| TECHNOLOGY |
OPEN |
IMPORTS
|
OS |
PLATFORMS |
FEATURES |
MARKET
|
SAMPLE |
PRICING
MODEL |
| B3D |
NO |
3D
Studio Max |
Windows
|
Stand-alone
player, Web browser |
Scalable
asset management and library architecture. Collaborative network authoring
(IDE) supports large productions. Complex behavior supported. Cross-media
integration via Javascript API. |
Entertainment
and episodic content |
Saw
Red |
Software license US$995
Free broadcast. |
| Pulse
3D |
NO |
3D
Studio Max, Maya |
Windows |
Web
browser,
RealMedia player
|
SMIL
support via RealMedia. Cross-media integration via Javascript API.
Complex behavior supported.
|
Entertainment
and episodic content |
Kung
Fu |
Free
software.
Annual domain license (up to five URLs) US$2500
|
| Viewpoint |
NO |
3D
Studio Max |
Windows
|
Web
browser |
Lightweight
playback and model manipulation. XML tags used to create behavior.
Cross-media integration via Javascript API. Limited behavior support
(no IK/Bones or Camera animation) |
Product
and brand visualisation |
Fold-up
scooter |
Annual
license fee is unspecified "based on features purchased and historical
unique visitor traffic." |
| Cult
3D |
NO |
3D
Studio Max, Alias Wavefront, Maya and Image Modeler |
Windows |
Web
browser, MS Office documents, Adobe Acrobat |
Lightweight
playback and model manipulation. Authoring tool used to add all behavior. |
Product
and brand visualisation |
Toy
Story Toybox |
Free
software.
Annual domain license US$500 for unlimited online content. |
| Worlds.com |
NO |
N/A |
Windows |
Stand-alone
player integrates to web browser |
Venerable
multi-user chat system which has had many owners without much evolution
of the technology. Player provides text chat, 3D navigation, and a
library of avatars and gestures to support 'body language'. Developer
tools are not publicly available, last available around 1996. Worlds
run a volunteer 'leader' programme to moderate communities. |
Multi-user
chat |
BowieNet
world |
Set-up
fee is unspecified. |
| blaxxun3D |
YES |
VRMl97,
X3D |
Windows,
CE MacOS, UNIX, EPOC, Be |
Web
browser, Java Virtual Machine |
Lightweight
Java-based multi-user server technology and avatar creator application. |
Multi-user
chat, Product and brand visualisation |
Virtual
Paris |
One-off
domain license US$499 |
| Shout
3D |
YES |
VRML97 |
Windows,
MacOS |
Web
browser |
Very
lightweight Java-based playback and authoring based on VRML97. Add-on
modules available for interactivity. |
Product
and brand visualisation |
Macy's
Passport 99 Fashion Show |
Software
license US$199 + interactivity modules required.
|
| VRML97
|
YES |
N/A |
Windows,
CE, MacOS, UNIX, Be |
Stand-alone
players, Web browser, Java Virtual Machine |
Universal
interchange format for integrating any geometry and behavior. Scope
of scene graph architecture limits real-time performance for many
web applications. |
Engineering,
software development, and scientific visualization |
WebEarth |
N/A |
| Java3D |
YES |
N/A |
Windows,
CE, MacOS, EPOC, UNIX, Be |
Java
Virtual Machine |
Java
3D provides a lower-level, platform API suitable for developing new
authoring applications.. Higher level (e.g. VRML) languages can be
layered on top of Java 3D. |
Engineering,
software development, and scientific visualization |
Flipcar |
N/A |
| X3D
|
YES |
N/A |
Windows,
CE, MacOS, UNIX, EPOC, Be |
Stand-alone
players, Java Virtual Machine |
Extensible
3D (X3D) Graphics allowing VRML geometry and behavior to be expressed
through XML. . |
Engineering,
software development, and scientific visualization |
Xj3D |
N/A |
| GLOSSARY |
back to table |
| OPEN |
YES if the technology framework is based
on a open or proprietary language and a standard programming framework.Open
standards for streaming 3D technology are coordinated by the Web3D
Consortium. |
| IMPORTS |
Commercial animation software and/or file
formats supported. Refer to the vendor site for supported versions.
|
| OS |
Operating systems supported for player
(authoring may not be available). Refer to the vendor site for supported
versions. |
| PLATFORMS |
Contexts in which content can be made available.
Refer to the vendor site for supported web browser versions. |
| FEATURES |
Distinguishing features and highlights
from thequality.com review |
| MARKET |
Target market as perceived by thequality.com
from vendor documentation and available applications.Technologies
may suitable for other markets. |
| SAMPLE |
An example of the technology in production |
| PRICING
MODEL |
Comparative pricing of standard license
for commercial interactive authoring and distribution. Many vendors
offer free, or watermarked, software for developers, non-commercial,
or educational publishing. All player software is free. |
muzak | books | pics
| flics | about