In an unusual show of unity, Microsoft Corp and Netscape Communications Corp are cooperating on the standardization of VRML, the 3D graphics virtual reality mark-up language for the Web (CI No 3,129). The announcement, which will free up development of three dimensional worlds and content on the Web, was among one of the more important boosts to 3D computing to come out of Siggraph in California. Until six months ago, any VRML tool kit has needed its own player which has meant users have been unable to view 3D content on a particular site. To the end users of VRML, the engineering efforts are of little concern. All they expect is to be able to experience content created upon an industry standard that behaves exactly the same regardless of the browser, stated Brian Blau, vice president of platform products at Intervista Software Inc. Developers want to concentrate on the content without regards for the requirements of dissimilar VRML browsers. Both Cosmo Software, a Silicon Graphics company and 3D technology specialist Intervista Software Inc have said they will collaborate to achieve standard interoperability between their VRML players, Cosmo player and Worldview. Netscape and Microsoft have said they will include identical versions of the VRML specification in their respective Version 4.0 Internet browsers. Netscape’s Communicator 4.0, which has reached 10m desktops since shipping in June, according to Netscape, includes the Cosmo Viewer. And Microsoft’s forthcoming Internet Explorer 4.0, set to ship in September, will include the Intervista viewer. VRML 2.0 has been accepted as an International Standards Organization draft and is expected to be finalized soon. Industry watchers say the spec is comprehensive enough so it won’t have to be updated for 18 months to 20 months.
