensions, text, and multimedia into a coherent model. When these media types are combined with scripting languages and Internet capabilities, an entirely new genre of interactive applications are possible. A 3D metaphor presents a natural user experience that supports classic two-dimensional (2D) desktop models as well as extends into broader contexts of space and place. Many have speculated that the 3D world model will supersede and thus replace the popular 2D desktop model as the primary user interface paradigm in the next decade. Of course, there are a variety of challenges that need to be overcome before this is possible, such as 3D user interface and navigation, user training, and ubiquitous 3D graphics performance. A fourth answer, and the one most publicized and debated, is that VRML is the foundation for cyberspace and the on-line virtual communities that were painted and popularized by science fiction writers William Gibson in Neuromancer and Neal Stephenson in Snow Crash. Critics have accurately pointed out that VRML does not yet define the networking and database protocols necessary for true multiuser simulations. However, the strategy behind VRML has been: There are already several working, multiuser systems implemented on top of VRML—proof that the incremental approach is working. So the answer to "What is VRML?" is actually "All of the above" and will most likely never be a simple one-sided answer. However, there are a few misconceptions or "wrong" answers. For example, VRML is not a programming library for application developers. Since VRML is based on the Open Inventor file format, many people assume that it also provides the rich programming interfaces and tools included in the Open Inventor toolkit. In actuality, VRML is an extended subset of Open Inventor's file format and does not define an application programmer interface (API). The fact that VRML includes scripting language integration tends to promote this misconception. Scripting language capabilities are predominantly intended for authors who need more power or integration. Incidentally, Rikk & Gavin's full book is available at http://www.best.com/~rikk/Book/
What about non-VRML Technologies?
The Consortium is currently supporting the X3D (Extensible 3D) effort and the RM3D (Rich Media 3D) efforts as further Web3D open standards.
What is X3D?
For further details, see the X3D FAQ.
What version number is VRML?
Long answer (for historians, sticklers, ISO-speakers and wannabe lawyers):
The VRML specification is stable. VRML has been functionally complete since August 96. The specification has been ratified by the International Standards Organization (ISO), where it is referred to as ISO/IEC DIS 14772-1, or (informally) as VRML 97. All portions of the spec are known to be implementable, and at least one company has released a browser that implements the full VRML specification. Many other browser writers have nearly completed their implementation of the specification. Minor clarifications to the specification continue to be noted and discussed on the www-web3d mail list, to ensure that there is no ambiguity in interpretation. How do I ask technical questions about Web3D?General questions go to the big list, www-vrml@web3d.org The Internet newsgroup commonly used for VRML questions and discussions is comp.lang.vrml Here are directions excerpted from the Web3D Repository at http://www.web3d.org/vrml/vrml.htm: www-vrml@web3d.org To subscribe, email to majordomo@web3d.org. In the message body type: subscribe www-vrml [address] where the optional address is your email address. If you do not provide an address, the return address of the email you send to majordomo is used. To unsubscribe, email to majordomo@web3d.org. In the message body type: unsubscribe www-vrml [address] where the optional address is your email address. If you do not provide an address, the return address of the email you send to majordomo is used. Note that special questions may be directed to working groups. How do I find/join/start a technical working group?
Go see http://www.web3d.org/technicalinfo/process.htm to learn about the Working Group process. The Consortium's formal role is to review the formation, charter, progress and results of working group. Informally we act as individuals to provide a lot of advice and encouragement. Getting public comment and participation from the www-vrml@web3d.org mail list is HIGHLY recommended. That is the process that has made VRML strong. Hopefully it will help some groups from disappearing down wonderfully beguiling ratholes. What about Web3D and ISO?
