Virtual Reality and Java 3D - Interactive Web-Based Virtual Reality with Java 3D - page 11

Figure 4. From real reality to virtual reality

Real Reality

Mixed/Augmented Reality Virtual Reality

found in Cavazza, Charles, and Mead (2004), Hachimura, Kato, and Tamura (2004), and
Radenkovic (2005).
In general, a typical MR application setup requires some sensors, HMDs, and tracking
devices. For example, motion sensors are used by Bannach et al. (2006), wearable computers
are used by Cheok et al. (2002), tracking devices are used by DiVerdi and Hollerer (2007).
Some discussions on the use of head tracking sensors, firewire cameras and HMDs are
provided by Qi (2004), Choy et al. (2005), and Nguyen et al. (2005).
Very often, these sensors are used for finding out the position and orientation of the user'
head in the real-world before appropriate augmented graphical information can be shown
to overlay to provide additional information on the user's display. As a result, MR systems
have not yet evolved to a stage where Web-based applications can be integrated.

summary

Java 3D is an interactive object-orientated 3D graphics API for developing and presenting
high level 3D content and sound in Java applications and applets. Designed for write-once,
run-anywhere applications, Java 3D extends the entire set of Java APIs to give 3D Internet
support for a wide range of platforms, multiple display environments and multiple input
devices.
One advantage of Java 3D is that it allows the user to focus on creating the content of
the application rather than on rendering optimization. The latter includes issues such as
scene compilation, content culling, parallel and pipeline rendering.
Java 3D also has reasonably good graphic performance through the use of OpenGL/Di-
rect3D and 3D graphic hardware acceleration. With portability and Internet support as main
advantages, it can be used in a variety of platforms and operating systems with applications
in scientific, medical, and information visualization (Hobona, 2006; Huang, 2004; Ko, 2002;
Nielsen, 2006; Oellien, 2005; Speck, 1999; Zhuang, 2000). In particular, it is extensively
used in simulation, computer-aided design (CAD), and geographical information systems
(GIS) (Colon, 2006; Nikishkov, 2006; Oliveira, 2006; Ueda, 2006; Zhang et al., 2005).
In the following chapters, all the important topics on Java 3D will be discussed in de-
tail. The discussion will start with the next chapter where a brief introduction on the use