VRML World

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Multimedia Web

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Design Diary

Paragraph International and Corel Corporation Link up on VRML

Corel Corporation has negotiated a licensing agreement with ParaGraph International for rights to Virtual Home Space Builder, their popular authoring/publishing technology for creating 3D VRML environments on the World Wide Web. ParaGraph's technology will be integrated into Corel's new professional suite of Web development tools, which currently include : CorelWEB.DATA, which focuses on Web tables and database creation; CorelWEB.GALLERY, their easy-to-use multimedia clipart file manager; and CorelWEB.DESIGNER, an HTML Authoring package. The increasing growth of 3D Sites on the World Wide Web has been fueled by the adoption of VRML, a cross-platform standard for transmitting and viewing 3D scenes over the Internet, and by the availability of software such as VHSB which greatly simplifies the creation of 3D Web sites.

"Corel, as the leading graphics software provider for professional software developers, recognizes that 3D on the Web is growing very quickly," said Dr. Michael Cowpland, president and chief executive officer of Corel Corporation. "We feel it is crucial to give our customers the best possible tool for constructing their own 3D Internet Spaces, and think that ParaGraph's software is the leader in this respect."

"We have seen interest in 3D VRML Web authoring and publishing grow dramatically in the past few months," said Gregory Slayton, president of ParaGraph International. "Orders for our Virtual Home Space Builder' (VHSB) consumer product have more than doubled initial expectations, and now as a partner with Corel in the professional market, we expect to see similarly outstanding results for our professional software."

Later this year, ParaGraph's authoring/publishing software for creating VRML spaces will support VRML 2.0, the new Internet standard which has recently been adopted by Netscape Communications and Silicon Graphics along with a consortium of over 50 leading Internet companies and allows for more dynamic 3D Web sites.

"With the final ratification of VRML 2.0 as the standard for the Internet, ParaGraph is now aggressively positioning itself to be in the forefront of companies supporting it," said Mitra, ParaGraph's chief network technology officer and co-author of Moving Worlds, the accepted VRML 2.0 standard. "From the beginning, VHSB's multimedia functionality went beyond the VRML 1.0 specification to include such elements as sound and animation -- VRML 2.0 now supports these functions."

Incorporated in 1985, Corel Corporation is recognized internationally as an award-winning developer and marketer of productivity applications, graphics and multimedia software. Corel's product line includes CorelDRAW(TM), the Corel WordPerfect Suite, Corel Office Professional, CorelVIDEO and over 30 multimedia software titles The company ships its products in over 17 languages through a network of more than 160 distributors in 70 countries worldwide.

Founded in 1989, ParaGraph International has long been a leading provider of complex software solutions for the high tech industry. The company's corporate mission is to be the leading provider of Internet VR authoring/publishing tools by combining technologies in 3D rendering, behavior languages, compression and image recognition that enables end-users to build and publish exciting Internet spaces - rooms, buildings, cities, landscapes, worlds and universes - for people to visit communicate and work with each other easily and quickly around the world. ParaGraph International holds a strong patent position in a number of Internet technologies that demand preeminence in algorithmic design, including 3D and VR applications, pen software and compression technologies.

ParaGraph, Virtual Home Space Builder, and Home Space are trademarks of ParaGraph International. Corel is a registered trademark of Corel Corporation

Spring Internet World Delivers Daily Dose of VRML

Mecklermedia's Spring Internet World Conference and Exposition which takes place this week in San Jose California features enough VRML activity to keep any 3D developer happy. Beginning on Tuesday April 30th, Mike Roberts, the President of Vannevar New Media will conduct a Hands-On Workshop (# 14) titled "A Walkthrough of VRML". The session will explore the current state of VRML tools and applications, and will include hands-on demonstrations of VRML on the Windows platforn. Specific topics will include VRML browsers, authoring tools, and emerging specs, including VRML 2.0 - Moving Worlds.

On Wednesday May 1, from 3:15 to 4:15 PM, Session # P131 of the Publishing Track titled "Virtual Reality on the World-Wide Web" will be presented by Ed LaHood, the founder and President of Chicago's VREAM Inc. As a true pioneer in the field of desktop PC based VR, LaHood will update attendees on the latest trends, directions, and applications that VRML has enabled in its short existence of just over 1 year.

Mike Roberts will host another 2 1/2 hour Hands-On Workshop (# 21) from 9:30 AM to Noon on Thursday titled "VRML and WebSpace -- 3D on the Web". This session will look at SGI's flagship VRML product WebSpace. SGI is expected to announce a Windows 95 version of WebSpace, which may occur at the Internet World Conference. Both of Mike Roberts Hands-On Workshops will be limited to 30 attendees max, with two attendees at each of at most 15 available terminals.

Ed LaHood finishes up the week with Workshop #27 titled "WIRL : VR on the World-Wide Web". WIRL (Web Interactive Reality Layer) is a technology created by VREAM to describe object behavior and user interaction in a VRML world. The session provides an introduction to all the elements of VREAM's VRCreator and WIRL software. Participants will be able to experience fully immersive VREAM virtual worlds on the Web, using a variety of interface devices, including head mounted displays, 3D Tracking systems and 3D position control.

Archive of past VRML World installments