Khronos Launches Initiative For Standards-Based 3-D Web Content

xororand writes "The initiative called 'Accelerated 3D on the web' has been formed by the Khronos consortium with the goal to define an open standard for 3D content on the web, using OpenGL and ECMAscript, as it was suggested by Mozilla developers. 'The Khronos(TM) Group today announced an initiative to create an open, royalty-free standard for bringing accelerated 3D graphics to the Web. In response to a proposal from Mozilla, Khronos has created an "Accelerated 3D on Web" working group that Mozilla has offered to chair. This royalty-free standard will be developed under the proven Khronos development process with a target of a first public release within 12 months.' Unlike previous attempts to establish 3D standards for the web, this one might be actually successful due to the use of existing open standards, and the increasing performance of ECMAscript engines."

Comments

Re:This is awesome!

[0racle]

Keep thinking because 3d in the browser was already done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRML

Open source 3D web has already begun

[rexping]

First prototype of the 3D web is already run at thousands of Opensim servers all around the globe. The 3D Web bears similarities to 2D Web; Users can follow links to teleport from a 3D world to another one. 3D Viewers are used to browse the 3D content on the servers. Check it out here: IT giants back up open source 3D Web.

Re:I See A Vision, A Vision of ... ActiveX

[99BottlesOfBeerInMyF]

I think it's useful to develop an open web 3d standard, despite the dancing GIF animations it brings to mind. What I foresee is either MS or MS sock puppet(s) getting a seat at the table. Suddenly, "Open" ActiveX is the solution.

Umm, do you have any idea who the Khronos group is? It's Apple, Sun, Id, Creative, Sony, Intel, AMD/ATI, and NVIDIA among others. They make OpenGL and pretty much all of them have a vested interest in keeping the standards open and usable by everyone and NOT controlled by Microsoft. The main purpose behind Khronos these days is to provide a usable alternative to DirectX.

Re:I See A Vision, A Vision of ... ActiveX

[Symbolis]

Promoting Members and Contributing Members of Khronos Group

Re:plugins

[DragonWriter]

Erm shouldn't fancy stuff like 3d acceleration be handled by plug-ins not browsers?

3D acceleration can be handled anywhere; what I don't see is why a "web standard" is needed for it. You need a web standard for description and behavior of particular content (e.g., things like HTML, or more relevant to 3D content, VRML or X3D), acceleration shouldn't need to be part of the standard at all, it should be part of the implementation tailored to the hardware and software (OS, etc.) environment of the implementation. You might have a standard API for 3D acceleration (OpenGL for instance), and certainly, because you are dealing with closely related content, the object model for a web standard might be similar to parts of the object model around which an acceleration API is based, but still ought to be separate standards, and if you bind them too tightly you are going to mix concerns that don't belong together.

Mr. Document meet Mr. Hack

[pdxdada]

If I remember my history, HTML started as a way to store linked information. Then it was badly hacked to be a way to poorly layout documents. Then java script was stapled onto it. Then the whole mess was turned into the kluge that is ajax. Now someone's trying to duct tape 3-D onto that.

I for one look forward to a day when the web is a more dynamic environment, where information is presented more fluidly instead relying on the old metaphor of static published pages, but I can't believe this is a sane way forward. It seems like instead of looking for a better way to present information they're just duct taping crap onto the same old model. Kind of like achieving flight by strapping a rocket motor to horse drawn carriage.

You are obviously running AdBlock+

[DrYak]

but we all know that you're just going to have 3d rotating logs, 3d menus and other such junk more than anything else.

Ok. Obvisouly, your favorite browser FireFox and you're using AdBlock+ and/or noscript on a regular basis.

Just turn them off for 10 minutes and try to surf the web. Keep sharp and pointed object away from you as you might get tempted to gouge your eyes in the process.

Yes, probably a couple of geocities- and myspace- like pages will get useless 3d gizmos.

But the most massive usage that the other users of the web are going to endure are even more obtrusive animated advertisements. (As if full-screen out-of-the-browser-window flash animations weren't enough).

Prepare for giant rotating 3D renders of "p1lls", "r0lex replicaz", etc...

Well. That, and porn.

Re:This is awesome!

[salarelv]

VRML is dead language but there is also a newer one - 3DMLW. Its open source and there seems to be active development on a newer version.