Dear colleagues: The Extensible 3D (X3D) specification will produce a lightweight, extensible, integrated 3D media API, file format and runtime for a broad set of web-based applications. The Extensible Markup Language (XML) will be used to express VRML 97 geometry & functionality in ways compatible with the next-generation Web. We continue to solicit broad participation in the X3D specification effort. Current X3D documents are available at http://www.web3D.org/news/x3d/ and have generated broad comment. More details on the X3D specification process are available at http://www.web3D.org/news/x3d/x3d_process.html X3D updates and additions will be presented in detail at the Web3D Member Summit this Friday March 26 at Sony in San Jose California. Registration is available via http://www.web3D.org/news/form.html Please note that the primary task facing the X3D group is not requirements or priorities. Extensive work has been done on those topics. Further discussion regarding such subjects remains welcome on the Web3D Consortium and www-vrml mail lists. Our next challenge is to tackle the details of X3D design, implementation and evaluation. If you are interested in actively participating as a contributor in the X3D effort, please subscribe via [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a message that says subscribe x3d-contributors When the x3d-contributors list is activated later this week, please send a 3-sentence introduction to [EMAIL PROTECTED] stating (a) your name and affiliation, (b) your areas of expertise, and (c) specific areas where you might contribute. If you wish to formally review drafts produced by the x3d-designers and x3d-contributors, please subscribe via [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a message that says subscribe x3d-reviewers When that list is activated, please send a similar 3-sentence introduction to [EMAIL PROTECTED] All introduction statements by contributors and reviewers will be included in the X3D website, so that everyone can see the people and expertise involved in this big effort. If you're interested in commenting on future X3D work - that's great! No further action is necessary, for the moment. There will be frequent public review announcements on the Web3D site and relevant mail lists, hopefully every 2 months in 1999. We intend to finish X3D this year. Stay tuned. Our next meeting for X3D designers and contributors is planned for Friday April 2, somewhere to-be-announced in Silicon Valley. We plan to meet face-to-face with teleconference the first Friday of each month. If your company or university is interested in hosting any of these meetings, please contact me by phone or via [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks for considering how you might contribute to this important effort to build the next-generation VRML. all the best, Don -- Don Brutzman Naval Postgraduate School, Code UW/Br Root 200 work 831.656.2149 Monterey California 93943-5000 USA fax 831.656.3679 Virtual worlds/underwater robots/Internet http://www.stl.nps.navy.mil/~brutzman ===================================================================== To subscribe/unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Java 3D Home Page: http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/3D/
