> Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 18:15:51 +0200 > From: Claus Giesenberg <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > The Szenario : > A CAVE is supposed to be constructed, with the kinematics simulations are > supposed to be visualized in realtime(!). The simulation should preferably > performed on a personal computer cluster. > > My questions : > > 1) Can I use Java3D for Rendering a CAVE at principle ?
Yes, absolutely. For the details of the Java 3D CAVE installation at the University of Calgary, download the white paper in the "Hot News" section at: http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/3D/index.html This CAVE will also be featured in an upcoming 60 Minutes II segment on human genomics which will be airing in the U.S. and Canada at its usual time on April 24, 2002. So if you want to see Java 3D operating in a high-profile environment at the frontiers of bioinformatics research, be sure to tune in if you can! > 2) Can I use Java3D for distributed rendering ? > Example of 3 PC's, each with 2 processors, as well as a CAVE with three > walls are available. Every personal computer is rendering the same scene > for a wall with different views ? Yes, Java 3D can be used for distributed processing using the existing Java networking functionality. However, there is no explicit support for this in the Java 3D API; it's in the application's domain to set up the peer-to-peer or client/server architecture of the cooperating computers. In the typical scenario you will have each node running its own instance of Java 3D, shipping and receiving messages to its peers or a central server to update the global state of the system, including the scene graph. The scene graph can be rendered locally at each node and may or may not replicate the entire virtual world which is a part of the global state. There is built-in support in Java 3D for rendering to multiple screens within a single Java 3D execution context. Distributing the rendering over multiple machines for use in a CAVE is a different matter, however. It's possible in theory by computing the appropriate viewing parameters for each screen and distributing them to each node, but things like network latency and screen synchronization can cause problems. A CAVE has high demands on image coherence in order to create the sense of immersion which is essential to such environments. -- Mark Hood =========================================================================== To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body of the message "signoff JAVA3D-INTEREST". For general help, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body of the message "help".
