Re: n_polys: [-empyre-] ready to stoke the pyre- ~!

["Nicholas F. Polys" <npolys@virtuworlds.com>]

I was thinking on this idear about the 'renaissance' designer or the
cross-fertilized necessities of Web3D production; I've come across a few
more references launcing in the vein of Schneiderman's 'Visual Thinking'
book:

required reading II:
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
by Edward R. Tufte

I have found a very useful way of looking at 3D design from this thinker- an
abstracted evaluation of information density ie data vs whitespace vs icons
and recognition, etc.
This is yummy multi-disciplinary stuff!
_____

    See what you can never have seen!!!

Be you a brain in a vat
    or a butterfly dreaming of Schroedinger's cat,
     deep-media is where its at...

    Since the Symposium, I have had the pleasure of touring AZ with my
partner Kat.  In addition to immersing ourselves in desert and altiplano
canyon, we have sought out seemingly alien but naturally human features:
Biosphere 2 and Arcosanti.  Each is worthy of dissertation, but i mention
them because these requirement-driven and forward-thinking projects crossed
our paths once before.  After lusting into Pablo Soleri's Arcologies [
http://www.arcosanti.org ] as a prime genius subject for virtual modeling I
bought the book and visited the website... and yet on top of all of this, in
'98 they hosted the Paradox Project where cybernauts (including Pesce)
gathered to conference on future architecture and networked environments for
humankind... there is a VRML model somewhere. :->

    Long and short here is that I think the skipped-groove has landed again
where we can explore and expound the principles of being and dreaming and
thinking and learning... "you can be anyone this time around", etc...
VirtuWorlds has persued this ideal and over the last 2 years, insuring that
a powerful platform exists in X3D so that the last mile could be crossed- ie
transforming myriads of multiplicitous information into direct and visceral
understanding.

Ye the bubble burst and chat rooms and spinning shoes didn't do the trick.
HM; I love all this talk about the 'killer app'.
Such vanity to think this media will 'break' from one application when none
of them see or address the common interface requirements for usability,
navigation, customization, and persistence.  Data integration (media types
and XML), Server-side scripting and DBs, P2P, and HUDs are only recently
being implemented to this end.  Very, very fertile ground.

The time is really ripe, and there is great opportunity now!  Web3DC and W3C
have numerous strong interest in WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative:
http://www.w3.org/WAI/) and the VR (CAVE) community is calling for
standardized navigation types.  We again had a strong content showing and
meeting at the Symposium and X3D is definitiely the natural and nexus
ground.  My big game now is X3D & XSLT and UI components at the Extensible
Profile and above; I would certainly love some design-oriented allies
re-engaged in the Web3D spec process.  Let's go!

http://www.web3d.org/fs_specifications.htm
http://www.web3d.org/fs_spec_feedback.htm

Design to X3D Profiles for interchange and delivery.
Symposium coursewares available:
http://www.3DeZ.net/X3D/

As to Adobe and atmosphere and Macromedia and Shockwave3D, sure its great
that some big corps are eyeing the prize but honestly its no better than
blaxxun or deepmatrix 3 years ago.  Sure the authoring suite may be familiar
to Photoshop/Illustrator users, but try a Soleri project vizualization
there.  OK say you get that... now try to run it 3 years down the line.  If
you build to X3D, you can always style it to adobe compatible or shockwave
compatible content... or whatever!!!
I hope they join the Consortium and build the highest common factor.
    They were certainly thinking on it!

