WebSpace

WebSpace -- The beta for WebSpace has finally arrived for Windows 95 and Windows NT. This is a very cool client and will likely become extremely popular as the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) evolves; however, the current release is quite buggy and limited by the small number of VRML worlds currently available. What was previously only available for high-end Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI) machines is now accessible on everyone's desktop computer (if you're using Windows 95 or NT that is) and is quite easy to use. WebSpace isn't going to take the 'net by storm overnight, but it very well could become the next killer app and is definitely worthy of considerable attention. WebSpace is part of The Open Inventor package which not only allows users to browse VRML worlds but also offers apps for creating and maintaining your own worlds. Several clients are included in this package -- SceneViewer for direct manipulation of scene objects and worlds; Inventor Wizard for modifying Microsoft AppWizard source code in order to create a skeleton Open Inventor app; SceneViewer OCX for providing an OLE control wrapper for the Open Inventor SceneViewer app; and two limited games, SlotCar and Maze, for demonstrating the possibilities of virtual worlds. The WebSpace browser also comes with several built-in VRML worlds for exploring; in addition, WebSpace works with Netscape and other web browsers as an external application for *.wrl VRML worlds. The VRML worlds are indeed quite limited in nature right now, but they do provide some amount of insight into what can be expected and anticipated as the language evolves. I recommend checking out The House of Immersion (also available as the local file urlhouse.wrl) with WebSpace for an idea of the possibilities with VRML and for a preview of how HTML and VRML will likely merge. Regardless of the current status of the language, the possibilities are indeed quite limitless for WebSpace and VRML. Pros: VRML browsing for Windows 95 and NT, Open Inventor for VRML software development Cons: Still quite buggy, few VRML worlds currently available New: Complete VRML 1.0 support, HTML browser integration, GZip support Version Reviewed: 1.0 Beta 2 Date of Review: 9/15/95 Reviewer: Forrest Stroud apps conference Main Menu