| Q&A |
 Stephen
N. Matsuba
Director of Research and Content Development
Yumetech, Inc. - January
2006 |
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"We
have tested Xj3D’s performance against other X3D
browsers, and we have found that using Java has little
or no effect on performance. In fact, Xj3D often displays
X3D files with faster frame rates than the C++-based
browsers."
<
XJ3D |
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| Q1 |
A
brief presentation of Yumetech and Xj3D. |
| A1 |
Yumetech,
Inc. was formed to develop innovative and compelling real-time,
networked 3D computer graphics applications. Its founders, recognized
experts in their fields with eight books and numerous articles
to their credit, bring a variety of knowledge and experience
to the company. The company has worked on real-time 3D graphics
projects for North Dakota State Univeristy, Sun Microsystems,
NASA and the U.S. Military. We offer full life cycle software
development to companies and institutions that wish to develop
3-D interactive material for CD-ROM, the Internet and dedicated
networks. We help companies and organizations develop effective
and compelling content and/or software for online training and
education, real-time networked simulations, visualization systems
for data-mining and information retrieval, marketing, and entertainment.
We are committed to the promotion of both open standards
and open source initiatives. One example of this commitment
is our effort as, the primary developers of the Xj3D toolkit.
The Xj3D Toolkit is an open source API for developing an X3D/VRML
97 compliant applications, and is the sample implementation
and test bed for the X3D specification. It can used on several
operating platforms—Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris
and IRIX—and has had over 50,000 downloads. Yumetech
maintains over 1 million lines of open source code including
the Xj3D project, Aviatrix3D and j3d.org codebases.
Xj3D is a complete application toolkit. It includes file loaders,
animation and scripting components, as well as a native binary
file reader that can significantly reduce file sizes and loading
times. It also includes support for immersive devices such
as CAVE devices, HMDs, and the Elumens dome. A number of new
extensions have been added to Xj3D including:
• Rigid Body Physics,
• Particle Systems,
• Clipping planes,
• Picking Utilities, and
• an Abstract Device IO.
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| Q2 |
Is
Xj3D 100% Java? Is it possible to integrate Xj3D Browser in
another Java Application? |
| A2 |
Xj3D
is a pure Java implementation and can be readily integrated
into other Java applications. In fact, much of the work we do
at Yumetech is to do just that. We also know that Xj3D has been
successfully used in Java-based applications done by other developers.
One example is Biolucida project developed by Wayne V. Warren
at the University of Washington’s Structural Informatics
Group (SIG). |
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| Q3 |
Java
is considering to be slow in 3D rendering. What are the 3D performances
of XJ3D compared to other 3D engine (like Shockwave)? Is it
possible to display very large files with XJ3D (more than 500
000 poly)? |
| A3 |
We
have tested Xj3D’s performance against other X3D browsers,
and we have found that using Java has little or no effect on
performance. In fact, Xj3D often displays X3D files with faster
frame rates than the C++-based browsers. And Xj3D is capable
of displaying very large files at an acceptable frame rate. |
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| Q4 |
Is
it possible to create "Java Web Start" applications
with XJ3D? |
| A4 |
Absolutely.
We have done Java Web Start implementations with Xj3D in a number
of our projects. |
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| Q5 |
Is
XJ3D supporting bump mapping, reflection maps ? |
| A5 |
Xj3D
supports the X3D Multitexture nodes. These nodes allow content
to create bump and reflection mapped scenes. Xj3D also has a
render to texture extension to enable the creation of dynamically
varying environment maps. |
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| Q6 |
Most
3DS Max users still cant export their bump, lightmap or reflection
map with current VRML export? Is there a way to export those
parameters without coding? |
| A6 |
The
X3D standard uses normal maps for its bump map format. NVidia
has a Photoshop plug-in that allows you to take height maps
and convert them into normal maps. Octaga Exporter allows 3DS
Max users to convert their 3DS models into X3D with their bump
reflection maps. Dave Arendash has also been working on a new
3DSMax exporter which maps more functions to X3D. |
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| Q7 |
X3D
specifications include Shaders support. Will pixel & vertex
shaders be available on XJ3D? |
| A7 |
Yes.
We are working hard to secure funding to allows us to implement
the X3D Shader Component into Xj3D. |
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| Q8 |
Is
XJ3D Open Source? |
| A8 |
Yumetech
has always maintained that the open source movement is the way
to providing stability and longevity to our software and content
projects. That is why we have released the Xj3D Toolkit and
other products using the LGPL license. LGPL allows developers
to use Xj3D to develop and distribute their own X3D-based applications
without having to pay any licensing fees. Moreover since the
code is freely available, developers will be able to implement
future hardware devices and operating systems. |
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| Q9 |
What
sort of applications is it possible to develop with XJ3D (simulation,
e-learning, games)? |
| A9 |
This
question like asking what can you build with a hammer. Xj3D
has a specific purpose: to create real-time 3D applications
using the X3D standard. However, this domain is so flexible
that you can do practically anything you want. Yumetech has
developed training and simulation applications using Xj3D. We
have also used it for projects involving visualizing sensor
data. Other developers have used it for educational applications.
It has been used for medical visualization and education. Yumetech
has also done a 3D game using Xj3D. The possibilities are truly
endless. |
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| Q10 |
Do
XJ3D mean the end of proprietary VRML/X3D players such as Cortona
or BS Contact? |
| A10 |
Not
at all. The key to the success of the X3D standard is the plethora
of browser implementations by different vendors. Having multiple
vendors means that the X3D standard is not at the mercy of a
single commercial entity. Each X3D browser implementation has
its own strengths, and no one can provide a browser that fits
the needs of everyone. In fact, the future evolution of X3D
will be far better by having different browser vendors competing
to be the most conformant and the most innovative. Yumetech
not only welcomes the competition; we think it makes what we
do that much better. |
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