From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia VRML
VRML
VRML dards by the International Organization for Standardiza-
Filename extension .wrl (plain) tion (ISO).
.wrz (compression) The first version of VRML was specified in November
Internet media type model/vrml
1994. This version was specified from, and very closely
x-world/x-vrml resembled, the API and file format of the Open Inventor
application/x-cc3d software component, originally developed by SGI. The
current and functionally complete version is VRML97
Latest release 2.0
(ISO/IEC 14772-1:1997). VRML has now been superseded
Type of format 3D computer graphics by X3D (ISO/IEC 19775-1)
Extended from Labyrinth
Standard(s) ISO/IEC 14772-1:1997
Emergence, popularity, and ri-
Website www.web3d.org/x3d/vrml val technical upgrade
The term VRML was coined by Dave Raggett in a paper
Virtual Language,
VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language pronounced submitted to the First World Wide Web Conference[3] in
vermal or by its initials, originally—before 1995—known 1994, and first discussed at the WWW94 VRML BOF es-
as the Virtual Reality Markup Language) is a standard file tablished by Tim Berners-Lee, where Mark Pesce present-
format for representing 3-dimensional (3D) interactive ed the Labyrinth demo he developed with Tony Parisi[4]
vector graphics, designed particularly with the World and Peter Kennard.[5] In October 1995, at Internet World,
Wide Web in mind. It has been superseded by X3D.[1] Template Graphics Software (TGS) demonstrated a 3D/
VRML plug-in for the beta release of Netscape 2.0 by
Format Netscape Communications.[6]
In 1997, a new version of the format was finalized,
VRML is a text file format where, e.g., vertices and edges
as VRML97 (also known as VRML2 or VRML 2.0), and
for a 3D polygon can be specified along with the surface
became an ISO standard. VRML97 was used on the In-
color, UV mapped textures, shininess, transparency, and
ternet on some personal homepages and sites such as
so on.[2] URLs can be associated with graphical compo-
"CyberTown", which offered 3D chat using Blaxxun Soft-
nents so that a web browser might fetch a webpage or a
ware. The format was championed by SGI’s Cosmo Soft-
new VRML file from the Internet when the user clicks on
ware; when SGI restructured in 1998 the division was sold
the specific graphical component. Animations, sounds,
to Platinum Technologies, which was then taken over by
lighting, and other aspects of the virtual world can inter-
Computer Associates, which did not develop or distrib-
act with the user or may be triggered by external events
ute the software. To fill the void a variety of proprietary
such as timers. A special Script Node allows the addition
Web 3D formats emerged over the next few years, in-
of program code (e.g., written in Java or JavaScript
cluding Microsoft Chrome and Adobe Atmosphere, nei-
(ECMAScript)) to a VRML file.
ther of which is supported today. VRML’s capabilities re-
VRML files are commonly called "worlds" and have
mained largely the same while realtime 3D graphics kept
the *.wrl extension (for example island.wrl). Although
improving. The VRML Consortium changed its name to
VRML worlds use a text format, they may often be com-
the Web3D Consortium, and began work on the successor
pressed using gzip so that they transfer over the internet
to VRML—X3D.[7]
more quickly (some gzip compressed files use the *.wrz
SGI ran a web site at vrml.sgi.com on which was host-
extension). Many 3D modeling programs can save objects
ed a string of regular short performances of a character
and scenes in VRML format.
called "Floops" who was a VRML character in a VRML
world. Floops was a creation of a company called "Proto-
Standardization zoa".[8][9]
H-Anim is a standard for animated Humanoids, which
The Web3D Consortium has been formed to further the
is based around VRML, and later X3D. The initial version
collective development of the format. VRML (and its suc-
1.0 of the H-Anim standard was scheduled for submission
cessor, X3D), have been accepted as international stan-
at the end of March 1998.[citation needed]
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia VRML
VRML provoked much interest but has never seen
much serious widespread use.[10] One reason for this may
See also
have been the lack of available bandwidth. At the time • Active Worlds virtual reality multi-user 3D chat
of VRML’s popularity, a majority of users, both business platform
and personal, were using slow dial-up internet access. • Blaxxun virtual reality multi-user 3D chat platform
This had the unfortunate side effect of having users wait • Flux, freely downloadable VRML/X3D editor/
for extended periods of time only to find a blocky, ill-lit browser, now discontinued
room with distorted text hanging in seemingly random • FreeWRL, free Open Source VRML/X3D browser
locations.[citation needed] • List of vector graphics markup languages
VRML experimentation was primarily in education • MeshLab open source mesh processing system that
and research where an open specification is most val- can export VRML/X3D
ued.[citation needed] It has now been re-engineered as X3D. • OZ Virtual
The MPEG-4 Interactive Profile (ISO/IEC 14496) was • Seamless3d free Open Source 3D modeling software
based on VRML[citation needed] (now on X3D), and X3D is for Microsoft Windows
largely backward-compatible with it. VRML is also widely • Virtual tour
used as a file format for interchange of 3D models, partic- • Web3D
ularly from CAD systems.[11] • Virtual Environment Software
A free cross-platform runtime implementation of • Additive Manufacturing File Format
VRML is available in OpenVRML. Its libraries can be used
to add both VRML and X3D support to applications, and
a GTK+ plugin is available to render VRML/X3D worlds in
References
web browsers. [1] Paul Festa and John Borland (May 19, 2005). "Is a 3D
In a September 17, 1998 Computergram International web more than just empty promises?". CNET
essay, "VRML Versus Chromeffects: Microsoft Replies", Rachel News.com. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/
Chalmers sharply criticized VRML as having "no integra- 0,1000000097,39199121,00.htm.
