Re: Newbie VRML Questions

Mark Schrimsher ([email protected])
Wed, 19 Apr 1995 15:50:36 -0800

At 8:30 AM 4/19/95, Omar Eljumaily wrote:
>> objects. At this point with HTML I can include an inline image made in a 3D
>> modeling program and use it as an image map with clickable hot spots that
>> are hyperlinked to other pages. How does VRML 1.0 differ from that? Does
>
> Lots, one of which you mention below. VRML is a language that
>specifies virtual worlds (mainly 3D at this point). Generally you can
>move around at different angles and depending on the sofistication of
>the program that reads the VRML file, you can interact with the 3D
>objects in the world. 3D video games like Doom for instance are a good
>example of the types of things you can do with 3D interactive software
>and what you would be able to do with a VRML reader.
>
>> the browser allow you to navigate around the scene and see it from
>> different angles? If so, is that about it as far as differences go (in
>> 1.0)?

I'm not familiar with Doom. Looking at the VRML 1.0 draft specification, I
don't see much more that can be done than perhaps moving around (if that
ability is provided by the browser). I don't see how the user could change
the environment, for instance. Compare VRML to designing a 3D animation:
when I design a 3D animation, I can specify pivot points, motion
restrictions, and ranges of movement, etc., for objects, so that when I
move things around they're restricted to moving in meaningful ways (making
the animation easier to do). In VRML 1.0 I don't see the ability to specify
such things. So if a broswer allowed me to open a door, for instance, what
would prevent me from pulling the door off the hinges? Or pulling a drawer
right out of the chest--or through the top of the chest?

Repeating my disclaimer: I'm a complete newbie and I've never used a VRML
browser (and can't, since I only have access to Macintoshes).

--Mark

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