[x3d-public] X3D Working Group minutes 24 FEB 2023: progress reports, proposed Metaverse group, glTF extensions, X3D 4.1 feature discussion

Fri Feb 24 10:10:46 PST 2023

The X3D Working Group meets weekly on Fridays 09-1000 Pacific on Web3D
Consortium zoom channel.  Telcon information:

*
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81634670698?pwd=a1VPeU5tN01rc21Oa3hScUlHK0Rxdz09 
*	https://zoom.us/j/148206572  Password 483805 
*	https://www.web3d.org/member/teleconference-information 

Attendees: John Carlson, Anita Havele, Vince Marchetti, Andreas Plesch,
Nicholas Polys, Dick Puk, Don Brutzman.

1.	X3D 2023 goals.  Our primary activities for X3D Working Group in
2023 are focused on broad and correct deployment.

a.	Encourage consistent rendering, interaction and usage for the many
tremendous capabilities in X3D4.
b.	Update ISO specifications and implementations for multiple
programming languages and file encodings to match X3D4.

2.	Lots of progress.  Great to see lots of good things happening.
Hoping to create snapshot of major events:

There is a lot of interest and progress occurring, very exciting!  The
x3d-public list is a super way to share and discuss.

a.	Loading of STL and OBJ formats by multiple browsers.
b.	X_ITE validation and conversion capabilities, similar to view3dscene
server-side utilities
c.	X3DOM support for glTF Draco geometric compression (open-source C++
library by google, transpiled into JavaScript)
d.	X3D-Edit prerelease: XML security support, localhost HTTP for CORS
support when testing X_ITE.

3.	Focus: 3D Web Interoperability to Metaverse Standards Forum (MSF)

Nicholas Polys has crafted an excellent draft proposal for a new exploratory
group on 3D Web Interoperability for the Metaverse Standards Forum (MSF).
We will review, discuss, and begin planning next steps.

This draft will be shared with Web3D Consortium members on Monday.  All
reactions and all feedback will be welcome.

Metaverse Standards Forum (MSF) is particularly interesting because multiple
working groups are establishing use cases and functional requirements for
multiple domains.

*	The Metaverse Standards Forum
*	Where Leading Standards Organizations and Companies Cooperate to
Foster Interoperability Standards for an Open Metaverse
*	https://metaverse-standards.org

Membership has value!  Please consider joining, as a company or institution
or individual.

*	Web3D Consortium, Open Standards for Real-Time 3D Communication,
Join!
*	https://www.web3d.org/join

4.	glTF Extensions

Recent email threads have pointed out that X3D 4.0 normatively references
glTF 2.0.  Meanwhile numerous glTF extensions are available.  Nothing
prohibits X3D browsers/players/tools from going beyond baseline glTF 2.0 -
the "X" in X3D is Extensible.  8)

There is benefit to software developers, content authors and end users to
having a shared strategy on what new features to support.  Considering and
supporting such a list is further suitable as a Web3D Recommendation as a
stepping stone towards future pursuit of X3D 4.1 with International
Standards Organization (ISO).

*	glTF Extension Registry for 2.0
*	https://github.com/KhronosGroup/glTF/tree/main/extensions#readme

Here are a few glTF extensions that have been proposed (and some ratified)
by Khronos.  We discussed which have high value and deserve consideration as
part of a shared strategy.

*	EnvironmentLight (Image based lighting)  deferred to X3D 4.1
already, might be ready, not yet clear if stable since lights are not
explicitly defined in glTF core (rather in extensions).
*	Other lights, KHR_lights_punctual - directional, point, spot - quite
similar to X3D lights
*	emissiveColor bloom
*	KHR_materials_unlit and KHR_texture_transform already supported
*	Draco geometry compression
*	Human animation? TODO future work
*	Advanced texturing
*	Others. step by step, as ready.

Since much of this is really closely aligned with our rendering improvements
in X3D 4.0, we will review with Michalis at a future meeting.

Of note: extensive test suite is available.  Andreas reports that the
"buggy" model is a good example of Draco compression.

*	https://cx20.github.io/gltf-test
*
https://cx20.github.io/gltf-test/examples/threejs/index.html?category=sample
Models&model=Buggy&scale=0.02&type=glTF
*
https://cx20.github.io/gltf-test/examples/threejs/index.html?category=sample
Models&model=Buggy&scale=0.02&type=glTF-Draco

*
https://cx20.github.io/gltf-test/examples/threejs/index.html?category=tutori
alModels&model=StainedGlassLamp&scale=3&type=glTF
*
https://cx20.github.io/gltf-test/examples/threejs/index.html?category=tutori
alModels&model=StainedGlassLamp&scale=3&type=glTF-JPG-PNG

*
https://cx20.github.io/gltf-test/examples/threejs/index.html?category=tutori
alModels&model=TransmissionTest&scale=3&type=glTF

WebXR (formerly WebVR) is similarly important, but not very much overlap
with glTF is evident.

Keeping track of these extensions might be good additions for the X3D Node
Inventory. Don will discuss with Doug Sanden.

People perspective: we are looking for an X3D Working Group cochair to take
responsibility for leading X3D 4.1 development.  Big opportunity for
somebody!

5.	X3D 4.1 feature discussion. (carried over from last week)

Many possibilities!  The "X" in X3D is Extensible, so pursuit of further
evolution is an essential part of our design.  We benefit from (but are not
limited by) ISO stability, since implementers can experiment with innovative
practices and also match Web3D Consortium recommended practices.

a.	Near term: resolving Sound component differences with Web Audio API.
Some noted issues will likely get deferred as X3D 4.1 issues.
b.	In progress: HAnim2/X3D4 additions for site names, poses, and
clothing to provide support for apparel.
c.	What else? What's next?  List maintained in Web3D Mantis Issue
Tracker.

Nicholas has some notes from last week's meeting that he will be posting
later.

No Web3D Consortium member-confidential information is included in these
minutes.

The future beckons. wishing best progress to all concerned.  Have fun with
X3D!  8)

all the best, Don

-- 

Don Brutzman  Naval Postgraduate School, Code USW/Br        brutzman at nps.edu
<mailto:brutzman at nps.edu> 

Watkins 270,  MOVES Institute, Monterey CA 93943-5000 USA    +1.831.656.2149

X3D graphics, virtual worlds, Navy robotics https://
faculty.nps.edu/brutzman

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