Out of the two new technologies being implemented, VRML is a more
viable and useful item than Java. VRML has a wide range of
applications that it can be used for, as compared to Java which
would only make a page "fancier".
I don't believe that it will ever be possible to make a world, where a
"player" can come along, insert his code into it and start moving around. I
also don't think that it should be attempted. Even if the bandwidth could
handle it (it can't!), chaos would ensue.
The VRML code is not taking much bandwith right now. As more and
more items get added to it, it will still take up only a small
section of bandwidth. Homepages with tons of graphics take up a
lot more bandwidth, and there is a lot of them out there. VRML
gives anyone the ability to have a user go into the VRML based
homepage and peruse more on a human level than a techie level.
Later on down the road, when people are shopping strictly on the
internet, an item like VRML could facilitate the look and feel of
shopping without being there. This would definitely help out
that industry, as compared to just having an animated logo using
Java.
I see VRML as a 3d graphics file format, with facilities to surf the web in
3D, nothing more. If we want to build games, let them be closed worlds (like
the current MUDs, DOOM etc) with people needing to download all
code/graphics necessary in order to play them.
The more intricate the VRML worlds get, they could be more than
just games. Students could peruse places in history, without
being there, using different models. People could go through
places that they either cannot afford to go to, or are limited by
security to go to (government offices, archives, etc.).
VRML will allow the computer to adapt to the user, instsad of the
user adapting to the computer. Isn't this what most people wish
for in any computer/environment? From what futurist and the
general public have stated/demanded, I believe they do.
Mike Stemmler
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Mike Stemmler, EMJ Data, RR6, Highway 24 South, Guelph, ON N1H 6J3
Phone: (519) 837-2444 x 299 Fax: (519) 837-8935 anon ftp soon avail.
email: mikes@emj.ca uucp:..hookup.net!emjhq!mikes http://www.emj.ca(na)
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