tion with HTML", whereas "ChromEffects is based on 56 [2] "Version 1.0 Specification". Web3d.org.
multimedia XML tags".[12][13] She did not criticize X3D http://www.web3d.org/x3d/specifications/vrml/
(though extended from VRML as well as XML), because VRML1.0/index.html. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
X3D already had this integration. However, VRML sur- [3] "First World Wide Web Conference". 4.web.cern.ch.
vived Chromeffects, canceled in November 1998.[14] http://www94.web.cern.ch/WWW94/. Retrieved
In the 2000s, many companies like Bitmanagement 2010-02-23.
improved the quality level of virtual effects in VRML to [4] Media Machines Management
the quality level of DirectX 9.0c, but at the expense of [5] "Peter Kennard’s page". Livingwork.com.
using proprietary solutions. All main features like game http://www.livingwork.com/peterk/. Retrieved
modeling are already complete. They include multi-pass 2010-02-23.
render with low level setting for Z-buffer, BlendOp, Al- [6] First 3D/VRML Plug-in for Netscape 2.0 shown by
phaOp, Stencil,[15] Multi-texture,[16] Shader with HLSL TGS; TGS extends leadership in Internet 3D
and GLSL support,[17] realtime Render To Texture, Multi products and technology. AllBusiness.com. 30 Oct
Render Target (MRT) and PostProcessing.[18] Many 1995. Last accessed 26 Dec 2011.
demos shows that VRML already supports lightmap, nor- [7] A Commentary on GeoVRML
malmap, SSAO, CSM and Realtime Environment Reflec- [8] "Floops general narrative". Biota.org.
tion along with other virtual effects.[19] http://www.biota.org/book/chbi/chbi2.htm.
Retrieved 2010-02-23.
[9] "Floops in his first episode".
Alternatives http://www.digitalspace.com/avatars/book/
• 3DMLW: 3D Markup Language for Web authorp/floplate.jpg. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
• COLLADA: managed by the Khronos Group [10] David Sabine. "What is (was) VRML?".
• O3D: developed by Google http://www.virb.com/DavidSabine/posts/text/
• U3D: Ecma International standard ECMA-363 3658075.
• Unity3D: a game engine which can be used online via [11] "XML Matters". Ibm.com. http://www.ibm.com/
a browser plugin developerworks/xml/library/x-matters43/
• X3D: successor of VRML index.html. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
[12] Rachel Chalmers: VRML Versus Chromeffects:
Microsoft Replies (BNET)
[13] Rachel Chalmers: VRML Versus Chromeffects:
Microsoft Replies (CBR)
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia VRML
[14] Microsoft Debuts Chromeffects; Microsoft Shelves General
Chromeffects
• VRML and X3D Plugin Detector that determines
[15] DrawGroup & DrawOp
which VRML and X3D plugins are installed in your
[16] Multitexturing
web browser
[17] Programmable shaders component
• comp.lang.vrml newsgroup
[18] Scene postprocessing support
• VRML at the Open Directory Project
[19] VRML X3D and Realtime Web3D
Documentation
External links • VRML Archives
• VRML Annotated Reference
Example documents of VRML code • VRML ISO/IEC 14772 standard document
• VRML examples from the VRML Sourcebook (to get • VRML and X3D description
the example VRML code, click on a chapter, then on • Extensible 3D: XML Meets VRML
a figure) • Web3D Consortium
• http://cic.nist.gov/vrml/nistlogo.wrl • H-Anim working group
• Articles by Sandy Ressler formerly on About.com
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VRML&oldid=468652540"
Categories:
• 3D computer graphics
• Graphics file formats
• Graphics standards
• ISO standards
• Vector graphics markup languages
• Virtual reality
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