Paul Gordon wrote:
I didn't realize the situation was so bad! We use Java3D in a CAVE, and
the latest Xj3D. How does Xj3D stack up to the rest?
For raw VRML97 support, I believe we're the best of the bunch. Since we
don't support VRML 1.0, we're the worst, TGS' OpenInventor is best there
:) The rest of the assesment depends on if you're using Xj3D as a
platform or just as a loader. For a pure loader, we're about even with
the best other options out there if you include the non-Java solutions
as well. The Performer + OpenWorlds solution is quite a good setup too
if you're just comparing loaders. Where most loaders fall down is
support for the more gnarly parts of the spec - proto/externprotos.
They're a horrid thing to implement and even we don't have them fully
working, but we're far better than anyone else right now. Scripting is
another big area that most fall down on - either lack of one language or
the other, or only partially working solutions. If all you need is basic
geometry, transforms, lighting and simple interaction like touch and
draf sensors, most applications that claim VRML support will work
acceptably. Anything more than that and it becomes a very sharp dropoff
rate in working solutions.
With a fixed budget, visuals are far
more important than the underlying toolkit. If you can't propose to them
a toolkit that "just runs out of the box", then you're not even in the
running. For example, rolling into a proposal and saying "we can custom
code you an application that runs on Java3D and Sun hardware"
This last statement seems a little funny to me. If it was in Java3D,
why would it only run on Sun hardware? Perhaps it was just an off the cuff example.
It is. The same could be applied if you swapped Java3D for Performer and
Sun for SGI or PC linux cluster, and any other software/hardware
combo. These sorts of groups are not interested in "technology". When
the tradeoff comes they would far prefer to spend their limited dollars
on the content itself rather than the application framework to run it on.
We've got a number of projects currently in various stages right now
that are precisely in this space - museums wanting to put in group
visual display systems. They already have the hardware, they are looking
for the ability to put their desired visuals on this hardware and
certainly don't want to spend their money on software development.
Typically these are planetarium-style projects with some interactive
capability, so they need software-driven systems, not just movies
projected onto the screen. It's actually quite interesting because these
have all sprung up in the last few months as the museums are starting to
look for a "competitive edge". They're looking for displays and systems
that can be interactive and collaborative because they feel that will
draw in more visitors than the static movie-style displays currently in
use.
--
Justin Couch http://www.vlc.com.au/~justin/
Java Architect & Bit Twiddler http://www.yumetech.com/
Author, Java 3D FAQ Maintainer http://www.j3d.org/
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"Look through the lens, and the light breaks down into many lights.
Turn it or move it, and a new set of arrangements appears... is it
a single light or many lights, lights that one must know how to
distinguish, recognise and appreciate? Is it one light with many
frames or one frame for many lights?" -Subcomandante Marcos
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