VRML - Virtual Reality Modeling Language

by Peter Scannell
axsWave Software, Inc.™

This is an edited version of a presentation I gave at the American Society for Information Science Annual Conference (October, 1996). The presentation was in two parts. The second part talks about using Java to develop Web-based applications.

The Java Programming Language

• Virtual Reality Modeling Language
• The 3-D language for the Web
• Presenting Virtual Reality in small doses

Virtual Reality in the lab or in specialized virtual reality environments is usually defined with the following characteristics:

• interactive
• head-referenced
• illusion of total immersion in environment
• generally VERY expensive
• requires specialized equipment

In contrast to standard virtual reality environments, VRML 1.0 applications that can be downloaded off the Web usually have the following characteristics:

• works on personal computers
• non-immersive - "fish-tank" view
• cost of a high-powered PC with lots of memory
• platform independent
• can import 3-D scenes from other programs
• no multi-user interaction
• no animation

In order to be useful across the World Wide Web, VRML programs needed to be defined with the following characteristics:

• small file size
• generally loads quickly over the Web
• file contains world descriptions
• interpretation is done on user's machine

If you read the popular press magazines and articles about VRML, you are likely to come across quotes such as the following:

• "VRML enables you to create and navigate through 3-D worlds on the Web."
• "a Web environment requiring no training, no metaphor, and no interface."
• "...navigating 3-D space is more natural than clicking through hyperlinked text pages. You can explore virtual cities or museums and view 3-D representations of data."

This is a very small sample VRML program to show some of the characteristics of a VRML environment.

In order to run this sample, you need either a VRML browser, or a WWW Browser that has a VRML plugin. For Netscape Navigator, you can get the Live3D from the Netscape site. Note that if you are using a Macintosh, you may need to increase the amount of memory that you assign to the Navigator.

• Cube, Cone and Sphere

VRML 2.0 and beyond will extend VRML 1.0 to include:

• animation
• physical principles, such as gravity
• video and sound
• user to user interaction
• avatars
• multi-user environments
• persistence

This is a small sample of where you can find some VRML programs. Use these as a starting point to explore further.

Note: You will need either a VRML browser (see The VRML Repository for examples) or a VRML plugin for Netscape Navigator ( Live3D VRML Plugin) or Microsoft Internet Explorer (VRML for Win95 and WinNT) or version 3.0+ of Netscape Navigator with plugins (Netscape home) to make full use of these sites.

• Links and Explanations
• VRML Frequently Asked Questions
• What is VRML - December 1995
• The VRML Repository
• The VRML Forum
• 3D Site - VRML Links
• Chaco Communications - VRML Scout
• Virtual Society on the Web
• VRML Samples and Tutorial
• Netscape VRML pages
• The Live3D VRML Plugin from Netscape
• Cool Worlds - VRML demos from Netscape
• Intro to using VRML with Netscape
• A Few VRML Samples (See 3D Site for more)
  (Warning: Planet Nine and the Chemical Samples require large amounts of RAM and a fast processor. If you only have a PC or Macintosh, they may crash your machine.)
• Web Earth
• Virtual Cities from Planet Nine
• VRML Chemical Samples

Feel free to contact me with questions or to talk about how the axsWave Software team can help you with your Web site:

Janette B. Bradley (janette@metronet.com)