VRML At Conferences and Seminars: A Report

Speakers and Panels set for VRML World at Web Interactive 96

Mecklermedia's 1996 Web Interactive Conference will be held at the New York Sheraton Hotel and Towers from Wednesday July 31 - Friday, May 2nd. The VRML World Track within the Web Interactive Conference will consist of 8 panels, each filled with VRML experts, addressing issues in each panel.

Here is a first look at the VRML World 96 program.

VRML World Track within Web Interactive.

Real-Time VRML: An Interface for a Changing World

The combination of constantly changing data streams and on-the-fly generation of VRML worlds offers tremendous promise as a new interface for everything from satellite weather information to complex financial models. Explore the possibilities with experts working on solutions today.

Moderator: Mark Pesce, VRML Co-creator, Author, Consultant

Confirmed Speakers:
• Rik Henderson, The Geosphere Project
  
• Dr. Dan Greening, President, Chaco Communications
  
• David Colleen, Planet 9 Studios
  
• Farid Mheir, The 3D City Repository

10:45 - 12:15 An Overview of new VRML specific Authoring Tools

Since VRML's inception in early April of 1995, several software packages have emerged to aid interactive Web Designers in building navigable 3D worlds for their interactive Web sites. Features such as intuitive interface design, import capabilities, export options, handling of texture maps, assignment of behaviors, navigational metaphors, object heirarchy, will be discussed and demonstrated by leading creators of the authoring packages.

Moderator: Bernie Roehl, University of Waterloo

Confirmed Speakers:
• Mitra, Paragraph Int'l, Hm Spc Bldr
  
• Roman Ormandie, Caligari, Fountain
  
• Mike Hilgenberg, Integrated Data Systems, VREALM
  
• Speaker TBA, Radiance Software
  
• Michael Gough, Construct Internet Design, Web Space
  

Author Demo

12:15 - 1:30 Lunch

1:30 - 3:30 PM Business Applications Using VRML

While there's been any number of entertainment-oriented VRML Worlds on the Internet, the key question has been how to make this compelling technology pay off. This session will explore VRML applications for business, including for financial visualization, collaborative design and as an interface for large Intranets.

Moderator: TBA

Speakers:
• Tim Rohaly, President, ORC
  
• Kris Hagerman, President, BigBook
  
• Robert Fragola, Visible Decisions, Inc.
  
• Eric Olinger, President/CEO,Tenet Networks
  
• Tom Meyer, First Virtual Holdings
  

3:30 - 4:15 Energy Break

4:15 - 5:15 3D Interface Design Issues

Navigable 3D environments present an entirely different design paradigm than is required in the lay-out of flat pages consisting of text 2D images, and linear video. There are several design tips, tricks, and guidelines that VRML developers should be aware of when implementing VRML into a Web site. Proper planning can provide developers the best bang for their 3D buck.

Moderator: David Colleen

Speakers/Companies:
• Michael Gough, Chief Architect, Construct Internet Design
  
• Konstantin Guericke, VP Sales and Marketing, Black Sun
  
• Barrett Fox, BlimpZilla VRML Project
  
• Adrian Scott, CEO, Aereal
  

5:15 - 6:30 Reception

FRIDAY

8:00 - 8:45 Keynote: Martin Nisenholtz (invited)

8:45 - 9:45 VRML Tools from the VR World

While widespread virtual reality has taken a back seat to less functional, but more accessible Internet-based technologies, there is plenty of work that bridges the gaps between them. This panel explores the work of key VR developers who have ported their Mac and PC products to VRML, bringing a different focus and years of experience to the emerging platform.

Moderator: David Blackburn, Virtual Ventures

Confirmed speakers:

• Ed LaHood, President, VREAM Inc., VRCreator
  
• Bob Lowe, Pres., SuperScape Inc, SuperVRML
  
• Debbie Nelson, Sense8, World-Up VRML
  
• David Smith, Pres., Virtus Corp., VRML Voyager
  

10:00 - 11:30 AM Tips & Tricks from Leading VRML Developers

In the small period of time VRML has been around, several developers have begun to stretch the limits of VRML capabilities. See and hear how VRML is providing a rich new media form for Web developers to offer in their mix of interactive media.

Moderator: Richard Tillman, Curator, Meshmart

Confirmed Speakers:

• Tim Rohaly, ORC
  
• Michael Gough, Construct Internet Design
  
• Tony Rockliff and Pascal Baudar, Cybertown
  
• Barrett Fox, Blimpzilla VRML Project
  

11:30 - 1:00 Lunch

1:00 - 3:00 PM Shared 3D Social Worlds on the Web and Internet

VRML is providing the standard framework for developing multiple participant interactive 3D spaces on the Web. Many people feel that as these worlds and technologies mature, they will provide the foundation for the Killer App of VRML development in the late 90's. Learn how the pioneers of visual social computing are using avatars, voice input, gestures, facial expressions, and other tricks to enhance the chat experience.

Moderator: Mitra, Paragraph International

Confirmed Speakers:

• Maclen Marvitt, Worlds, Inc.
  
• SpeakerTBA, Sony Corp, Cyberpassage.
  
• Bob Rockwell, Chief Scientist, Black Sun's CyberGate
  
• Bill Owen, Director of Marketing, On-Live! Technologies
  
• Mark DeGroot, President, Immersive Systems Inc.
  
• Dr. Dan Greening, President, Chaco Communications
  

3:00 - 3:45 Energy Break

3:45 - 4:45 PM VRML 3.0 and Beyond

Now that VRML 2.0 is all but finished, it's time to look to the future. Take a look at the next stage with prognosticators, standard-setters and experts who will handicap the race to take the standard to the next level.

Moderator: Mark Pesce

Confirmed Speakers:

• Tony Parisi, Intervista Software, Co creator of VRML
  
• Mike McCue, Netscape Communications
  
• Tim Rohaly, ORC
  
• Bernie Roehl