I agree completely. Java is extremely difficult to set-up, keep in mind that
for web based content we should be invisible to the user. At the very least
need installations that children or novice computer users can deal with.
I'm sure this is way over simplified, and I certainly don't have enough
background or experience to even be making these comments. But it's
something I've been thinking about and thought may stir up some helpful
conversation.
Anyway, here goes........ (please be kind in responding)
One thing that has come to mind lately is setting up all of the Java classes
on distributed mass servers, eliminating plug-ins and individual setups on a
users computer.
It seems to me that Java was designed and built to work with the web,
integrated to the web, however in and of itself Java doesn't seem to take
advantage of it's own strongest capabilities.
With a few limited HTML commands and local applets which reference a URL
based Java implementation the rest of Java should utilize it's own inherent
capabilities. This way we don't have to rely on the browsers to catch up to
Java. Everything could remain current much more easily with just a few
mirrored server sites containing the implementation classes. The classes
once set-up correctly would control their own inter-communication etc...
The only thing which could not be done this way is the JRE engine itself
which would easily be an auto-download/update plug-in.
Now I do of course realize this is somewhat of a pipe dream, some classes
are much to large to access across the web when needed, traffic is a
problem, and security could become a nightmare. But bandwidths are improving
and these ideas could be built on without changing much of anything, if
anything at all, with current implementations.
I guess what I'm trying to say is Java has a lot more potential to become
invisible if we utilize some of it's own existing strengths.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mark rudolph [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Monday, April 26, 1999 11:23 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: [java3d] Web Media
>
> This post is a a kind of 'meta' question regarding
> J3D and by implication Java1.2 (or Java2 if you
> prefer) and the other standard extensions.
>
> Right now, how is it possible to convince a client,
> or oneself, that JDK1.2/J3D can be used as a
> Web medium. I say that from personal experience,
> having had discussions with a very prominent client
> in which I was told that their Web entertainment
> could *not* be done in J1.2/J3D.
>
> The problem is obvious and has been around for a
> long time. No Browser has a 1.2 VM so JDK1.2
> must be downloaded and installed, plus the plug-in1.2
> must be downloaded and installed, plus the J3D
> classes must also be downloaded and installed, etc...
> On top of that there is a bug in the Windoze environment
> that requires placing extension jars in 'lib' rather than
> in 'lib/ext' as documented. No reasonable person can
> expect the general Web public to jump through all these
> hoops in order to view Web content.
>
> Wouldn't it make more sense for Sun, or someone able to
> create a 1.2VM, to create a 'Mozilla Player' pre-loaded
> with Jdk1.2, J3D, etc.. - then viewing Java media on the
> Web would be a one-download, no thinking, operation.
> Or how about at least a unified plug-in (JRE1.2+J3D+JMF...)
> available in the Netscape 'smart-update' facility, and
> available for use with IE..
>
> There is a big opportunity to create an interactive 3D medium
> *on the Web* but we lack an easily accessible 'Player'.
> Does Sun expect J3D to be used only as an 'application'?
> Why not Web-based games and other entertainment, and
> also all the other shared visualizations and simulations *on the
> Web*? There are tens of loaders already available to make
> J3D a kind of 'universal' player for various file formats.
> However, it is *very difficult* to convince someone to use
> J3D because of all of the difficulties setting it up. Is the market
> going to be left to 'Shockwave' etc?
>
> I would like to know what people at Sun think about this, and
> what others on the list think.
>
>
>
> Mark Rudolph
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Lucid Actual
> Montreal
>
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