Researchers develop 3D graphics capability for Firefox
- — 04 March, 2010 01:20
A group of researchers plans to release a version of the Firefox browser that includes the built-in ability to view 3D graphics, a capability that could open the door for more interactive Web pages from developers.
Some gaming companies have created plug-ins that allow 3D graphics to be viewed, but the latest method does not require one, which potentially would allow the capability to be used by more people, said Philipp Slusallek, a professor at Saarland University, at the Cebit trade show on Wednesday.
There are two ways to generate a three-dimensional image for a two-dimensional screen: rasterization and real-time ray tracing. What the researchers have done is developed faster software for performing real-time ray tracing, which is also aided by today's faster processors, Slusallek said.
They've integrated that real-time ray tracing technology, called RT Fact, into Firefox and Webkit, the rendering engine for browsers such as Safari and Chrome, Slusallek said. The images are then described using XML3D, part of the HTML Web programming language, and the browser can natively render the 3D scene.
"With the integration of HTML, it means that every Web programmer can directly apply their entire knowledge to 3D," Slusallek said.
During a demo at the Cebit trade show, Slusallek showed how a Wikipedia entry on Venice can be gussied up with a 3D graphic of one of the city's palaces. "You can stand on the balcony and actually look at Venice from the top floor," Slusallek said.
The researchers plan to release a version of Firefox with RT Fact, although they're checking with Mozilla to see if they can call the browser Firefox. They expect to release the modified browser within a week or two.
Slusallek said they would like the technology to be embraced by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which is responsible for creating Web standards, in the hope that other software vendors will integrate the technology in their browsers.
The technology "is ready to go," Slusallek said. "You can see it works."
RT Fact was also developed by the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence and the Intel Visual Computing Institute at Saarland University in Germany.
Comments
John
1
"There are two ways to generate a three-dimensional image for a two-dimensional screen: rasterization and real-time ray tracing."
Or just normal ray tracing. If you are only generating an image it doesn't necessarily need to be in real time.
Also, there is image based rendering, light field rendering, and other interesting methods. Rasterization and ray tracing are two of many.
molly
2
This is bound to fail. It won't render in any other browser than theirs. Contrary to what the article says, "XML3D" is not part of HTML. I couldn't find a specification anywhere, and their site is down. Why do they think anyone will install their browser? To view nonexistant content in an unknown format?
There are more than enough browser plugins for 3D content: VRML/X3D plugins, Flash, Quicktime etc. They all failed because people won't install plugins, and because plugins are opaque and don't integrate well with web pages in terms of user experience and accessibility.
With the standardization of WebGL as part of HTML, and X3D that has been a standard for years, an alternative is in sight. There are already promising attempts to inline X3D in HTML, viewable in upcoming versions of Firefox, Webkit and Chrome: http://x3dom.org . There's no reason to reinvent in-browser 3D once more with yet another obscure XML dialect, when there are standards and pluginless solutions in sight.
Joe
3
The technology "is ready to go," Slusallek said. "You can see it works."...
No, no we can't. Why would you post an article like this with no video or any image to illustrate the point?
Steve
4
@John:
You’re splitting hairs. RT Fact is a faster ray tracer, and this is quite beneficial if you are trying to ray-trace in real time.
unimpressed
5
No thanks. I have no time for the novelty that is 3d. Go back to the 50's please.
Steve
6
Video here, by the way:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/190666/researchers_develop_3d_graphics_capability_for_firefox.html
Chris
7
@Molly - This is not a plugin, they have built it into both Firefox and webkit which means both Safari and Chrome could both support it natively.
We will have to wait and see, but to take the stance of "why would they create another method for in-browser 3D" is just like saying why did they create HTML5, we already had HTML4 or why did Mozilla and Google release Browsers when we already had IE and Safari. They are trying to create a better way to show 3D in a browser without plugins, and that is the whole goal to improve upon what we already have not settle.
G-G
8
"There are two ways to generate a three-dimensional image for a two-dimensional screen: rasterization and real-time ray tracing."
Exactly, rasterization, ray tracing and radiosity. Oh, wait...
Anthony Vivaldi
9
@unimpressed - I think you are mistaken about what they mean by 3D.. We're not talking about red-and-blue glasses or polarized like Avatar... Just rendering 3D graphics in a browser window.