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VRML virtual reality modeling language what is it? • standardised (sort of) notation for virtual reality over the web • text file (use normal text editor) • bit like a programming language • also special world building software how do you use it? • you need a VRML viewer – Netscape/IE plug-in – stand alone VRML viewer • and a world – find one on the net – write your own! interactivity over the web??? • 'world' is downloaded • interaction is local – moving within the world • links to the web? – can be linked to from web pages – active objects link back versions • VRML 1.0 first version 'static' worlds - only viewpoint changes • VRML 2.0 animated objects in world tidying up etc. N.B. VRML browsers highly inconsistent VRML file format • filename (URL) ends ".wrl” – c.f. .html, .gif, .jpg etc. • VRML 1.0 first line: #vrml 1.0 ascii • VRML 2.0 first line: #vrml 2.0 utf8 • can have binary versions too contents of VRML file • one or more nodes – general format DEF object objecttype { fieldname value . . . } – or simply: objecttype { fieldname value . . . } types of nodes • objects that appear in the world – e.g. sphere, cone, cube etc. • nodes that alter subsequent objects – e.g. texture, color, transformations • nodes that group other nodes – also limit the effect of transformations etc. Examples When you are looking at a virtual world in Netscape you can use: View Menu - Page Source and similar commands in other browsers. sphere #VRML V1.0 ascii Sphere { radius 1 } add colour #VRML V1.0 ascii Separator { # groups things together Material { diffuseColor 1.0 0 0 # red green blue } Sphere { radius 1 } } or texture map an image #VRML V1.0 ascii Separator { Texture2 { filename "big_alan.jpg" } Sphere { radius 1 } } a cone #VRML V1.0 ascii Separator { Material { diffuseColor } Cone { height 3 } } 0 0 1 # bright blue put them together ... #VRML V1.0 ascii Separator { Separator { # for sphere Texture2 { filename "big_alan.jpg" } Sphere { radius 1 } } Separator { # for cone Material { diffuseColor 0 0 1 # bright blue } Cone { height 3 } } } transform ... … Sphere { radius 1 } ... Transform { translation 4 2 0 # 4 to the right and 2 up } … Cone { height 3 } … putting bits together simply several cuboids texture mapped with wood grain and with a photo. again and again • include other VRML files • add hyperlinks WWWAnchor { name "http://www.hiraeth.com/alan/" description "Alan's home page" WWWInline { name "alan.wrl” } }