Flux single-user client: Difference between revisions

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(name - it contains real browsable 3D VRML worlds - it is biggest VRML gallery ever encountered by me.)
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[[Image:Labyrinth.png|thumb|Labyrinth]]


== Definition ==
[[Image:Worldview.png|thumb|WorldView]]


VRML is a [[Web 3D technology]].
[[Image:Pivoron.png|thumb|Pivoron Player 1.0]]


See [[X3D]], the successor. VRML is still in use, but I suggest that people new to Web3D should rather go for X3D.
[[Image:Flux.png|thumb|Flux Player 2.1 & Flux Studio 2.1]]


Copy/Paste from here: http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/vrml/vrmlman/node5.html
== Definition ==
 
The Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) can been seen as a 3-D visual extension of the WWW. People can navigate through 3-D space and click on objects representing URLs (including other VRML worlds). Often, VRML is pronounced like ``Vermal'', not ``V-R-M-L''.
 
== A short history ==
 
As Mark Pesce [Pesce, 1995, p. 16] points out, the WWW had two fundamental dimensions: connectivity (the http protocol) and interface (i.e. the rendering of content, especially HTML and embedded URLS). VRML inserts itself seamlessly in the Web's connectivity. VRML browsers can access other VRML files via an URL. They can access any other format that then is passed to another application (e.g. an HTML browser or a HTML window). On the other hand HTML browsers can be configured to fire up VRML helper applications (or plug-ins). HTTP servers, finally, can be configured to tell the client that a VRML (*.wrl) document is transferred.
 
A short word on its history: The major impulse for VRML can be traced back to a ``birds of the feature sessions'' on ``Virtual Reality Markup Languages'' at the First International Conference on the World-Wide-Web, May 25-27, 1994 at CERN in Geneva. It's conceptual origins are older, e.g. (a) Science Fiction literature (e.g. [Gibson, 1994], [Stephenson, 1992]), (b) Mark Pesce's, P. Kennard's and Toni Parisi's ``Labyrinth'' system ([Pesce et al., 1994]) and proposal for a 3-D navigation and representation scheme and (c) more generally 3-D computer graphics (including VR). Based upon SGI's ``Open Inventor'' format, a almost final draft for VRML 1.0 was presented at the second WWW conference in fall 94 in Chicago. On April 3, 1995 SGI presented WebSpace, the first publicly available VRML browser. So all in all it took about a year to set standards and make the first browser available. Since VRML is a relatively simple format building upon a well defined standard, very quickly a number of modeling tools and converters also became available.


In the late nineties VRML was almost dead. Since VRML was invented before we had cheap 3D cards, it was too slow. Gaming engines back then optimized speed (e.g. did a lot just with textures) and they built specialized rendering engines for specialized tasks, so games looked much better. In addition, companies like SGI who had the skills to build decent viewers and editors did not pursue long-term strategies, e.g. its Cosmo Division was sold to Platinum Technologies and soon thereafter the Cosmo Player was dead. Other, smaller companies were bought and killed by competition (e.g. Microsoft bought WorldView and then also sold it to Platinum. Others went broke for commercial reasons, e.g. the German company Blaxxun who did have a nice but overpriced virtual worlds server. Finally initiatives to build a virtual worlds standard (multi-user VRML) never made it.
'''Flux''' is a 3D software suite released by Media Machines which contains both Flux Player and Flux Studio.


{{quotation | The final insult occurred in 1999 during the VRML 1999 conference in Germany. While the Platinum VRML employees were out of the country manning the Platinum trade show booth, Platinum laid off the entire VRML division in a Monday morning blood bath. Within another month or two, Platinum itself was sold to Computer Associates, which inherited the VRML browsers and tools and currently sits on them.}} ([http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=822061]).
Flux Player is a [[X3DV]] viewer that is designed to work both as plugin in a [[HTML]]/[[XML]] viewer named Internet Explorer, and as standalone program, both inside activation-free Microsoft Windows Me. Flux Studio is a [[X3DV]] editor that is designed to work inside activation-free Microsoft Windows Me. Regardless of their design principles, both 3D programs supports Windows Me and higher.


VRML still survived all those years in niche markets. E.g. in education it remained popular to visualize complex objects (e.g. chemical molecules) and datastructures. It also was used to train procedures. Finally VRML as data format is used to display exported data from more sophisticated static CAD formats.
Flux Player and Flux Studio are freely downloadable for any usage under a proprietary [http://mediamachines.wordpress.com/license-agreement/ Flux Player and Flux Studio license].


