FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Neil Trevett Deepak Kamlani President, Web3D Consortium Interprise Ventures 408-530-4750 925-277-8110 [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] VRML Consortium Expands Charter to Become Web3D Consortium Name change reflects expanded charter to provide a suite of interoperating standards for 3D on the Internet; Consortium initiating definition of next-generation lightweight component standards for 3D Web & broadcast applications San Ramon, CA -Dec 15, 1998 - The VRML Consortium today announced that its membership has ratified an expanded charter to include multiple technologies for 3D on the Internet. Previously, the Consortium would only consider VRML-based proposals; but now the invitation is open for other technologies to be considered for standardization. The goal of the new charter is to create a suite of interoperating standards targeted at specific market segments. To reflect this new expanded charter, the consortium is now called the Web3D Consortium. The Web3D Consortium has also initiated an internal, fast-paced process to define an interoperable set of lightweight and extensible component 3D standards to flexibly address the needs of a wide range of Internet and broadcast applications. This process has the backing and support of key industry members and is expected to promote interoperability with standards such as DHTML, XML, DOM and MPEG-4 to encourage the ubiquitous deployment of reliable 3D content. Under its new charter, the Web3D Consortium will be able to leverage its reputation and expertise in the development for open standards to a wider array of 3D technologies. The Consortium Board of Directors will evaluate proposals generated both inside and outside the Consortium for effectiveness and suitability for bringing 3D content to the Internet. These proposals will enter the same working group process that generated the VRML 97 standard in less than 12 months. Proposals that successfully pass through the process will be ratified as official standards by a Consortium membership vote, with the possibility of further formalization by the International Standards Organization (ISO), following the process pioneered by the VRML 97 International Standard. "The Web3D Consortium is now empowered to consider industry-wide technology proposals for bringing interactive 3D to the Web, creating the forum and the opportunity for those technologies to be interoperable and standardized," said Neil Trevett, vice president of 3Dlabs and president of the Web3D Consortium. "We look forward to industry innovation complementing and extending the Consortium's own ambitious standardization activities to enable and encourage ubiquitous Web-based 3D." "PLATINUM technology is fully committed to deploying 3D applications that increase the productivity of our customers in the business environment," said Tony Parisi, vice president of business development for PLATINUM's Internet commerce division. "Open standards are essential to the evolution of 3D computing, and we strongly support the standardization initiatives being driven by the Web3D Consortium." By creating a suite of open standards for the Internet, the Web3D Consortium will enable a stable environment for developers. In contrast to proprietary solutions, products based on Web3D Consortium standards will be available from a wide range of vendors on multiple platforms. This ensures that developers can invest with confidence in a technology without concern for its long-term viability. The Web 3D Consortium invites new members and participation from companies who wish to tender standard proposals for immediate attention, and to be involved in the definition of standards to drive the future direction of 3D graphics technology. Interested parties should contact Deepak Kamlani at [EMAIL PROTECTED] More information is available at the Web 3D Consortium's Web site - http://www.vrml.org or http://www.web3d.org. Web3D Consortium Information The Web3D Consortium (formerly the VRML Consortium) is a non-profit organization with a mandate to develop and promote open standards to enable 3D Web and broadcast applications. The Consortium successfully gained approval for VRML 97 as International Standard ISO/IEC 14772 in December 1997. The Consortium is comprised of 65 leading organizations including charter members such as 3Dlabs, Apple, blaxxun, Microsoft, Mitsubishi Electric, Oracle Corporation, PLATINUM technology, Silicon Graphics, Sony and Superscape. Web3D Consortium members provide technical and marketing expertise for the continued evolution of open 3D standards while gaining early access to ongoing technology and commercial opportunities. More information on VRML, the Consortium's ongoing standards activities and Consortium membership is available at http://www.vrml.org or http://www.web3d.org. -30- All trademarks and registered trademarks previously cited are the property of their respective owners. =========================== p.s. there may be a few days delay while the hostname/IP number for http://www.web3d.org get propagated over the Domain Name System (DNS). all the best, Don -- Don Brutzman Naval Postgraduate School, Code UW/Br Root 200 work 831.656.2149 Monterey California 93943-5000 USA fax 831.656.3679 Virtual worlds/underwater robots/Internet http://www.stl.nps.navy.mil/~brutzman ===================================================================== To subscribe/unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Java 3D Home Page: http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/3D/
