Media Machines Announces Ajax3D

JavaScriptSearch
Wednesday, August 2, 2006; 05:25 AM

Media Machines announced the release of Ajax3D, a Javascript-based software library for deploying online virtual worlds and 3D web applications based on Ajax and X3D. The company also issued an open call for participation in an industry forum at www.ajax3D.org, dedicated to the research and development of online virtual worlds using 3D open standards and Ajax best practices.

Ajax3D showcase.

Ajax3D combines the visual richness and interactivity of X3D, the ISO standard for networked 3D graphics, with the ease of use and ubiquity of Ajax, a set of Javascript and XML programming methods for developing web applications. Ajax3D employs the X3D Scene Access Interface (SAI) for controlling 3D worlds within a web browser via Javascript. Ajax3D content can be viewed with any web browser with an X3D-compliant plug-in such as Media Machines' Flux Player, which is available as a free download at www.mediamachines.com and was recently licensed as open source under the Gnu Lesser General Public License (LGPL).

Tony Parisi, CEO of Media Machines, made the groundbreaking announcement today at a Siggraph Birds of a Feather session for web, game and virtual world developers. "Ajax has emerged as the preferred way to deliver dynamic web-based applications," observed Mr. Parisi. "By combining Ajax development techniques with a standard 3D visualization engine, we have an open infrastructure for delivering scalable 3D applications, games and virtual worlds to mass consumers. We look forward to working with others in the industry to realize this vision of an open Metaverse."

Media Machines has launched www.ajax3d.org as the developer destination for Ajax3D information. The web site will host Ajax3D sample programs and tutorials and provide forums for discussion. The company intends for the Ajax3D.org web site to be an open environment for participation as well as the basis for a future formal organization to foster the creation of an open, worldwide Web3D programming platform.

Media Machines was founded in 1999 by Tony Parisi, co-creator of the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) and Extensible 3D (X3D), the ISO standards for networked 3D graphics. Additionally, Media Machines recently released KML2X3D, a free translator that converts Google Earth (SketchUp) KML 3D models to industry standard X3D files for display in web pages. The Flux Player source code for viewing and interacting with real time 3D content is available at sourceforge.net/projects/flux. www.mediamachines.com