Jah Jah and best wishes,

    _n_polys



Previously:
> Greetings all,
>
> Here is a little post to prime the pump; I will drop another (perhaps more
> controversial ? ;-) later this evening...
>
> When I first saw the Web3D Art show at VRML99, I was wide-eyed with wonder
> at how powerful and unique the material was.  Ideas and execution that
were
> ahead of the curve for the fact that they did not let technology and web
> delivery limit their vision, but capitalized on them to bootstrap into new
> frontiers of expression.  This has proven true in every subsequent show
> including our most recent in Tempe.  So much is in the approach... and the
> passion to make it work!
>
> Kathy Rae-Huffman and Karl Dudnesek once again brought together a peerless
> show for what I think is some of the coolest stuff pushing the envelope of
> Web3D!  And they got the color plates in the Proceedings!  Awesome!
> www.web3dart.org
>
>
> King Content has yet to be deposed, and his courtiers and his business
types
> have given a little breathing room recently.
> Two factors make this a great opportunity for us:  the breathing room
allows
> us to concentrate on the real issues at hand (rather than almighty $) such
> as UI and usability requirements as well as the fact that without
> big-brother business, we actually have recourse to influence the course of
> the tech/spec... for a little while at least.
>
> Our feature 'pallete' will be much richer in X3D as we begin to discover
> what 'Extensible' means for 3D. This has been everyone's goal.
>
>
> Quick Symposium Retrospect:
>
>    As odd as it sounds coming from upstate NY/Europe, this is inevitably
my
> favorite time of year- the rounds here at the Web3D Symposia are
> invigorating and inspiring... and the facilities here in Pheonix are not
too
> shabby for N. America, especially when it's a standard short sleeve!  But
> honestly, I'd go to the ends of the earth or meet in a garage for this.
> These events really do set the tone for the year.
>
>   Climatology aside, this gathering is so wonderful for its spectrum of
> interests which simultaneously plumb-the-depths of passion and expertise.
> The program commitee really did a nice job collecting and enabling a wide
> variety of media and technology to be shown.  I always treasure this
> face-to-face time because we as a community have a notorious nature of
> compounding momentum and go-forward ideas from it...  Damn cool peeps too!
>
>     Anyhow, I hoped a little i-spy-intro-eye would be tolerated since
we'll
> no doubt see some 'official' accounts on our standard sites; but stepping
> out with a draft spec, supporting tutorials and demos, and a press release
> has certainly galvanized both a solid support and approach.  This is
exactly
> when and where we needed to do it- and it's appearing that we can maintain
> our Milestone 4 timeline with some real prospects.
>
>     As tough as it might seem, this flow-and-ebb and flow-and-ebb and flow
> ... ride is really a healthy cycle that ratchets the actual substance of
the
> industry upward.
>     YES its about the power and portability of a componentized XML
> representation for realtime, interactive 3D scenegraphs that enables
> publishing, serving, and integrating with the world wide web, and
>     YES its about your frontend and your backend and your kids and your
> parents, and
>     YES this beast is about business and art and computer science, and
>     YES value is not a mirage.
>
>
>     Tutorials:
>     Excellent content, venue, and audience.  We've been weaving a rather
> involved story inside these technical groups and these slots really let us
> frame it out in concrete and (hopefully!) accesssible terms.  X3D
Authoring
> and publishing systems design, architecture & components and extensibility
> all
> got good reception and real engagement.  With continued spec and tech
> development for Siggraph, we expect even stronger stories and examples...
> Also, Ivan Hermann from W3C did a really good one on SVG.
>
>
>     Web3D Art:
>     This stuff really hits!  The  motivation is content and expression,
and
> you gotta see what this most vibrant community is doing without
'business':
> pushing the envelope of Web3D technology!  Awesome!  www.web3dart.org
>
>
>     Presentations
>     [I'll touch on this next post...]
>         Adobe
>         Macromedia
>         Hi Corporation-cool little 3D for your Jphone/cellular mobiles and
> PDAs
>
>
>     Web3D 'Unplugged'
> prizes = Swiff 3D software packages
>     - the SigningAvatar tech by VCom3D just gets better and better...
inside
> an easy authoring environment, they've built a system which can capture
and
> even automate some of the really interesting parts of language, meaning,
and
> context.
