We discuss potential and limitations of a Morph Node, inspired by the corresponding construct in Java3D. A Morph Node in Java3D interpolates vertex attributes among several homeomorphic geometries. This node is a promising candidate for the delivery of 3D animation in a very compact form. We review the state-of-the-art in Web 3D techniques, allowing for the possibility of interpolating among several geometries. This review leads to a simple extension for VRML-97 as well as a recommendation for necessary changes in Java3D. Furthermore, we discuss various optimization issues for Morph Nodes.

The thesis of this paper is that, using our eventbased development principles, components that were not designed to interoperate, can be made to work together quickly and easily. The only requirement is that each component must be made event-based by adding an interface for registering interest in events and an interface for injecting actions. A component notifies an event to a distributed client if the parameters of an event, internal to the component, match the parameters of a particular registration. Heterogeneous components can be federated using event-based rules; rules can respond to events from any component by injecting actions into any other component. We show that the event paradigm is scalable by illustrating how event-based components can be located worldwide, using a federation of event brokers. Additionally, we illustrate with 3 event-based systems we have developed: a component-based multimedia system, a multi-user virtual worlds system and an augmented reality system for mobile users. Finally, we show how the event paradigm is also scalable enough to allow event federation of entire systems, not just single components. We illustrate by showing how we have federated the operation of the 3 featured eventbased systems. This enables, for example, real-world mobile users to appear as avatars in the appropriate locations in the VR world, and for these avatars to move in response to actual user movements.

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We suggest a new 3D scene description language which is a derivative of VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language). The language enhances the object-oriented feature of VRML, especially with respect to programming the behavior of nodes.

: Virtual reality systems provide realistic look and feel by seamlessly integrating three-dimensional input and output devices. One software architecture approach to constructing such systems is to distribute the application between a computation-intensive simulator back-end and a graphics-intensive viewer frontend which implements user interaction. In this paper we discuss Metis, a toolkit we have been developing based on such a software architecture, which can be used for building interactive immersive virtual reality systems with computationally intensive components. The Metis toolkit defines an application programming interface on the simulator side, which communicates via a network with a standalone viewer program that handles all immersive display and interactivity. Network bandwidth and interaction latency are minimized, by use of a constraint network on the viewer side that declaratively defines much of dynamic and interactive behavior of the application. 1. Introduction Meti...

.......................................................................................................................1 1. Introduction...........................................................................................................1 1.1 Protocols: HTTP.......................................................................................3 1.2. HTML.......................................................................................................5 1.3. What is WWW - really?.........................................................................9 2. WWW as a self-organizing system.....................................................................13 2.1. The basic concepts.................................................................................14 2.2. Recursion in WWW...............................................................................17 2.3. Attractors in WWW...............................................................................22 2.4. ...

Maturing and synergy of virtual reality and networking technologies have provided a basis for virtual environments distributed over the communication network. Such systems may be utilized to enable multiple users from distributed locations to interact in shared virtual worlds. The purpose of this report is to identify main developments in networked multi-user virtual environments, and describe the current trends in solving related problems. Selected virtual environments, including collaborative work virtual environments, distributed interactive simulation, and distributed virtual environments have been reviewed. Based on the review of virtual environments, main problems related to multiuser support and networking are identified and different approaches are compared and discussed. Keywords -- virtual reality, virtual environment, distributed interactive simulation, networking, multi-user, multicast Acknowledgement: This work has been partially supported by a DoE Research Grant, DAMA R-2...

The factors limiting the efficient delivery and presentation of multimedia material in the cellular environment are, among others, the low bandwidth of the transmission channel(s) and the modest capabilities of truly mobile terminals. The ACTS1 project MObile Media and ENTertainment Services (MOMENTS) is leveraging the usage of state-of-the-art techniques for the handling of vector graphics and animation contents, obtained through very low data transmission channels, in order to provide very attractive multimedia services in that environment. This paper focuses on the achievements obtained within MOMENTS in regard to the handling of dynamic 2D/3D graphics for the projected wireless multimedia services. Keywords Mobile Computing, Mobile Services, Animation, Information Visualization, Plug-in, MOMENTS. 1 Advanced Communications Technologies and Services. 1 Introduction Global information management systems -- such as the World-Wide Web (WWW) -- show that the on-line access to vast...

The emergence of agent based systems is signalling the beginning of one of the most important paradigm shifts in computing since object oriented methods and client/server based distributed systems. This paradigm shift will obviously require technology development, but of equal importance, or perhaps of even more importance, it will also require substantial education and methodology development. It is not hard to predict that agent technology is an important emerging technology, since it is already beginning to send shock waves through the computer industry. In the current hype, however, it is particularly difficult to distinguish publicity from reality and to get a clear impression of what agents are all about. In this paper we will try to give a comprehensive overview of what mobile agents are, what they may be used for and what the technical issues are. 1. Introduction The importance of agent technology is not hard to predict, since shock waves are already being felt th...

This report is dedicated to the memory of Henrique Fonseca