[x3d-public] Shifting viewpoints (without PgUp PgDn) when on a tablet or handheld device

[John Carlson]

After several attempts, I was able to bring up the X_ITE viewpoints menu,
select the second viewpoint and see the described animation.  It wasn’t
immediately obvious that bringing up the viewpoint (etc) menu was going to
work, and I went back to email at least once.

I don’t often use viewpoints, but pinching and stretching to zoom is
useful, or swiping to adjust the viewpoint/camera.

Sunrize offers a way to toggle the animation through the use of a play
button, which can be aggravating if you forget to press the button.  The
play button selection stays persistent between loads, but needs to be
pressed for each new file you want to animate.  An overall setting for this
may be indicated.

If there are multiple animations for multiple viewpoints, great, but we
also want to multi select animation through use of toggles.

Perhaps if there was a way to multi-select animations (like Castle) this
would be the best, but I don’t want to be forced to individually select all
animations (potentially one per joint) to turn them all on as in some glTF
HAnim animations we’ve seen in the past.  A solution for Blender glTF
export has been posted.  I’ve not tried Castle with a TimeSensor inside a
PROTO—well, I have with HAnimDisplacers.

I’ve not grokked the FreeWRL UI/UX buttons yet, but the new button
descriptions help a lot.

Providing ways to automatically select several or all animations seems like
the way to go.

Perhaps a reasoned design plus UI/UX studies will lead to standardization.

Perhaps waiting for Castle Model Viewer to get a web presence would be
best?  This seems like it might happen in the next 6-9 months.

I agree that setting a good UI/UX standard industry-wide would make a
lasting impact, kind of like the WIMP (windows-icon-mouse-pointer)
interface.  Applying standards to a wide variety of XR devices would be
helpful.  Stuff like voice recognition and accessibility need to be thought
out.  See MSF accessibility groups and meetings.

I get frustrated even saying a birthday out-loud with no alternate input;
even ordering a frappe is difficult sometimes.  If I speak slowly, I sound
like I’m treating customer support like they are dummies.

John

On Fri, Dec 27, 2024 at 4:49 PM Brutzman, Donald (Don) (CIV) via x3d-public
<x3d-public at web3d.org> wrote:

> Here is an interesting scene with two viewpoints, created for the X3D-Edit
> tutorial at the Web3D 2025 Conference.  The second viewpoint uses the
> isBound event to trigger (or disable) an animation behavior, rotating the
> flag of Portugal (but not the Hello Portugal text).
>
>
>    - X3D Example Archives: X3D4AM, X3D for Advanced Modeling, Hello World
>    Scenes, Hello Portugal
>    -
>    https://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/X3dForAdvancedModeling/HelloWorldScenes/HelloPortugalIndex.html
>
>
> It has never been obvious to me how to shift viewpoints when looking at a
> model on a tablet or phone.  Since PgUp PgDn keys are not provided on those
> devices, it doesn't seem possible.
>
> While using X_ITE, I just happened to discover that holding your finger
> down on the X3D scene without motion (i.e. without navigating), and waiting
> a few seconds, pops up the X_ITE menu, which includes the viewpoint list.
> This works on both tablet and phone.  Super useful! 😎
>
> Wondering if there is a similar feature in X3DOM?
>
> Wondering if we ought to specify support mechanisms for touch devices
> somewhere in the specification?  Or perhaps have some best-practice
> usability recommendations?  Viewpoint selection is the most important and
> effective way to navigate an X3D scene, directly reflecting author's intent
> to the user.
>
>
>    - X3D 4.0 Architecture, Recommended navigation behaviours
>    -
>    https://www.web3d.org/specifications/X3Dv4/ISO-IEC19775-1v4-IS/Part01/behaviours.html
>
>
> Thanks for all insights.  Have fun with X3D!  😊
>
> 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
> https://faculty.nps.edu/brutzman
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