X3D and HTML5

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Revision as of 15:49, 19 May 2009 by Brutzman (Talk | contribs) (Work Process)

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Goal

The X3D Working Group will participate in the HTML Working Group for the purpose of best integrating X3D with HTML.

This effort has strategic importance for Web3D. We intend to establish a solid foundation for X3D to properly support 3D graphics in HTML5.

HTML5

The HTML working group page states:

       What is HTML?  HTML is the publishing language of the World Wide Web.

The latest editor's draft Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) recommendation states:

       HTML 5 W3C Working Draft
       A vocabulary and associated APIs for HTML and XHTML
       12.2 Declarative 3D scenes
       Embedding 3D imagery into XHTML documents is the domain of X3D,
       or technologies based on X3D that are namespace-aware.
       4.8.5 The object element
       The object element can represent an external resource, which, depending on
       the type of the resource, will either be treated as an image, as a nested
       browsing context, or as an external resource to be processed by a plugin.
       4.8.6 The param element
       The param element defines parameters for plugins invoked by object elements.

Technical Tasks

We are working on the following tasks.

  • Ensure that all HTML5 questions and issues relative to X3D are properly considered and answered.
  • Document how native X3D in .xml encoding can be best be embedded inside an HTML5 document, typically in a namespace-aware fashion
  • Demonstrate X3D+HTML5 examples on the Web3D Consortium website
  • Examine how X3D pertains to related HTML5 tags (such as object and canvas) that are used for plugin-type content
  • Track MIME type issues
  • Examine overall interoperability issues: combined X3D and HTML content with one floating over the other
    • X3D scene with transparent background floating over HTML document or desktop
    • HTML text overlay laid out over an X3D scene as help
  • Identify API issues of mutual interest (such as DOM, Ajax and XHR) for further developmental work

Work Support

Participation

Relevant HTML5 and W3C information:

The following individuals have volunteered to serve as X3D Working Group representatives in the HTML5 Working Group.

  • Johannes Behr, Instant Reality, Fraunhofer Research, Darmstadt Germany
  • Don Brutzman, Naval Postgraduate School (Web3D-W3C liaison and W3C Advisory Committee representative), Monterey California USA
  • John Stewart, FreeWrl, Communications Research Center (CRC) Canada
  • Joe Williams, HyperMultiMedia, Santa Rosa California USA

Any other Web3D Consortium members who are interested in serving as one of our X3D Working Group representatives is asked to review the HTML working group membership materials, notify the X3D working group that you are interested, and describe what your goals will be.

Meetings

Our weekly X3D and HTML5 teleconference is 0800-0900 (pacific time) each Tuesday.

We are requesting membership for Web3D participants in W3C HTML5. Don will report to W3C our list of participants, passwords and access will then be provided.

Annotated References

X3D and HTML4

HTML4 and XHTML

  • HTML 4.01 HyperText Markup Language (HTML)
  • XHTML Extensible HyperText Markup Language (XHTML)

HTML5

API details under discussion

We have discussed Johannes' message of 25 March 2009 + responses (Subject: Re: Khronos Press Releases etc.) that included an X3DOM-connector.pdf diagram regarding how X3D might work with DOM, HTML etc. Also discussed the thread on Khronos' presumed upcoming work on Canvas3D element, and past work on Ajax3D.

These and other API topics are all technically related, and of interest, but have varying degrees of maturity.

The primary objective of the current effort is to support X3D and HTML5. Further work on DOM and other APIs is likely to evolve and spin off from this central effort.

Future work

Some topics might become relevant once HTML5 is established as a formal W3C Recommendation. These are not part of our current planned work.