>     I also really liked seeing the Virtual Access Model
(www.shakealeg.org)
> which helps illustrate the pragmatic points of the Americans with
> Disabilities Act.
>     It was a really fun whirlwind tour- all 12 demos were good- and thanks
> to Sandy Ressler for being the MC.
>
>
>     Suggestions from attendees:
>
> Whitepaper and/or academic references which show productivity increases in
> 3D environments (builds business case for direct involvement in standards
> activity and Consortium membership  ie ROI).
>
> Spec layout- Put Component level support tables next to or near Profile's
> supported components table.
>
>
>     Papers and Ben Scheiderman keynote were great on Web3D technology and
> perspectives on it, and thanks to Matt Beitler and all involved because it
> again rings true that the papers presented at these Symposia are
indicative
> if not definitive of the kinds of solutions that will guide us on towards
> that sweet horizon... Schneiderman's 'Visual Thinking' book is worth a
look.
>
> Thanks all!!!
>
>     more to come!
>
> pax max,
>
>     n_polys
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Nicholas F. Polys" <npolys@virtuworlds.com>
> To: <empyre@imap.cofa.unsw.edu.au>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2002 12:13 AM
> Subject: [-empyre-] ready to stoke the pyre- ~!
>
>
> > Greetings all,
> >
> >     I am most honored and pleased to be invited to participate in this
> list;
> > my name is Nicholas Polys, currently writing and producing for 3DeZ.net
> and active on the Board of Directors of the Web3D Consortium as well as
the
> X3D Task and Spec groups.
> >     In the last few years of being a writer and Web3D technologist, I
have been consistently inspired by the content artisan's approach and use of
> Deep Media- it has helped me contextualize my programming and production
work
> and learn lessons on how to integrate principles of the visual graphics
> > designer.
> >
> >     Innovation is spawned by necessity, and this had proved true as our
> > pioneers have build beachheads in the void of tools and the flux of
stable players.  While I do believe that design and programming skills are
> > converging onto the resume, and my outreach is principly concerned with
> > giving language to this bridge, I feel we are looking at exciting new
> > prospects with X3D.  Its success will be directly proportional to those
> > pioneers' continued engagement and improvement.
> > I hope to cover usability, 3D UI, a little bit of tech as relates to
> > whatever goals we may discover.
> >
> > I will post a little industry update and diatribe shortly here, and I
look forward to hearing your points of view and feedback.
> >
> >
> > Here's a little background / CV used for Symposium and SIGGRAPH
> coursewares~
> >
> >     Nicholas Polys is Founder, CTO, and Media Amoeba at VirtuWorlds LLC,
> an international consulting and production house for web graphics and data
> > systems.  Mr. Polys currently manages research and development,
> distributed operations, and production for VirtuWorlds and its online
destinations,
> > while evaluating new technologies, software integration, and strategic
> > alliances.  Over the last 3 years, Mr. Polys has written numerous
> technical pieces on Web3D technology for The 3DeZine, an online
publication for
the Web3D industry, including news, tutorials, and analysis.  He has
extensive Web3D production experience delivering robust multi-media
solutions for
> > clients and has developed The VirtuPortal, a quarterly collection of the
> > best of the 3D Web as well as the Web3D Consortium's Software
Development Kit (SDK).  His current product-research activities are focused
on
> > user-centric 3D interface design and XML data integration.
> >
> >     Nicholas received his BA in Cognitive Science from Vassar College
and is currently serving his 2nd term on the Board of Directors of the Web3D
> > Consortium.  He is an active contributor to new X3D specification and
> > related working groups,  liaison to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C -
> > WAI, SMIL) and member of the Siggraph Online Committee (2001 & 2002).
Mr. Polys has enjoyed presenting at national and international digital media
> > conferences and symposia Including Web3D and Stuttgart Filmwinter.
> >
> >
> > thanks and bets wishes,
> >     I look forward to our conversations~!
> >
> >     _nicholas
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > empyre mailing list
> > empyre@lists.cofa.unsw.edu.au
> > http://www.subtle.net/empyrean/empyre
> >
> >
>
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>
>

          Nicholas F. Polys
    Media Amoeba & COO
          VirtuWorlds LLC
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