VRML is back in a new form: [[X3D]] and most modern X3D clients also can display VRML code. By the way, Blaxxun also reemerged from its ashes. [[User:Daniel K. Schneider|Daniel K. Schneider]] believes that an open Web3D standard does have its future. While gaming engines (e.g. [[Neverwinter Nights]] or virtual environments like [[Second Life]] are easier to build with and prettier, they do lack the flexibility that the X3D (SAI/[[ECMAScript]]/[[AJAX3D]]) has.
Flux software is created and developed by [[Tony Parisi (software developer)|Tony Parisi]], who coworked with [[Mark Pesce]] on the development of the experimental Open Inventor based [[VRML]] prototype called Labyrinth. Tony Parisi went on to develop and retail [[Intervista Software|Intervista]]/[[Platinum Technology|PLATINUM]] WorldView, a professional-class VRML viewer, which introduced L-shaped navigation bar. Due to common authorship of both standard and software, Tony Parisi's [[X3DV]] line of software can be treated as default [[X3DV]] software for Web3D in Windows Me, as analogously Internet Explorer is default HTML/XML software for Web2D in Windows Me. Flux Studio can successfully import, manipulate and export *.WRL, *.X3DV and *.X3D files.


== Links ==
Initial joint distribution version of Flux Player 2.0 and Flux Studio 2.0 was released on February 21, 2007; while final joint distribution version of Flux Player 2.1 and Flux Studio 2.1 was released on May 28, 2007.<ref>[http://mediamachines.wordpress.com/ Media Machines]</ref>


* [http://www.web3d.org/ Web3D Consortium Home Page]
Flux itself is derived from Pivoron released on December 31, 2001; which features both Cosmo Software compatibility and fullscreen mode.<ref>[http://mediamachines.wordpress.com/ Media Machines]</ref>


== Software ==
== Fork ==


=== Clients ===
In May 2008, Media Machines software was forked as Vivaty software<ref>[http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=6437415 Business Week]</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWtU0TPC9GY You Tube]</ref><ref>[http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Application-Development/Second-Life-Rival-Vivaty-Opens-3D-Virtual-World-Platform E Week]</ref><ref>[http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20090614005734/http://www.mediamachines.com/index.html Media Machines]</ref>. The Flux Player and Flux Studio software were forked as Vivaty Player and Vivaty Studio.<ref>[http://www.exhibition3d.at/2008/05/15/fluxplayer-now-vivaty.html Exhibition 3D]</ref> However, in April 2010, Vivaty shut down<ref>[http://venturebeat.com/2010/03/31/vivaty-shuts-down-virtual-world Venture Beat]</ref><ref>[http://www.raphkoster.com/2010/03/31/vivaty-is-closing-down Raph Koster]</ref>, only to be subsequently acquired by [[Microsoft]]<ref>[http://www.engagedigital.com/2010/10/01/microsoft-buys-vivaty-for-new-project-may-be-looking-for-more-2 EngageDigital]</ref> and Vivaty Player along with Vivaty Studio are no longer available. Both Vivaty Player and Vivaty Studio are designed to work only in activation-featured Windows XP/Vista and higher<ref>[https://vivatyhelp.pbworks.com/w/page/13083636/System-Requirements Vivaty Help]</ref>, additionally, Vivaty never went beyond beta stage before its acquisition by Microsoft.


* For client software, see [[X3D]]. Most X3D clients also can handle VRML.
== See also ==


=== Other software ===
* [[Flux multi-user server]]
 
* [http://www2.hrp.no/vr/tools/chisel/ Chisel] Best (and free) optimizer for VRML code. I reduzes size and speeds up execution time, etc.
 
=== Multi-user servers ===
 
* [http://www.bonsurf.net/chats.htm Chats + Mondes 3D]
** The interface is in French
 
* [http://www.vr4all.net/ VR4All]. This is a free 3D world building and chat environment. It works with the BS Contact player.
** You can build an area and choose from various components that you can parametrize.
** The toolbox is on the lower left and it has tooltips. Then other tools may open (e.g. the construction tool).
** The interface is in French
** This is the first free VRML/X3D multi-user constructible world I have seen in a long time. Works smoothly on my "doorstopper" laptop (Dell XPS 1730/Nvidia GeForce 8700 M GT), according to [[User:Daniel K. Schneider|Daniel K. Schneider]].
 
* [http://www.vrspace.org/sdk/index.html VR SPACE] is a free cross-platform modular 3D community software. Features include chat, with live people or chatbots; ready-to-use application server, mail and news server plugins; persistence in text files or database; world editor, able to save VRML 'screenshots', and so on.
 
