1. Q: What is WebSpace Navigator?
A: WebSpace Navigator (formerly called WebSpace, which is now the product family name) is the first commercially available 3D viewer for the World Wide Web. Users can navigate to 3D Web sites through conventional 2D page viewers or simply run WebSpace Navigator standalone. WebSpace Navigator is a freely distributed product from Silicon Graphics Computer Systems. Template Graphics Software has licensed WebSpace Navigator from Silicon Graphics and ported it to other platforms.
3D on the World Wide Web enables a large variety of new applications and markets, such as city planning, interactive preview of product catalogs, games, collaborative engineering, scientific publications, virtual reality, information visualization, and education. WebSpace Navigator has an incredibly easy to use 3D navigation interface that does not require special training or previous experience.
See the WebSpace Navigator datasheet for more information.
2. Q: Which platforms does WebSpace Navigator run on?
3. Q: How fast does WebSpace Navigator run on PCs, Macs, and other various machines?
A:WebSpace Navigator runs surprisingly well on PC (486) class machines and up. The navigation and visual experience on low-end machines will not be as complex, but nonetheless is extremely fun and effective. Users on low-end machines will probably rely on guided-tour and point-and-click seek navigation rather than free roaming, due to the performance capabilities of today's personal computers. These techniques have proven to be just as appealing and effective (e.g. Myst).
WebSpace Navigator uses the VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) to describe 3D data and worlds. VRML is a platform- independent specification language for 3D worlds on the World Wide Web. This language has support for a variety of features necessary to deliver a rich, interactive experience regardless of the platform. For example, the LevelOfDetail feature provides for multiple versions of objects so that authors can create low complexity to high complexity versions of their objects. This feature is used by the viewer to automatically choose the most appropriate level of detail for fast graphics performance. Another feature is the WWW Inline object that allows authors to build worlds that are composed of other VRML files (described by a WWW URL). This allows authors to build worlds in which the data defining the world is loaded only if the user gets close to it. The WWW Inline feature makes it possible to create infinitely scalable worlds. Another feature that assists interactivity on low-end machines is the WWWAnchor and "# syntax" already supported in HTML documents. This allows 3D worlds to have links to other worlds and documents. Authors can now create links to viewpoints within a world, thus allowing guided tours within a world. The guided tour feature will allow users to navigate through 3D worlds without having to `fly' - this results in dramatically fewer redraws. Lastly, WebSpace Navigator has a point-and-click seek navigation function that gives users an intuitive interface for 3D navigation - you simply point to a place in the world and WebSpace Navigator takes you there.
4. Q: What kind of network bandwidth is needed to support 3D on the Web?
A: Nothing additional is required in the way of bandwidth to support 3D on the Web. VRML, as it is currently defined, is already a very compact file format by nature of the fact that it is a high level language which represents complex features with minimal text. The real work is done by the browser on the local machine. The browser interprets the text, builds the appropriate geometry, and displays the motion.
Additionally, several opportunities exist for making files even more compact. WebSpace Author provides utilities which strip away unnecessary decimal values from vertex coordinates, which remove white space from each line in the file, and which restructures the scene to remove redundancies. Finally, standard compression routines such as gzip or Unix compress can be run on the files. WebSpace Navigator automatically uncompresses these files for viewing.
5. Q: What is VRML?
A: VRML is an acronym for Virtual Reality Modeling Language. It is a file format specification for describing 3D models, scenes, and worlds to be shared and viewed on the World Wide Web. It does for 3D, what HTML (HyperText Markup Language) does for 2D. See the VRML "spec" for details on the history, mission, and formal specification.
6. Q: How do I create and author 3D worlds?
A: There are a variety of existing 3D content creation products available on the market, ranging from animation systems to visual simulation modeling tools to CAD applications to scientific tools. Most of these tools can be used to create content that can be converted into VRML, either directly or via the Open Inventor file format. Silicon Graphics will soon release WebSpace Author, an application designed for creating professional 3D Web content.
7. Q: What is the relationship between WebSpace and WebFORCE?
A: WebSpace is a product line within Silicon Graphics' WebFORCE family of hardware and software products for authoring and serving on the World Wide Web.
8. Q: When and How can I get WebSpace Navigator? How much does it cost?
A: Get details on product availability from the WebSpace Navigator Availability page.