The 3D Web is here.
The technology that's making it happen today is Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML). You can get started on the 3D Web right now. That's what the VRMLworks is here for -- from picking a free browser, to visiting some of the worlds and virtual communities on the Web, to building your own worlds, to populating those worlds with free 3D models, to books, tutorials, tools, and resources, the VRMLworks is here to help.
Best of all, you can get started today and keep your wallet in your pocket.
If you like frames, just click on the keywords on the left and the little pointer will show you where you are. If you hate frames, the same links are on the main pages; just pretend the stuff on the left is a nice decoration.
Viewing VRML WorldsSo, first things first. Let's find out how to select a VRML browser, how to get one, and how to use it.
Visiting Some VRML WorldsGot your VRML browser? Good, let's take a look at some worlds. By the way, we call these things "worlds", but they don't actually contain the geometry for the whole earth and all the objects on it (so you have some hope of downloading them in your lifetime). Some of them are rooms, some are virtual communities, some are pretty elaborate cities or dungeons, and others are galleries or scenes or just single objects.
Building Your Own WorldsWant to build a VRML world of your own? It's not as hard as you think. Here's all the details.
VRML Models and TexturesStart building VRML worlds the easy way with these free models and textures, plus some other high-quality models and textures you can buy.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe USENET newsgroup comp.lang.vrml didn't have a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). I grabbed some of the most frequently asked questions and answers posted to that group and put them together.
HistoryFortunately the originators of VRML have been not only literate but literary. If you want to know why things are the way they are in VRML, you have to look at our history.
Cyberspace and Virtual CommunitiesYup, you heard it right. Cyberspace. Like William Gibson and Bruce Sterling have been writing about. Some folks are living in cyberspace right now. They're even giving away free software and avatars so you can jack in (uh, well, they don't quite have that part down) from the comfort of your own computer room. Find out what's happened so far, what problems have to be solved, and what's coming.
EssaysI've written a few essays on VRML, and I'll be converting and putting them here as time goes by.
TechnicalSome technical topics that interest me that may affect the future development of VRML.
Grab Some IconsThink the icons we have here to identify VRML 1.0, 2.0 and Live3D worlds are useful? Grab some for your own webpage.
PrivacyWhat? You still visit sites that don't tell you up front what their privacy policy is? Read ours.
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| A Note on What's Here: I generally don't have time to go link-harvesting (grabbing links from other people's lists). I found out about most of the links on these pages from newsgroup and list postings, email from friends and colleagues, and from my own treasure hunting. So whenever you see some Meta Lists (lists of links) be sure to check them out for resources I've missed. |
| Copyright: The pages and materials in the VRMLworks are Copyright © 1995-2000 by Bob Crispen, all rights reserved. Because of bitter experience with people who have copied these pages verbatim but failed to keep them up to date (they even kept the mailto: links so I got the complaints), the pages on this site may not be mirrored elsewhere without prior written permission. You may make copies of any of the pages and materials on the VRMLworks for personal use, but this use does not include their publication on the Web, in print, or in any other form. |
Did I leave something out or get something wrong? Let me know.