VRML browsers - virtual reality comes to the net

~terry Thu, Jul 25, 1996 (13:01) seed

The Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) is thought of by many as being the future successor to the current web standard, HyperText Markup Language (HTML). In reality, rather than rendering HTML obsolete, VRML will more likely become an essential and integrated partner with HTML. VRML takes HTML one step beyond the document-centric approach by allowing users to view and search 3-Dimensional landscapes and models (worlds). These worlds will be able to house huge stores of information, including HTML, gopher, and ftp sites, as well as supporting interactive processing of data. The tools for this task are just beginning to emerge for Windows platforms and at this point are often quite buggy. Also, the worlds and amount of information they include are extremely limited at this early stage. As browsers like WorldView and WebSpace become more extensible and accessible by the general population, the VRML language and the amount of information delivered should dramatically increase. So for now, check out these apps for a preview of what could well be the next killer app on the 'net...

~terry Tue, Jul 30, 1996 (06:22) #1

Above introduction by Forrest Stroud.

~coolkaty Sun, Apr 6, 1997 (01:44) #2

terry i don't know much about vrml . because i never see it before so please help me to understand .

~badtothebone25 Wed, Jun 5, 2002 (10:36) #3

i am lookin for a vrml browser that is open source. can anyone help me or show me the right direction??

~terry Wed, Jun 5, 2002 (21:51) #4

FreeWRL is an open-source(R) VRML and X3D browser written by Tuomas J. Lukka, John Stewart and others, placed under the Gnu Library General Public License. It is written for Unix/Linux workstations and it's primary goal is to enable Shared Virtual Worlds, so emphasis is on controlling the VRML/X3D Scene from external sources (via Javascript, perl, or the Java with either the SAI or EAI interface). Much work has been performed recently to enable FreeWRL to become closer to obtaining VRML and X3D compliancy. There is still some work to be done, but, check out the screen shots to see some examples of what you can do. Integration with external sensor inputs, VR Goggles is here - strap on your Virtual Research goggles, and literally walk around your own virtual world http://www.crc.ca/en/html/FreeWRL/home/home What 'cha gonna do with it?