FROM COMPUTER MODELS TO A VIRTUAL WORLDS

[ Terms from Computer Graphics | Virtual Worlds ]
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Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality is a reality near description of 3D worlds under consideration of interactive visiting by the user. Amongst visual descriptions like geometry, material a.o. physical properties belong to a definition of a virtual world. The following terms explain the steps from a 3D scene to virtual reality.

3D Model:

Internal Computer-representation of objects by geometry and attributes.

3D Scene:

3D-Model including material, lightning, environmental description and camera definitions.  

3D World:

Interactive viewable 3D scene with simulation functionality.  

Computer Graphic:

Computation of a raster graphic image base on mathematical descriptions of a 3D model or a 3D scene.  
 

From 3D models, 3D scenes or 3D worlds one can compute computer graphics, animations or models with free navigation facilities.

 

Animation:

Computation of a sequence of raster graphic images considering the changing of model and scene description parameters such as topology, geometry, lightning and viewpoint behavior.

 
Animation

Introduction of VRML
Construction and Publication of 3D Worlds

The construction process of virtual worlds is supported by the description language VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language). Elements of the language include geometry, appearance, light sources, environment descriptions, animations, interactivity and sound.

Visualizing a 3D-World

A virtual world can be defined by one or more VRML files (file extension wrl). The Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (mime type) is "model/world". Interactive navigation through VRML-files from the Internet or local harddrive requires a VRML browser. Plug-Ins are available from different sources. The above link guides you to ParallelGraphics.

Interaction of the Visitor

The VRML browser reads the file, parses through the file, builds the virtual world an renders the world in a viewport of the Web site.The browser provide a user interface for navigation through the virtual world. One can walk through the world, fly over the scene or can inspect the object. Listen to sound and interacting with the contents is possible as well. For rendering the browsers benefit from graphic tools like Open GL or Direct3D.

 
 cortona VRML client You need a plug-in to visit the virtual world example on the next page. Use the graphic link left for installation. Then continue to the virtual world .....  
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