[x3d-public] X3D Working Group meeting 4 JAN 2024: charter goals for a great new year!
Brutzman, Donald (Don) (CIV)
brutzman at nps.edu
Fri Jan 5 13:21:44 PST 2024
Attendees: Anita Havele, Nicholas Polys, Dick Puk, Don Brutzman.
1. We discussed the draft charter goals for new year. Endeavoring to set up for even greater successes in 2024.
Once again there are many goals for many people… For example, looking at a Web3D Roadmap showed multiple strategic imperatives over multiple years. In general these look good, and can be supported by the charter goals listed here, but several strategies are broad and beyond the scope of what a standardization-oriented group can do.
Expressing emphasis for higher priorities and use cases, for example work on Web Audio (and many other activities) is good. Am expecting that to be reaffirmed weekly as recent contributions and achievements are reviewed.
Renaming this group to a reflect a narrower mandate, perhaps X3D Standards Working Group, clearly indicates that we remain committed to technical excellence for implementing software and evaluating examples to confirm high-quality standards development. This supports a core role of Web3D Consortium as a Standards Development Organization (SDO).
* https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Standards_development_organization
Added “Participation is encouraged for Web3D Consortium members, liaison partners, and the many interested members in the X3D community.”
Added the following section to describe effective mechanisms for communication.
X3D Standards Communication Mechanisms
* x3d-public at web3d.org open mailing list for broad discussions on topics of shared interest, including technical issues being considered by this working group. Moderated.
* https://www.web3d.org/mailman/listinfo/x3d-public_web3d.org
* x3d at web3d.org Web3D Consortium members-only mailing list for issues including status reports to members, consideration of new technology submissions that are candidates for inclusion in the open standard, and specification review/endorsement prior to formal submission to ISO/IEC. Moderated.
* https://www.web3d.org/mailman/listinfo/x3d_web3d.org
* Web3D Consortium Mantis Issue Tracker for archival members-only consideration of specific specification-related technical goals and issues, along with distilled design alternatives.
* https://www.web3d.org/member-only/mantis
* Web3D Consortium GitHub Projects for members-only standards document development and software projects.
* https://github.com/Web3dConsortium
* Web3D Consortium X3D SourceForge Projects for open-source X3D example models and software projects.
* https://sourceforge.net/projects/x3d
Updated draft attached, change tracking is on. Further feedback and discussion is welcome.
2. “Walking the walk” today: ere are current topics for each of these working-group activities. Our intent is to reflect current activities by Web3D members, working groups and individuals.
a. X3D Standards Synchronization
ISO has approved X3D 4.0 Architecture 19775-1 but we still await their publication of documents.
* https://www.iso.org/standard/82562.html
Our final-proof version remains available at
* https://www.web3d.org/x3d4
* https://www.web3d.org/specifications/X3Dv4Draft/ISO-IEC19775-1v4-IS.proof/index.html
Next draft standard for review is the SAI. We intend to work on the 4.0 improvement to this document this month.
* X3D Scene Access Interface (SAI) 19775-2
* ISO/IEC IS 19775-1:2013, V3.3, X3D Abstract : Node Definitions, International Standard (IS) 2013-11-04
* Introduction, Purpose. “X3D is a file format and related access services for describing interactive 3D objects and worlds. X3D is designed to be used on the Internet, intranets, and local client systems. X3D is also intended to be a universal interchange format for integrated 3D graphics and multimedia. X3D may be used in a variety of application areas such as engineering and scientific visualization, multimedia presentations, entertainment and educational titles, web pages, and shared virtual worlds.”
* “This part of ISO/IEC 19775 defines the scene access interface that can be used to interact with X3D worlds both from within the worlds or from external programs.”
* https://www.web3d.org/documents/specifications/19775-2/V3.3/index.html
In other words, the SAI provides the abstract definitions for compatibly defining the common application programming interface (API) when implementing classes and methods using programming language such as ECMAScript, Java, Python, and C/C++/C#.
We will begin collecting goals and issues, with weekly discussions and summaries in Mantis. We hope to have a draft 4.0 SAI document in Web3D Consortium github by the end of the month.
b. X3D Example Models
We reviewed our example pages to ensure links are correct. Of interest:
* Web3D Examples
* https://www.web3d.org/example
* X3D Resources, Examples: Scene Archives for X3D
* https://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/X3dResources.html#Examples
* All licenses updated for 2024, continuing work on VRML validation using view3dscene
* Discover 3D: 3D for the Web
* https://webx3d.org
Also search found an interesting VRML treasure, now added to
* X3D Resources, Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) 97
* https://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/X3dResources.html#VRML
* UK Advisory Group on Computer Graphics includes A Guide to VRML 2.0 and an Evaluation of VRML Modelling Tools by Neil Ashdown and Simon Forestiero, Manchester Metropolitan University, 1998
* http://www.agocg.ac.uk/train/vrml2rep/cover.htm
c. X3D Implementations
X_ITE is one of two stellar open-source libraries that permit seamless publication of X3D models with HTML pages. Eye-watering quality, easy to use.
* X_ITE release 9.1.11, updated 14 DEC 2023
* “X_ITE is a new 3D JavaScript library entirely written in JavaScript and uses WebGL for 3D rendering. Authors can publish X3D and VRML source online within an HTML5 page with X_ITE that works with Web browsers without prior plugin installation. This gives X3D authors the ability to displays content in 3D, using WebGL 3D graphics technology to display X3D content in several different browsers across several different operating systems. Since X3D is backwardly compatible, X_ITE can also be used as a VRML viewer.”
