Talk:VRML

Computing Start‑class

	This article is within the scope of WikiProject Computing, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of computers, computing, and information technology on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.ComputingWikipedia:WikiProject ComputingTemplate:WikiProject ComputingComputing articles
Start	This article has been rated as Start-class on Wikipedia's content assessment scale.
???	This article has not yet received a rating on the project's importance scale.

Abbreviations

VRM is different to VRML, as VRM is a kind of hardware-related stuff. So, why when you search "VRM" it goes straight to VRML? It is a bug!!

ChromEffects

I recall the history of Microsoft's Chrome (later ChromEffects) and VRML, and it appeared (and disappeared) earlier than the article indicates. I'll see if I can find one of the lists Cindy Ballreich and I made of alternative technologies. But the truth is, 3D formats have flickered into and out of existence like fireflies.

VRML stands out because (a) it was the first standard for 3D on the Web, (b) it was integrated into web browsers (some versions of Netscape Navigator included a built-in VRML browser until reaction against bloat stripped it and several other things out), and (c) it was a good target for other technologies to shoot at. The one adjective competitors threw at VRML more than any other was "cartoonish" because of its color and lighting model (essentially, Gouraud shading plus specular highlights and image textures). Does that mean the critics had cooler looking color and lighting themselves? Well, no, but they were going to have it Real Soon Now.

The problem, of course, is that VRML's rendering repertoire was right on the edge of what computers at the time could deliver. Some would argue that it was on the far side of that edge, and that slow rendering was part of the problem VRML had gaining wider acceptance. And too, anybody who hasn't created compelling scenes using VRML's color and lighting model simply isn't trying.

Note also that the ties between VRML 1.0 and [Open] Inventor were far closer than the article indicates. VRML 1 and Open Inventor were pretty much identical. And that almost certainly requires Rikk Carey's name in the entry.

Originators

I couldn't agree more. Typically open source languages are slowly strangled by being ignored by commercial interests. Both Carey and Pesce should have entries. Lentisco 04:40, 7 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Shockwave 3D and Atmosphere

Macromedia Shockwave 3D is still supported and in fact expanding. It is distributed as part of Macromedia Shockwave Player and also used in Macromedia Director presentations. Adobe Atmosphere technology is used in Adobe Acrobat 3D so it is not dead either.

Open source VRML programs (external links)

Moving this list of external links to Talk, replacing with a list of links to appropriate articles in Wikipedia -- Writtenonsand 14:51, 31 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

FreeWRL VRML and X3D browser for Linux, Unix and OS X.
Xj3D VRML97/X3D browser/java loader
Java3D VRML97 Sun's Vrml97 Loader for Java3D precursor of Xj3D
Coin3D SDK, a software component supporting VRML97
OpenSG, a scene graph API supporting VRML97
OpenVRML, a cross-platform VRML library
CyberX3D, C++ and Java libraries for VRML
white_dune VRML97 editor
Chisel VRML Optimizer Very useful tool for optimizing and validating VRML, can also export X3D

Meh, I'm not real happy with how that turned out. Wikipedia's guideline is to use internal rather than external links whenever possible ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:External_links ), but we still need articles on most of those. -- Writtenonsand 15:10, 31 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

After adding replacement link directory such as VRML I removed all these unneeded links from article, because they are accessible from this Open Directory Project replacement. Wikinger (talk) 16:23, 11 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Loss

Is it lossy?--//Mac Lover ^Talk _C 23:31, 21 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

This question doesn't really make a whole lot of sense in the way that VRML is traditionally used--to conceive of something and draw it, rather than to record the details of a 3d world. Community editor 19:51, 19 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Flux Player 2.0 and Flux Studio 2.0 final released

Wikipedia article: Flux (software)

Look here: http://www.mediamachines.com/

Flux Player 2.0 and Flux Studio 2.0 are no longer beta and are now released in final version, that is freely downloadable for personal and academic use.

Tony Parisi is main developer of Labyrinth, WorldView and Flux. WorldView is by default available on Windows 2000 and Office 2000 CD's. That fact confirms Microsoft's promoting Tony Parisi's VRML/X3D line of software by default, making it factual standard for VRML/X3D, as Internet Explorer is factual standard for HTML. For reference look here: http://www.hoise.com/primeur/06/articles/monthly/AE-PR-10-06-9.html

Flux Studio imports and exports VRML and X3D successfully.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 83.19.52.107 (talk) 11:22, 5 March 2007 (UTC).[reply]

Flux site is now here: http://mediamachines.wordpress.com/flux-player-and-flux-studio/ and provides Flux 2.1 final, including all earlier versions. 91.94.97.216 (talk) 15:48, 10 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Wallpaper / Wii

According to the article:

A VRML file can be used as computer wallpaper, utilizing a web browser. In some computers it can be managed using a special pad (i.e. a Wii)

Huh? - David McCabe 05:45, 13 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I don't see this in the article. In any event, it doesn't make much sense.Community editor 19:54, 19 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wii, Nintendo or Playstation gamepads can't even be connected to PC. They has different connectors. Wikinger 10:19, 27 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

VMRL 1.0 2.0 97

Something about the different versions of VRML would be useful —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.18.201.242 (talk) 16:38, 4 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I rephrased a sentence to indicate this. --216.204.206.146 (talk) 16:59, 27 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

VRML, open inventor SGI history

I recall years ago the co-founder of VRML writing an open letter to the community (and leaving it on his home page) that had to do with a falling out between SGI or a set of board of directors, and the syntax of VRML being similar to open inventor. I think this should be included in this article, perhaps under a history or origins of vrml section. It shouldn't be hard for someone to recall what I'm referring to; does anyone have some citations or sources on this? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.175.118.95 (talk) 15:45, 24 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Programming language?

I know it's generally considered a markup language, but isn't it a Synchronous programming language as well?--87.162.32.198 (talk) 02:07, 16 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Floops?

I am surprised there's no mention of floops. It was an online animated VRML comic that SGI published for a little while - I guess it was back in the early '90s. I remember it being quite entertaining. "Floops" was the name of the main character and the strip itself. I imagine it was primarily done as a technical demonstration. Davidmaxwaterman (talk) 07:01, 21 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]