Joint Technical Committee 1 (JTC 1) of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has worked cooperatively over the past two years with the VRML community to transpose the publicly available VRML specification into an International Standard. Within JTC 1, the development work on VRML is assigned to Subcommittee 24 (SC24) whose area of work is Computer Graphics and Image Processing. At the July 1996 meeting in Kyoto, Japan, SC 24 agreed to publish the final (August 4, 1996) version of VRML 2.0 as Committee Draft (CD) 14772. The CD text was reviewed jointly by the VRML and ISO/IEC communities during a comment period that closed in November, 1996. The comment resolution process lasted until early April 1997 due to the extent of editorial changes that it was agreed should be made. The DIS (Draft International Standard) version of the specification became available for review in both communities on April 10, 1997. After this review ended in October 1997, there was a final comment resolution process followed by publication of the VRML 97 International Standard in late 1997. The text was published electronically as an HTML document and marked the first time that an ISO standard had been so published. Contact Steve Carson(carson@siggraph.org), chair ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 24 or Rikk Carey (rikk@best.com), VRML 2.0 co-author if you have questions. The ISO committee responsible for VRML is ISO/IEC JTC1/SC24 (Computer Graphics and Image Processing) http://www.cwi.nl/JTC1SC24/ Here is the recently endorsed liaison policy between VRMLC and ISO: ISO/IEC JTC1/SC24 N 1741 Cooperative Agreement Between ISO/IEC JTC1 and the Web3D Consortium Revision 1 Draft 4 27 June 1997 1 Introduction This is the first revision of the original June 1997 agreement (ISO/IEC JTC1/SC24 N1599) between ISO/IEC JTC1 and the VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) Architecture Group (VAG). Since the time that the first agreement was negotiated, the VAG has been superseded by a new organization named the Web3D Consortium. Also, the Web3D Consortium has several new items of work underway that supplement the VRML specification. Both ISO/IEC JTC1/SC24 and the Web3D Consortium have indicated their willingness to extend and continue the cooperative arrangement in SC24 N1599 that has led to the successful processing of the VRML 97 Specification as an ISO/IEC standard. The purpose of this document is to establish the detailed procedures whereby ISO/IEC JTC1 and the VRML Consortium will cooperate to continue the development of a series of ISO/IEC standards based on the work of the Consortium, including the VRML 97 Specification (DIS 14772). The general principles from which the details of this agreement are derived are: a) The Web3D Consortium produces "publicly available" industry specifications through an open, consensus based process with international participation by thousands of individuals and organizations. b) ISO/IEC JTC1 wishes to adopt suitable industry specifications as ISO and IEC standards. c) Both organizations desire to harmonize their procedures so that initial technical development work is done primarily in the Consortium with provisions for ISO participation and the final editorial and independent technical assessment work is done primarily in the ISO/IEC JTC1 with provisions for Web3D Consortium participation. d) Both organizations desire that Web3D Consortium Specifications be adopted as ISO and IEC standards as quickly as is feasible and with only minimal changes based on an agreed set of criteria. 2 Distribution of final standards All documents developed under this agreement, including the final ISO/IEC standards, will be made available through ISO/IEC sources and also through normal Web3D Consortium sources, including the open VRML Consortium Web site. 3 Document interchange ISO/IEC documents developed under this agreement will be made available to the Web3D Consortium and the VRML community by placing copies on the VRML Consortium Web site. Relevant Web3D Consortium Documents on the Web3D Consortium Web site will be referenced in the ISO/IEC activity. No documents will be referenced which are not generally available. Notification of availability of new documents on the Web3D Consortium web site will be announced on an e-mail reflector limited to the appropriate ISO/IEC WG(s) and the Web3D Consortium participants only. 4 Intellectual property rights In accordance with Web3D Consortium procedures, the text of all working documents developed under this agreement, as well as the final ISO/IEC standards, shall remain free of intellectual property right restrictions which would limit their open distribution following normal Web3D Consortium practices. The name of the standards (including the words "VRML" and "Virtual Reality Modeling Language" shall also remain free of intellectual property right restrictions.) The Web3D Consortium certifies to ISO/IEC that the original base document (the VRML 97 specification) is free of intellectual property right restrictions, and in particular, contains no material which any organization claims is proprietary or confidential or is the subject of any patent. If and when other work beyond that based on the VRML 97 specification is initiated with ISO/IEC JTC1, the Web3D Consortium agrees to identify any intellectual property right restrictions to ISO/IEC in accordance with ISO/IEC policies. 5 Alignment of procedures To allow coordinated review of all working documents developed under this agreement, appropriate portions of ISO and Web3D Consortium procedures must be aligned. The various aspects of this alignment are described in the following subclauses. 5.1 Liaison The ISO/IEC JTC1 Class C Liaison mechanism will be used as a primary mechanism to enable cooperation. ISO/IEC JTC1 has appointed the Web3D Consortium as a Class C liaison organization to ISO/IEC JTC1. This allows Web3D Consortium members to attend ISO/IEC working meetings and to participate in the work of the ISO/IEC. The Web3D Consortium accept an ISO/IEC JTC 1 representative as a liaison representative to the Web3D Technical Advisory Board (TAB) so that liaison in the other direction can be achieved. This representative shall have the following responsibilities: a) at the point that the Technical Advisory Board agrees that work should be passed to ISO/IEC JTC1 for further processing, forward documents to ISO/IEC JTC1; b) pass formal comments from ISO/IEC JTC1 to the VRML community; c) report on the work of the Web3D Consortium at each relevant ISO/IEC JTC1 or JTC1 subcommittee meeting; d) in coordination with the TAB, provide early notification to ISO/IEC JTC1 of Web3D Consortium work that is likely to eventually be submitted to ISO/IEC JTC1. 