* https://create3000.github.io/x_ite
As reported earlier in the week, X3D-Edit has had a major release and Xj3D is updated as well. Over 10,000 downloads since May!
* X3D-Edit is a free, open-source Extensible 3D (X3D) Graphics authoring tool for simple high-quality authoring, editing, import/export, validation and viewing of X3D scenes.
* https://savage.nps.edu/X3D-Edit
* [x3d-public] release announcement: X3D-Edit 4.0, Xj3D, and opendis7-java
* https://web3d.org/pipermail/x3d-public_web3d.org/2024-January/020180.html
d. X3D and Metaverse
Web3D Consortium is a charter SDO in MSF and our members are allowed to participate.
* Metaverse Standards Forum (MSF)
* https://metaverse-standards.org
Volume visualization for medical devices has been proposed as a potential work area for MSF, we will be discussing this with them next week. Of potential applicability:
* X3D 4.0 Architecture, Volume Rendering component
* https://www.web3d.org/specifications/X3Dv4Draft/ISO-IEC19775-1v4-IS.proof/Part01/components/volume.html
3D Web Interoperability Group has been chartered and is proceeding.
Metaverse Standard Register (MSR) includes X3D references and vocabulary, current activity includes creation of use cases deserving broad implementation efforts.
e. X3D as Innovation Foundation
Well gosh, a lot is happening and a lot is possible. 2024 is going to be a great year for us.
Methodology and opportunity discussions are always welcome.
Thanks for all contributions today, and all questions + feedback to follow.
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
From: Brutzman, Donald (Don) (CIV)
Sent: Thursday, January 4, 2024 10:34 AM
To: X3D Public Mailing List (x3d-public at web3d.org) <x3d-public at web3d.org>
Cc: Web3D Consortium <consortium at web3d.org>; brutzman at nps.edu
Subject: X3D Working Group meeting 4 JAN 2024: charter goals for a great new year!
Happy New Year everyone! No really!
The X3D Working Group is renewing our weekly teleconferences. Both Web3D members and X3D community members are welcome to participate.
* X3D Working Group weekly teleconference, Fridays 090-1000 pacific (12-1300 eastern,
* https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81634670698?pwd=a1VPeU5tN01rc21Oa3hScUlHK0Rxdz09
* https://zoom.us/j/148206572 Password 483805
* https://www.web3d.org/member/teleconference-information
Our agenda is to hear people’s ideas, and review our draft charter for the coming year. Thanks for all feedback received, latest version follows.
X3D Charter Revision, 4 JAN 2024
X3D Working Group Goals
a. X3D Example Models. Demonstrate how X3D can make 3D Graphics part of the modern Web by integrating with key infrastructure such as Web3D Conference series, Wikipedia, and other major publication resources. Thousands of validated examples already work well. What other interactive 3D models are people working to publish and share? X3D can help.
b. X3D Implementations. Provide a technical forum that encourages the greatest possible development for functionally complete X3D4 applications, authoring tools, and model converters such as Blender and MeshLab. Pay special attention to implementations using Humanoid Animation (HAnim), glTF model import/export, Web Audio API and MIDI 2.0 capabilities for integrated spatial auralization, projective texture mapping, HTML5 integration, XML, JSON/JavaScript, Java, Python, C/C++/C#, compressed binary formats, and additional new X3D 4.0 features.
c. X3D Specifications Synchronization. Update, review, implement and advance all corresponding X3D specifications for file encodings and language encodings, continuing rigorous attention to detail through Web3D Consortium, W3C, US INCITS H3, and ISO/IEC standards development organizations (SDOs).
d. X3D as Innovation Foundation. 3D models from many sources can now be published as part of the Open Web. Show how Extensibility mechanisms for X3D can implement new capabilities in a standards-compatible way. Much is possible, model correctness is validatable, and few barriers to exploration exist.
e. X3D and Metaverse. Support Metaverse Standards Forum (MSF) innovations, especially in the 3D Web Interoperability and Metaverse Standards Register working groups. Implementing widely shared use cases can offer helpful insight on capabilities, successes, and next-step goals.
These shared goals are sensible next steps in a quarter century of stable evolution using Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) and X3D.
X3D History
* Past as Prologue. The X3D Working Group carefully follows Web3D policies and procedures, integrating much public/private comment that is well documented in public X3D email archives and member-access Mantis issue tracker. Both backwards compatibility and forwards extensibility have been carefully preserved throughout, enabling effective reuse of every VRML97 and X3D model for the past quarter century. Seventh in a specification series starting with VRML97, successful completion of the X3D 4.0 Architecture once again proves that this collaborative process is effective.
* Present, 2024. There is much capability in X3D 4.0 already that deserves broader implementation and exposure in high-capability models. Consequently we are deliberately not pursuing X3D 4.1 specification improvements with ISO/IEC in 2024. Meanwhile we do encourage Innovation by emphasizing X3D extensibility mechanisms: Inline, Script, Prototype, software libraries supporting source-code implementations that generate X3D, etc. etc. New candidate nodes (such as Image Atlas) that rise to the level of broad usefulness can be formally considered as contributions to Web3D Recommended Practice.
* Future, 2025+. Once all of the corresponding X3D specifications have been updated to match X3D 4.0 architecture, development of a future X3D 4.1 specification revision will be possible.
All review, insights, and improvements are welcome. I’ll smooth and push a charter renewal proposal to Web3D Board of Directors next week.
These five points – examples, implementations, spec synch, innovation, and metaverse – will be our agenda structure for the rest of the year. Weekly reinforcement of our shared progress is good for everyone.
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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