X3D and HTML Integration
Fraunhofer IGD, recently announced its X3DOM project. A test-environment to evaluate and evolve a DOM-based HTML/X3D integration model.
X3DOM is an experimental open source runtime, implemented in JavaScript and WebGL, which allows to inline X3D content in (X)HTML pages. It performs the current HTML5 specification for declarative 3D content and allows including X3D elements as part of any HTML5 DOM tree. An official release will be announced soon.
This model is based on ideas and code developed by Philip Taylor from University of Cambridge and provides a minimal X3D-runtime in JavaScript. The system uses the recently released WebGL for rendering and therefore renders hardware accelerated without any plug-in. However, WebGL is only available in alpha-builds from FireFox and WebKit at: http://www.x3dom.org/?page_id=9
The objective here is to include a live X3D scene in your HTML DOM, which allows you to manipulate the 3D content by only adding/ removing or changing DOM elements. No specific plug-in or plug-in interface like SAI is needed. It also supports some of the HTML events like “onclick” on 3D objects. 3dsmax exporter which can save to html/xhtml, a converter tutorial and now has BMW configuration showcase.
The Web3d Consortium’s X3D HTML5 Working Group presented a working demonstration with event passing to/from the HTML DOM using the X3DOM examples at the W3C TPAC meeting in Santa Clara, California in Nov 2009. At this meeting the Web3D HTML5 working group presented their thoughts and ideas on how to integrate X3D and HTML. In addition to the hour-long presentation, many other conversations and working demonstrations were given to W3C members during the course of the TPAC. The Web3D Consortium’s work was well received by W3C and the W3C HTML5 WG. The W3C HTML5 working group can be found at: http://www.w3.org/html/wg/.
This integration model is still evolving and open for discussions.There is more work to be done to further this effort. Anyone interested in getting involved please contact John Stewart. More information about the Working Group can be found at X3D-HTML5 .
from:http://www.web3d.org/news/permalink/DOM-based-HTMLX3D-integration/