[x3d-public] X3D AR and LoadSensor node, adding description field to sensors

Brutzman, Donald (Don) (CIV) brutzman at nps.edu
Sun Dec 23 14:54:56 PST 2018


Hi Mitch.  Thanks for the discussion yesterday regarding your impressive GearVR progress using X3D.

Here is a followup on one topic.  It was good to see that LoadSensor might satisfactorily answer many functional requirements for a scene reacting satisfactorily when url resources are getting loaded.  Not many people have used it, but I think that is pretty powerful node for designing effective response for loading url-based content, thus leading to dynamic interaction.

* X3D Tooltips: LoadSensor
   http://www.web3d.org/x3d/tooltips/X3dTooltips.html#LoadSensor

   "LoadSensor generates events as watchList child nodes are either loaded or fail to load."

* X3D Architecture 9.4.3 LoadSensor
   http://www.web3d.org/documents/specifications/19775-1/V3.3/Part01/components/networking.html#LoadSensor

LoadSensor : X3DNetworkSensorNode {
   SFBool  [in,out] enabled   TRUE
   SFNode  [in,out] metadata  NULL [X3DMetadataObject]
   SFTime  [in,out] timeOut   0
   MFNode  [in,out] watchList []   [X3DUrlObject]
   SFBool  [out]    isActive
   SFBool  [out]    isLoaded
   SFTime  [out]    loadTime
   SFFloat [out]    progress
}

The only thing that seems missing to me was a "description" field.  Animation chain logic can be involved and sometimes subtle.  Having the ability to add description to a sensor node not only allows them to keep track of what their goal is, and provide persistent documentation about that, but it also allows a browser to inform end users about what sensor activity is currently active.  This proposed field addition is a simple change that can help in several ways.

Was happy to verify today that we already have an existing Mantis issue covering that topic.

* Mantis 0000667: 7.3.7 - Need description field for all X3DSensorNode - Web3D MantisBT
   http://www.web3d.org/member-only/mantis/view.php?id=667

Users wearing augmented or virtual devices have more 3D interaction opportunities than ever before - "up close and personal" with respect to dynamic content too.  Am keen to track this emerging progress in good practices so that X3D remains fully responsive to author and user needs.

As you get the VR/AR working group rejuvenated on
X3D 4.1, WebXR, demonstrations etc. etc. we will likely see more and more testable capabilities in this arena.  We have a great advantage in that X3D is keeping a "big picture" of Web-scale content, not just a single application domain.

	X3D Version 4
	http://www.web3d.org/x3d4

* X3D Version 4.0 Development which shows specific details and planned evolutionary changes to the baseline X3D architecture.
* X3D Version 4.1 will add Mixed Augmented Reality (MAR) capabilities for diverse virtual and augmented reality (VR, AR) devices.

Thanks for your continuing great work!  Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.  8)

all the best, Don
-- 
Don Brutzman  Naval Postgraduate School, Code USW/Br       brutzman at nps.edu
Watkins 270,  MOVES Institute, Monterey CA 93943-5000 USA   +1.831.656.2149
X3D graphics, virtual worlds, navy robotics http://faculty.nps.edu/brutzman



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