Virtual Reality and VRML language (code CTU4)

Key words: virtual reality, VRML language, computer graphics, interaction, animation, simulation.
Language: English
Professor responsible: Jiri Zara
Tel: +420 2 2435 7311 - Fax: +420 2 2492 3325 - Email: zara@fel.cvut.cz
Address where the course is to be held:
Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Electrical Engineering
Karlovo nam. 13, Praha 2
Total number of places: 15; minimum: 10

Objectives:

  • to understand the principles of virtual reality, especially targeted to the web,
  • to learn basic features of the VRML language,
  • to be able to create simple interactive and animated virtual reality scenes.
    •  Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) is the standard file format and the standard descriptive language for 3D on the Web. It allows to bring real-time 3D presentation to the screen of arbitrary user connected to the Internet. The course covers all parts of VRML starting from basic structure of VRML worlds - geometry, colors, textures, light, sound, and continuing to advanced features like animation, rich interactivity, and simulation. Functionality of VRML can be directly extended using Java and JavaScript - both languages will be briefly introduced, but JavaScript will be emphasized due to its simplicity. Combination of HTML, VRML, and Java applets will be presented, too. Participants of the course will be able to design either standalone dynamic virtual worlds or special modules suitable for presentation and visualization of data coming from other systems like databases, simulation programs, GIS, etc.

    Programme to be followed:

    The course is structured into lectures and practical exercises. Typically each morning class consists of:
    1. reviewing homeworks (individual assignments) from the previous day(s)
    2. a lecture
    The afternoon part consists of:
    1. practicing methods from morning lecture
    2. individual creation of virtual scene (assignment)
    Lectures cover:
      a) VR systems
      b) Introduction to VRML
      c) Navigation paradigms
      d) Avatar
      e) Static VRML worlds
      f) Geometry and Colors
      g) DEF and USE Statements
      h) Prototypes
      i) Textures
      j) Light and Audio Sources
      k) Tricky nodes - Billboard, LOD, Background
      l) Animation
      m) Interaction
      n) Manipulators and Interpolators
      o) Script node and JavaScript
      p) Java for VRML
      q) External Authoring Interface
    Each assignment will be rated by points.

    *** Prerequisites for the course (!) ***

    General knowledge on three-dimensional computer graphics.

    Course Exam:

    Written exam with the duration of 1 hour. The results from the written exam are combined with points received per assignments thus resulting in the final grade.
    Jiri Zara, 8.2.2009