New creative opportunities

ParallelGraphics (http://www.parallelgraphics.com), a leader in the field of Web based 3D technologies, today announced that it has joined forces with the Web3D Consortium and a number of leading browser companies, including Blaxxun, OpenWorlds and Nexternet, to develop the X3DT open standard as a new-generation successor to VRML, bringing visually rich, real-time 3D graphics to the Web and broadcast applications. The first demonstrations of commercial X3D browsers, which provide complete compatibility with existing VRML content, will be showcased at the Web3D Consortium booth in SIGGRAPH 2001 from August 14-16 at the Los Angeles Convention Centre. X3D ("extensible 3D") is being developed under the Web3D Consortium's standardisation process that provides full and open access to the specification to all interested companies, and eventual submission to the International Standards Organisation for ratification to provide long-term stability for Web3D content and applications. The X3D standard enables new opportunities for the creation and deployment of visually rich 3D graphics, including small, lightweight Web clients with advanced 3D capabilities, and the integration of high-performance 3D into broadcast and embedded devices. X3D has adopted a component-based architecture that breaks the key areas of functionality into discrete components enabling extremely compact 3D clients. This consists of a lightweight "core" X3D component fully compatible with VRML97. Extensions are being added to the core to further enhance the functionality of X3D and meet the demands of sophisticated vertical applications. "By adopting a component-based extension mechanism, X3D will provide a highly flexible mechanism that will allow ParallelGraphics and other browser vendors to develop a commercially focused technology. It offers state-of-the-art supports for a broad range of applications and customer demands which offer a significant advantage over many proprietary technologies that focus on one vertical segment," said Connell Gallagher, President of ParallelGraphics. The Web3D Consortium is working very closely with the MPEG-4 group and the X3D standard is intended to form the core of MPEG-4's ongoing 3D integration activities.