------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: 02. VIRTUAL REALITY MODELING LANGUAGE (VRML) ------------------------------------------------------------------- TIME: Complete this section within 45 minutes ------------------------------------------------------------------- As of today, VRML is the only International Standard for 3D on the Internet. In 1994/5 development of VRML began, with version 1.0 emerging shortly thereafter. By 1997 the 2nd major version of VRML was developed, VRML 2.0, which was standardized as "VRML97". VRML was developed by the "VRML Consortium", an open standards group that was recast as the "Web3D Consortium" in late 1998 to reflect its broader role. Visit the Web3D Consortium home page listed under the heading: ------------------------------------------------ VRML and X3D: Web3D Consortium "open standards" 3D for the Web ------------------------------------------------ and explore the site for 10 minutes. Look for the "About Us" area, and try to learn about how the organization is structured and operates. WARNING: KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE CLOCK AS YOU TAKE THIS CLASS -- IT'S EASY TO "FALL BEHIND" IN AN ONLINE CLASS IF YOU FORGET TO KEEP TRACK OF TIME WHEN READING OR DOING EXERCISES! When done complete this section within 30 minutes: ------------------------------------------------------------------- THE VRML97 SPECIFICATION ------------------------------------------------------------------- The VRML97 Specification defines, in gory detail, the VRML97 programming language. Like the W3C's SVG specification that you explored in the past, the VRML97 specification is for developers of VRML97 tools and plugins, as well as those content authors who prefer to hand-code their VRML content. Although the VRML97 Specification is extremely technical, several of the introductory sections are worth reading to give you a solid understanding of what VRML97 is "all about". Visit the VRML specification, the link for which is found under this heading on tonight's Web page: ---------------------------------------------------- Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) home page: ---------------------------------------------------- and do the following 30 minute reading exercise (note: spend NO MORE than 10 minutes on each reading!): [30 minute Exercise] Visit the VRML97 Specification at the VRML home page listed above. Read these two sections in particular: Forward (read in detail to learn about "ISO" and "IEC") Introduction (read in detail) 1 Scope (read in detail) 6 Node reference (skim) D Examples (skim) -- **** TIP **** IF YOUR EMAIL IS SLUGGISH, OR SLOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS POST YOUR ROLL CALL MESSAGES THROUGH THE WEB INTERFACE FOR THIS YAHOO GROUP: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MT35101/ **** END TIP **** -- ------------------------------------------------------------------- Aaron E. Walsh http://www.gridinstitute.com/people/aew/ 617.350.7119 -------------------------------------------------------------------