>A number of people have voiced concern about the progress of VRML,
>specifically concerning the inconsistent and unstable browsers. Well here's
>a question: What role would you all like to see the government play?
>
>[...]
Thanks for your generous offer to help out the VRML community, Sandy. It's
nice to see a government employee actively seeking out ways to help
citizens for a change. Maybe there's something in the water at NIST?
In any case, though, I don't think the VRML community would welcome any
government-sponsored "help" at this point. (You may have surmised this from
earlier responses to your post.) VRML--no, wait, let's be broader here--the
virtual world tools and technologies community is at an embryonic stage
where standard-blessing is inappropriate and outside interference could be
harmful. Many people have different visions of where VRML and related
standards can and should go. The only proper entity to choose one vision
over another is the free market. We *must* allow a multitude of tool
builders, technology vendors, and world creators to hash these issues out
without standards bodies and their cousins becoming involved in the
process.
Standards bodies and conformance testing groups are more appropriate when
fundamental decisions about technology have been made, widespesad agreement
has been reached, and compatbility is paramount. For example, I am
personally happy to have the CCITT setting standards like V.34 (he says,
patting his Global Village PC Card). However, VRML and related efforts are
many years away from such a time.
Again, thanks!
-- Frank
Frank Boosman | Cary, NC USA | frank.boosman@virtus.com
Virtus Corporation | http://www.virtus.com | 919 467-9700 x18