Virtual Reality for EC

1
Virtual Reality for E-C

• Ralph Westfall
• May, 2001

2
What Sells Well on the Web?

• books
• CDs
• software
• financial services (stock trading)
• travel reservations
• computers
• other?

3
What About?

• clothing
• cars
• houses
• furniture
• perishables fresh fruit, vegetables, meat
• other?

4
Conclusions

• standardized products sell well on web
• customers know what they are, what they do
• price service become major issues
• less standardized products that vary in quality
  don't sell as well
  
• people want to see and try them before purchasing

5
Can Virtual Reality Help?

• ability to view an object from all angles
• but still can't
• touch, feel, try on
• taste
• smell

6
Virtual Reality on the Web

• see things in three dimensions with VR
• similarities to virtual reality entertainment
• dont need a VR headset, gloves, etc. to use
• may use VR equipment with computer in future
• could transform HTML into a 3D system
• 3D environment for 2D images, text, scripts, and
  multimedia
  
• instead of 2D desktop

7
Potential Web VR Applications

• on Internet or organizational intranets
• entertainment
• shopping
• real estate sales
• education/training
• decision support systems (DSS)
• analysis and decision making

8
VRML

• virtual reality modeling language
• VRML (pronounced vermal)
• language for creating 3D images
• standardized 3D data interchange format for other
  3D applications
  

9
VRML Capabilities

• translation change position
• scaling change size
• rotation 3 different ways to turn (X, Y, Z)
• lighting/shading
• perspective
• texturizing surfaces
• camera points of view

10
Example of VRML Code
VRML V1.0 ascii cone.wrl (hotlink to this fil
ename) Separator Material diffuseColor 1
1 0 Cone parts ALL bot
tomRadius 0.7 height 1.5
11
Using VRML on the Web

• not built into (even latest) major browsers
• have to install VRML plugins for Netscape
• Microsoft had a VRML 2.0 Viewer for IE 4
• VRML not supported in Windows 2000
• 3rd party add-on for IE 5
• http//www.gamespot.com/3dgallery/

12
VRML Limitations

• very difficult to create content without tools
• based on geometric figures
• cone, cube, cylinder, sphere
• VR window not integrated with browser
• but may have HTML support inside
• navigation doesn't seem easy, natural
• poor performance (older machines, slow
  connections)

13
VR Demonstrations

• http//www.gamespot.com/3dgallery/
• http//www.ipix.com/

14
Creating VR Applications

• different kinds of authoring tools
• drawing program generates VRML
• stitching photographs together
• gaming systems adapted to commercial use
• Java 3D can create VR images

15
VR Tools

• free software
• search for VRML, 3D, virtual reality
• http//www.zdnet.com/swlib/specials/free.html
• commercial software
• 3D Studio Max
• http//www2.discreet.com/animation/

16
VRML Conclusions

• VRML may not be best VR solution
• OK in specialized niches
• organizational applications
• training/education
• CAD languages rather than VRML?
• 3D Max is from Autodesk, Inc.

17
Gaming Systems for VR

• use UnrealEd game editor for business VR
• http//www.vrndproject.com/vrndfr.htm
• download (need 233 MHz Pentium II or better)
• http//www.unrealty.net/
• formerly needed game CD!

18
Unreal VRML

• create in a 3D authoring tool
• e.g. 3D Studio Max
• export as VRML data
• import into UnrealEd and finish there

19
Gaming for VR References

• Gelmis, J. Playing With the Big Kids, Newsday
  http//www.newsday.com/plugin/ccov0929.htm
  
• Sweeney, T. Unreal Technology FAQ,
  http//unreal.epicgames.com/UnrealTechFaq.htm

20
Exercise

• Do one of the following
• find examples of VR or 3D on web
• other than 3D gifs or VRML
• find sources of free VRML objects
• download to diskette