=== History ===
 
* [http://vrmlworks.crispen.org/history.html The History of VRML] As of Sept. 2010, last updated 2000.
* [http://www.feedmag.com/97.02pesce/97.02pesce.html The Great Leap Downward], Mark Pesce, 1997.


== References ==
== References ==


* Ames, A. L., Nadeau, D. R., et Moreland, J. L. (1996b). The VRML Sourcebook. Wiley, New York.
<references/>


* McCloskey, Bill, The Rise and Fall of VRML: Part 2, Blog entry. [http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=822061 HTML], retrieved 12:09, 22 May 2007 (MEST)
== Links ==


* Pesce, M. (1995). VRML, Browsing and Building Cyberspace. New Riders, Indianapolis.  
*[http://mediamachines.wordpress.com/flux-player-and-flux-studio/ Media Machines download] - Redistributables
*[http://mediamachines.wordpress.com/ Media Machines changelog] - Releases
*[http://www.hoise.com/primeur/06/articles/monthly/AE-PR-10-06-9.html Graphics Pioneer Tony Parisi appointed Grid Institute fellowship to advance Media Grid standards] - Origins
*[http://lamammals.blogspot.com/2007/02/new-flux-studio-20.html NEW! Flux Studio 2.0] - Availability
*[http://commerce.net/?s=flux Media Machines Open Sources Flux Player for X3D] - Importance
*[http://www.agocg.ac.uk/train/vrml2rep/part1/guide2.htm VRML Browsers] - Predecessors


* Pesce, M. D., Kennard, P., et S., P. A. (1994). Cyberspace. In Proceedings of The First International Conference on The World-Wide Web.
[[fr:Tutoriel Flux Studio]]
 
* Schneider, Daniel K. and Sylvere Martin-Michiellot (1998). VRML Primer and Tutorial, Online Tutorial. TECFA, University of Geneva. [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/vrml/vrmlman/vrmlman.html HTML].
 
* Stephenson, N. (1992). Snow Crash. Bantam.


[[Category: 3D]]
[[Category: Virtual environments]]
[[Category: Virtual environments]]
[[Category: 3D]]
[[Category: Web standards]]
[[Category: XML]]

Latest revision as of 11:02, 7 August 2012

Draft

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Labyrinth
WorldView
Pivoron Player 1.0
Flux Player 2.1 & Flux Studio 2.1

Definition

Flux is a 3D software suite released by Media Machines which contains both Flux Player and Flux Studio.

Flux Player is a X3DV viewer that is designed to work both as plugin in a HTML/XML viewer named Internet Explorer, and as standalone program, both inside activation-free Microsoft Windows Me. Flux Studio is a X3DV editor that is designed to work inside activation-free Microsoft Windows Me. Regardless of their design principles, both 3D programs supports Windows Me and higher.

Flux Player and Flux Studio are freely downloadable for any usage under a proprietary Flux Player and Flux Studio license.

Flux software is created and developed by Tony Parisi, who coworked with Mark Pesce on the development of the experimental Open Inventor based VRML prototype called Labyrinth. Tony Parisi went on to develop and retail Intervista/PLATINUM WorldView, a professional-class VRML viewer, which introduced L-shaped navigation bar. Due to common authorship of both standard and software, Tony Parisi's X3DV line of software can be treated as default X3DV software for Web3D in Windows Me, as analogously Internet Explorer is default HTML/XML software for Web2D in Windows Me. Flux Studio can successfully import, manipulate and export *.WRL, *.X3DV and *.X3D files.

Initial joint distribution version of Flux Player 2.0 and Flux Studio 2.0 was released on February 21, 2007; while final joint distribution version of Flux Player 2.1 and Flux Studio 2.1 was released on May 28, 2007.[1]

Flux itself is derived from Pivoron released on December 31, 2001; which features both Cosmo Software compatibility and fullscreen mode.[2]

Fork

In May 2008, Media Machines software was forked as Vivaty software[3][4][5][6]. The Flux Player and Flux Studio software were forked as Vivaty Player and Vivaty Studio.[7] However, in April 2010, Vivaty shut down[8][9], only to be subsequently acquired by Microsoft[10] and Vivaty Player along with Vivaty Studio are no longer available. Both Vivaty Player and Vivaty Studio are designed to work only in activation-featured Windows XP/Vista and higher[11], additionally, Vivaty never went beyond beta stage before its acquisition by Microsoft.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Media Machines
  2. ↑ Media Machines
  3. ↑ Business Week
  4. ↑ You Tube
  5. ↑ E Week
  6. ↑ Media Machines
  7. ↑ Exhibition 3D
  8. ↑ Venture Beat
  9. ↑ Raph Koster
  10. ↑ EngageDigital
  11. ↑ Vivaty Help

Links

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