Navigation PadWindows NT, Windows95
©Integrated Data Systems, Inc. 1995.
All Rights Reserved
The V•Realm Browser is a Windows application that makes is possible to browse VRML and HTML files. The feature that sets this browser apart is its ability to browse full motion worlds and interact with them as well as read standard HTML files with no additional input from the user other than a URL to be displayed.
The V•Realm Browser allows the user to fully interact with the surroundings that are loaded from the URL specified by the user. If the user wishes, he/she can save favorite positions in a world to a position list that can be recalled when the user returns to the world at a later time.
Software Requirements
The software requirements to run V•Realm are Windows NT or Windows95
Hardware Requirements
To successfully run V•Realm you should have a minimum:
[486/66 processor
[8 Mb memory
[256 color display driver and graphics card (High Color recommended)
Download V•Realm
[V•Realm for Windows NT, Windows95]
Installation
Installation for Windows NT and Windows95
The V•Realm release for Windows NT and Windows95 has a Windows setup program.
To install from WindowsNT: From FIle Manager, locate the file you downloaded (vrlmb04.exe),and double click on it. This will begin the installation process.
To install from Windows95: Click on the Start button, choose Run, Browse. locate the downloaded file (vrlmb04.exe), and then run it.
Recommended Browser
V•Realm can be run either in stand-alone mode or in conjunction with a World Wide Web browser. We recommend using Netscape for Windows version 2.0 (32 bit).
[Netscape 2.0]
HTML Browser Configuration
Configuring Netscape 2.0 for V•Realm
1. Select the Options/Preferences menu item.
2. Select the Helper Applications item in the pull-down.
3. Click the New Type button.
4. In the Configure New MIME type dialog, enter:
For MIME Type: x-world
For MIME Subtype: x-vrml
5. In the Extensions field, enter: .wrl
6. In the Action group box, click Launch Application.
7. In the text entry field, enter: C:\PROGRAM FILES\VREALM\VREALM.EXE
Navigation
[Navigation through use of icons ]
[Navigation through use of menus ]
V•Realm Icon Navigation
Navigation Pad
The Navigation Pad allows the user to select the direction to move by clicking on a direction in the pad or by clicking in the pad and dragging the mouse in a direction. The speed and movement is relevant to the position of the pointer. When the pointer is at the center of the Navigation Pad movement will be slow. When the pointer is at the edge of the Navigation Pad movement will be fast.
Constant movement can be achieved by double clicking on the Navigation Pad. This will start the hands-free movement and will cause the movement in the view window to track with the movement of the mouse in the Navigation Pad area. While in this mode you can move the cursor anywhere within the Navigation Pad area and the scene will track with the movement. To stop the constant movement, just double click again in the Navigation pad area or on the viewing screen.
NOTE: Constant movement only works in Walk mode or Fly mode.
The movement simulated here can be executed by use of the mouse in the viewing area of the scene. You can place the mouse at a location, press the left mouse button and hold it down, while holding the mouse button down you can drag the mouse in the direction you want to move. You will notice that an arrow will be displayed in the viewer area. This arrow will be in the direction you pulled the mouse and its magnitude will be determined by the amount of space you pulled the mouse.
Model Mode
The Model Mode Icon will set the current view mode to the model mode. The model mode allows you to inspect objects you encounter. This inspection can be from any angle or perspective. You can move the object up to look at the bottom, turn it over or rotate it. This mode is only for the exploration of objects that you encounter along the way in your travels through the worlds that you will visit. You will need to stop the movement of the model mode before you will be able to change back to one of the other movement modes.
>To move forward, left click the top of the navigation pad
>To move backward, left click the bottom of the navigation pad
>To move left, left click on the left side of the navigation pad
>To move right, left click on the right side of the navigation pad
>To slide up, right click on the top of the navigation pad
>To slide down, right click on the bottom of the navigation pad
>To slide right, right click on the right side of the navigation pad
>To slide left, right click on the left side of the navigation pad
>Rotate object by dragging cursor on the screen
Walk Mode
The Walk Mode Icon will set the current view mode to walk mode. The walk mode will be the most used movement mode you will use. It simulates the action of human walking through the worlds that you will visit.
>To move forward, left click the top of the navigation pad
>To move backward, left click the bottom of the navigation pad
>To move left, left click on the left side of the navigation pad
>To move right, left click on the right side of the navigation pad
>To slide up, right click on the top of the navigation pad
>To slide down, right click on the bottom of the navigation pad
>To slide right, right click on the right side of the navigation pad
>To slide left, right click on the left side of the navigation pad
Fly Mode
The Fly Mode Icon will set the current view mode to fly mode.
>To move forward, left click the top of the navigation pad
>To move backward, left click the bottom of the navigation pad
>To move left, left click on the left side of the navigation pad
>To move right, left click on the right side of the navigation pad
>To tilt up, right click on the top of the navigation pad
>To tilt down, right click on the bottom of the navigation pad
>To tilt right, right click on the right side of the navigation pad
>To tilt left, right click on the left side of the navigation pad
NOTE: The movements list above for Model, Walk and Fly modes are standard movement directions. Incremental movements can be made by choosing the diagonal positions from the navigation pad to obtain the diagonal movement.
Heading Indicator
The Heading Indicator displays the current movement direction. Click and hold the left mouse on the red indicator and drag it around the compass to the direction you wish to go.
In Fly mode, the Artificial Horizon Pad displays the current horizon angle from the normal horizon.
Not used in Walk or Model modes
Options
The Options Icon will open a dialog box that will allow the user to set values for navigation and rendering. Rendering quality can be set by selecting the desired quality through the pull-down menu. The rendering options can also be toggled on or off by clicking the desired options. The movement speed, sensitivity, and camera height can be increased or decreased by entering the desired number.
View Position List
These buttons control a list of pre-defined and user-defined positions that can be chosen, added to or deleted from. The select button brings up the list. The user can select the desired position, then click either the Jump To button to go directly to the desired position or the Go To button to move gradually to the desired position.
Reset
The Reset button will restore the initial view of the world that the user is currently viewing. This option does not reload the location from its home position.
Back Location 
Forward Location
Move back and forward through the URL location history. There is no limit to the number of URLs that can be saved in the URL list that can be easily jumped to by use of the back or forward buttons. The use of these buttons will be limited where there are not any locations to go forward to or back from. In other words, if you have only one world listed currently in your URL list you will not be able to jump forward or backward in the list. If you are at the first of three locations in your URL list you can jump forward in your list to another location but you will not be able to jump back because there are no locations behind the location you are currently viewing. If however, you are at the second of three locations you will be able to jump both forward and backward to locations in your URL list. When the options are valid you will notice that the back and forward buttons will be dark, but when the options are not, they will be faded.
Home Location
The Home Icon will load the IDS Homepage. This icon will be solid when this option is available but will be shaded when it is not valid.
Reload Location
The Reload Icon will reload the current URL. The location will reconnect to the server and download the information needed for the creation of the world again from scratch.
Open Location (This option is not available on this release.)
The Open Location Icon will open a specified URL.
Find Location (This option is not available on this release.)
The Find Location Icon will find the specified URL.
Print (This option is not available on this release.)
The Print File Icon allows the user to print active document.
Stop Download
Allows the user to stop downloading the current URL.