Re: XML multimedia specs -- help for the bewildered, please?

[Chuck White <chuckwh@pacbell.net>]

I've never found anything particularly compelling about 3D on the Web
myself, but I do know there are some very serious VRML fans out there. I'll
wait the ten years or so it will take for them to sort through all these
issues before I take it seriously.

 I don't see why there should be any implementation issues regarding other
rich media, particularly vector art. SVG has been adopted by the W3C as a
proposed recommendation. If companies such as Macromedia and Microsoft won't
adopt it, that's a political, not a technical issue. If they're waiting for
the recommendation process to complete its cycle, that's a reasonable
decision, and it would be unfair not to mention that both companies are
represented on the final draft that emerged as a CR. In fact, the roster of
companies allegedly behind the SVG spec is one of the reasons for some
guarded optimism on my part.

Chuck White
CEO
The Tumeric Partnership
http://www.tumeric.net
work: 415-585-4178
chuck@tumeric.net
________________________________________
Author, Mastering XML, Premium Edition
Sybex Books, May, 2001
http://www.javertising.com



> It's simple:  comply and compete.  XML has nothing
> in the way of semantics, real time 3D interoperability
> depends on semantics for behavioral fidelity.  A single
> source codebase is the sword cut to the Gordian Knot
> of interoperation and behavioral fidelity.  Vendors such as
> Macromedia recognize the conflict for what it is.
>
> The X3D effort is being revamped.  XML is still there
> as an encoding, but the emphasis appears to be changing.
> To what is somewhat undetermined.  A closed Browser
> Working Group has been announced with details on the
> W3DC homepage.   There was heavy resistance to changing
> the syntax of VRML (what X3D is basically) and more to
> the idea of using the DOM.  This has to be overcome
> with reliable conformant performant implementation.
> So far, no one has stepped up to that except the
> Xj3D group.
>
> XML doesn't add much to the issues
> of ubiquitous real time 3D at the browser level.
> On the front end (transformation of data sets
> for visualization and high level authoring
> languages) it can be very useful, but at this time
> 3D is mired in the interoperation, fidelity, and
> ubiquity of rendering plugins.
>
> Note:  Microsoft has yet to field a successful
> real time 3D application.  It seems to be a
> dead spot in their pool of otherwise enormously
> successful applications.   My guess is that they
> may acquire rights to one of the VRML survivors.
> Their own Chrome effort which was the incindiary
> that illuminated XML in the 3D universe died a
> quiet ignominous death.  Someone ask why.
>
> Other issues:  why 3D at all?
>
> Without very good authoring tools, real time 3D is
> very costly to build and worse to maintain in the
> face of inconsistent browser behavior.  Complex
> content such as demonstrated by the IrishSpace
> project isn't viable until those challenges are
> met and overcome.  If all you need are rotating
> objects, you don't really need real time 3D.  If
> you want to build large integrated worlds, say
> compelling entertainment applications, real time
> 3D is a good bet.  The authoring tools must enable
> easy production and intergration of 3D audio,
> avatar behaviors, movie or storystyle framework
> scripting, and over time, should incorporate the
> voice technologies being pioneered at AT&T to enable
> reuse of live and deceased actors voices.
>
> Then you need a much larger and more productive
> talent pool.  3D is hard.  Weirdly, it is easier
> than 2D but no one notices.
>
> Len
> http://www.mp3.com/LenBullard
>
> Ekam sat.h, Vipraah bahudhaa vadanti.
> Daamyata. Datta. Dayadhvam.h
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chuck White [mailto:chuckwh@pacbell.net]
>
> As for 3D, currently, there are two areas of activity that I'm aware of
(but
> there may be more): the X3D spec you mentioned and a 3D language being
> pushed by Viewpoint and Adobe
> (http://www.viewpoint.com/developerzone/5-0.html). Naturally, these groups
> don't seem to be working together, but I could be mistaken.
>
> I don't know if this helps at all, or if this just served as an
opportunity
> to voice my displeasure over the way companies handle spec development. If
> it's the latter, my apologies, but these things need to be said from time
to
> time.
>
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