Web3D Consortium Joins the W3C to Bring 3D Graphics to the Next-Generation Web.

LOS ANGELES---(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 11, 1999--

New generation X3D technology seamlessly integrates

3D graphics with emerging Web multimedia standards;

X3D to form part of next generation ISO VRML 2002 standard

The Web3D Consortium today announced that it has joined the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) (www.w3.org). By joining and integrating W3C specifications into its current work, the Web3D Consortium ensures that the next generation of multimedia standards for the web include seamlessly integrated 3D graphics. The Web3D Consortium's ongoing X3D project is developing new technology that will ensure interoperability of 3D with web standards such as XHTML, XML, SVG, DOM and SMIL.

The X3D technology being developed by the Web3D Consortium will enable new opportunities for 3D graphics, including small, lightweight web clients with advanced 3D capabilities, and the integration of high-performance 3D into broadcast and embedded devices. X3D satisfies these demanding applications by adopting an advanced componentized architecture that enables highly compact 3D clients. These clients can be extended with plug-in components to create standardized profiles with the functionality to meet the demands of sophisticated vertical applications.

"The Web3D Consortium is pleased to join and participate within the W3C so that 3D will become a first-class citizen in the family of next-generation Web multimedia datatypes," said Neil Trevett, vice president of 3Dlabs and president of the Web3D Consortium. "The Web3D Consortium is achieving remarkable progress in defining the advanced X3D technology - and on a timetable that makes it very relevant to the W3C's web standardization efforts."

The Web3D Consortium will issue a fast-tracked series of X3D builds and specifications to ensure its rapid adoption. X3D will culminate with the specification's incorporation into the next-generation open, non-proprietary VRML ISO standard - VRML 2002. X3D evolves from, and retains compatibility with, VRML 97. X3D profiles can include complete VRML functionality - ensuring compatibility between VRML 97 content and X3D-capable browsers.

By joining the W3C, the Web3D Consortium is working to ensure that X3D leverages existing and emerging web and multimedia standards so that 3D graphics will become a fully integrated data type in the next-generation web. Key W3C standards efforts include modularized XHTML for defining components and profiles, XML for handling 2D page integration, interchange files and datatypes, SVG for rendering scalable 2D vector graphics and DOM for scripting and inter-application communication.

The Web3D Consortium intends to show first prototype demonstrations of X3D at SIGGRAPH 99 and to complete the first draft of the X3D standard by the end of 1999 . X3D will include advanced rendering capabilities including realistic character animation, and advanced rendering effects including multi-textures, streamable datatypes and non-polygonal surface descriptions.

"X3D is building on the firm foundation of VRML97, and is evolving the standard so that 3D will exist seamlessly in the increasingly sophisticated standards-based Web of tomorrow," said Don Brutzman, vice president of technology for the Web3D Consortium. "The Consortium has a well-defined roadmap that is enabling us to rapidly develop our X3D next-generation technology while strengthening the momentum of existing 3D Web standards and applications."

Several companies have played a large role in the volunteer task group that is building the X3D specification and implementations. Four companies have submitted draft proposals for a lightweight extensible X3D core. Shout Interactive (www.shout3D.com) of San Francisco, California USA was first, showing that small (under 50KB) pure-Java applets can produce compelling interactive content. blaxxun Interactive (www.blaxxun.com) of San Francisco and Munich, Germany contributed similarly small demonstration applets, also proposing to extend the VRML 97 scene graph with NURBS geometry (extremely efficient smoothly curved surface patches). DRaW Computing (www.drawcomp.com) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA contributed a third complementary X3D proposal, implemented using the Fahrenheit Scene Graph from Microsoft/SGI, and able to parse both VRML 97 & XML-based X3D scenes. Sony Corporation submitted a further contribution for an extensible media modeling architecture, which is now undergoing review.

While at SIGGRAPH 99, Web3D Consortium members voted to advance the X3D project from Design Phase to Implementation & Evaluation Phase. Multiple software implementation projects will validate X3D specification improvements, using Sun's open-source VRML/X3D loader written using Java3D and blaxxun's community-source Contact browser written in C++. Additional node extensions that take advantage of emerging hardware capabilities are being proposed for multipass texturing, particle sets, blend sets and complex physics-based behaviors. Close participation with World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) working groups is ensuring that XML and streaming issues for Web-based 3D graphics receive thorough technical consideration.

Web3D Consortium

The Web3D Consortium (formerly the VRML Consortium) is a non-profit organization with a mandate to develop and promote open standards to enable 3D Web and broadcast applications. The Consortium successfully gained approval for VRML 97 as International Standard ISO/IEC 14772 in December 1997 and is currently driving the X3D project to create the next evolution of the VRML standard.

The Consortium is comprised of over 50 leading organizations including charter members such as 3Dlabs, blaxxun interactive, Cybelius Software, MathEngine, Panasonic/Matsushita, Microsoft, SGI, Sony and Superscape. Web3D Consortium members provide technical and marketing expertise for the continued evolution of open 3D standards while gaining early access to ongoing technology and commercial opportunities. More information on VRML, the Consortium's ongoing X3D and VRML standards activities and Consortium membership is available at http://www.web3d.org.

All trademarks and registered trademarks previously cited are the property of their respective owners.