VRML Clearly Explained, Second Edition: Bringing Virtual Reality to the Internet

Contrary to popular belief, Virtual Reality Markup Language (VRML) is not a programming language. It is a set of descriptions of three dimensional scenes and the expected behavior of those scenes based on actions of the user. The code is like HTML in that it is written as plain ASCII text and displayed within a Web browser. The only difference is that the browser must be a VRML-compliant browser or one that has a VRML viewer installed. When a user displays a VRML-based Web page, the user sees a three dimensional world through which he/she can physically move.



* An intermediate to advanced rapid application developer's guide to creating distributed virtual reality environments and 3-D graphics on the Internet
* Thorough discussion of VRML 2.0 and VRML97 standards and specifications, the role of the VRML Consortium, and the latest innovative ideas that have emerged from the technology
* Complete guide to using VRML with numerous VRML applications used as examples throughout the book
* Practical tips on creating high performance 3-D content
* Extensive coverage of the latest Open Inventor and Open GL graphics standards, fundamentals, and libraries
* Covers the latest VRML Script Node Authoring Interface

John Vacca is an information technology consultant and internationally known best-selling author based in Pomeroy, Ohio. Since 1982, John has authored 60 books (some of his most recent books include: "Biometric Technologies and Verification Systems," /Publisher: Elsevier Science & Technology Books (March 16, 2007); "Practical Internet Security" (Hardcover), /Publisher: Springer (October 18, 2006); "Optical Networking Best Practices Handbook" (Hardcover), /Publisher: Wiley-Interscience (November 28, 2006); "Guide to Wireless Network Security,"/Publisher: Springer (August 19, 2006); "Computer Forensics: Computer Crime Scene Investigation (With CD-ROM), 2nd Edition"/Publisher: Charles River Media (May 26, 2005); "Firewalls: Jumpstart For Network And Systems Administrators," Publisher: Elsevier Digital Press (December, 2004); "Public Key Infrastructure: Building Trusted Applications and Web Services,"/Publisher: Auerbach Publications (May 11, 2004); "Identity Theft,"/Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR (September 12, 2002 ("Identity Theft: The Michelle Brown Story," Lifetime Television for Women, Starring Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Annabella Sciorra [Expert Source and Inspiration for: "Quiz: Are You At Risk," by Sara Eckel,Release Date: 11-1-2004.)); "The World's 20 Greatest Unsolved Problems"/Publisher: Pearson Education (was rated by Amazon as number 10 of their Best Books of 2004: Top 10 Editors' Picks: Computers & Internet and, more than 600 articles in the areas of advanced storage, computer security and aerospace technology (copies of articles and books are available upon request). John was also a configuration management specialist, computer specialist, and the computer security official (CSO) for NASA's space station program(Freedom) and the International Space Station Program, from 1988 until his early retirement from NASA in 1995. In addition, John is also an Independent online book reviewer. Finally, John was also one of the security consultants for the MGM