5.2 Early collaboration Both organizations desire that any Web3D Consortium specifications that are input into ISO/IEC JTC1 be as close to meeting ISO/IEC style and quality requirements as possible. To help achieve this goal, ISO/IEC JTC1 agrees to produce a "Style Guide" and provide it as an aid to Web3D Consortium Working Groups for use in the original creation of their specifications. Participation in all Web3D Consortium Working Groups is open to any individual worldwide without restriction. ISO/IEC JTC1 National Bodies are encouraged to participate in the technical work on VRML by participating in these Working Groups. Since the desire of both organizations is that technical changes shall not be made once work has been passed to ISO/IEC JTC1 for finalization, ISO/IEC JTC1 National Bodies will encourage their technical experts to participate in VRML Working Groups. 5.3 Initiation of ISO/IEC work No work on Web3D Consortium specifications shall start within ISO/IEC JTC1 until the TAB has agreed that the work will be forwarded to ISO for processing as an ISO/IEC Standard. This requirement shall not prevent individual experts who participate in the work of ISO/IEC JTC1 from simultaneously participating in the technical work of one or more Web3D Consortium Working Groups. The criteria that shall be applied by the TAB with the assistance of the ISO/IEC liaison representative include: a) the work is of sufficient interest and importance to the Web3D community to become an ISO/IEC standard; b) the work is complete as measured by the Style Guide described in Clause 5.2; c) the work is technically stable. The preferred mechanism for initiating work within ISO/IEC JTC1 is the combined NP/CD (New Work Item Proposal/Committee Draft) ballot. One exception is work that can be processed as an additional part of an existing standard so that an NP is not required. As a general rule, submitted specifications shall have reached the status of Web3D Consortium Standard by the time of their submission to ISO/IEC JTC1. 5.4 Finalization of ISO/IEC work ISO/IEC JTC1 and the Web3D Consortium agree to the following procedures for the processing work once it has entered ISO/IEC JTC1: a) From the time of initiation of processing (normally the NP/CD ballot) through to the publication of the IS text, ISO/IEC JTC1 procedures shall be followed. b) The Web3D Consortium can participate in this stage of the work through the Category C liaison mechanism. c) The ISO/IEC DIS text shall be published by the Web3D Consortium for review within the Consortium according to Consortium practices simultaneously with the DIS ballot within ISO/IEC. 5.5 Late stage technical changes It is expected that many editorial changes may be made to a Consortium specification as it is processed to become an ISO/IEC standard. Technical changes to a specification once ISO/IEC processing has been initiated shall be allowed only in accordance with the following criteria: a) clarification is necessary for the sake of completeness or consistency; b) a serious technical flaw is found that would render the specification unusable; or c) both organizations agree to the change. 6 Joint meetings All formal work under this agreement will take place at appropriately scheduled ISO/IEC JTC1/SC24 meetings. TAB (or other Web3DC-appointed technical expert) members can participate in formal ISO through the Class C liaison mechanism. 7 Publication rights Both VRML and ISO/IEC retain the rights to publish all documents developed under this agreement according to their own practices. 8 Base document At the time that a Web3D Consortium specification is submitted to ISO/IEC JTC1 for processing as an ISO/IEC standard, the Web3D Consortium shall identify the base document(s) for the work. 9 Availability of drafts and other working documents All drafts and working documents will be freely available to participants according to each party's normal practices. 10. Maintenance of standards Both organizations agree to coordinate matters of interpretation and defect correction in any ISO/IEC standards that result from this agreement. When requests for interpretation or reports of defects are submitted to ISO/IEC JTC1, they shall be forwarded to the VRML Consortium to provide solutions which shall then be processed through normal ISO/IEC JTC1 processes for defect resolution and interpretation. ISO/IEC JTC1 agrees to establish a VRML Defects Editing Committee to work with the Web3D Consortium. What is the status of the VRML standard?
The VRML 97 specification is an international standard published in December 1997 as ISO/IEC 14772-1:1997. What about VRML and Java3D?VRML和Java3D的关系 Short answer: VRML is about building 3D content on the Internet. Java3D is an application programming interface (API) for drawing 3D graphics using the Java language. These are different approaches to 3D that may be compatible. VRML的是用来在网络上建立3D的内容。Java3D是用Java语言绘制3D图形的应用程序接口(API)。两者是同一个3D化的不同步骤。 Sun has joined the Web3D Consortium to promote the compatibility and interoperability of Sun’s Java 3D API (Java 3D) technology and the VRML 97 standard. For more details, see the press release at http://www.web3d.org/consort/sun98.html. Sun公司加入了Web3D联盟，提高了Java 3D API(Java3D)技术和VRML97标准的协调性和兼容性。更多细节请访问相关链接。 The X3D Working Group within the Consortium is using Java3D as a basis for their open source X3D browser, called Xj3D. X3D工作组使用Java3D为基础的，开放源代码的X3D浏览器，名为Xj3D。
What is the difference between VRML 2.0 and VRML97?
The major differences between VRML 2.0 and VRML97 are summarized at: http://www.web3d.org/fs_specifications.htm The many *editorial* differences in the document itself are listed in detail in the Responses document: http://www.web3d.org/fs_specifications.htm How do I contact the Web3D Consortium?
If you would like your faq or faq entry listed, please send e-mail to links@web3d.org. By providing this information the Web3D Consortium, Inc. is not endorsing or recommending products, services, or information provided by the individuals, corporations or organizations affiliated with, supporting or maintaining the web sites shown in these lists. |
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