VRML (the Virtual Reality Modeling Language) is an international
standard for describing 3-D shapes and scenery on the World Wide Web. VRML's technology has very broad applicability, including
web-based entertainment, distributed visualization, 3-D user interfaces to remote web resources, 3-D
collaborative environments, interactive simulations for education, virtual museums, virtual retail spaces,
and more. VRML is a key technology shaping the future of the web. (Nadeau)
Version/Released/Comments
VRML 1.0
May 1995
Begun in late 1994, the first version of VRML was largely based
upon the Open Inventor file format developed by Silicon Graphics
Inc. (SGI). The VRML 1.0 specification was completed in May 1995
and included support for shape building, lighting, and texturing.
VRML 1.0 browser plug-ins became widely available by late 1995, though few ever supported the full range of features defined by the VRML 1.0 specification.
VRML 1.0c
January 1996
As vendors began producing VRML 1.0 browsers, a number of
ambiguities in the VRML 1.0 specification surfaced. These problems were corrected in a new VRML 1.0c (clarified) specification released in January 1996. No new features were added to the language in VRML 1.0c.
VRML 1.1
canceled
In late 1995, discussion began on extensions to the VRML 1.0 specification. These extensions were intended to address language features that made browser implementation difficult or inefficient. The extended language was tentatively dubbed VRML 1.1. These enhancements were later dropped in favor of forging ahead on VRML 2.0 instead.
No VRML 1.1 browsers exist.
Moving Worlds
January 1996
VRML 1.0 included features for building static, unchanging worlds suitable for architectural
walk-throughs and some scientific visualization applications. To extend the language to support animation and interaction, the VRML architecture group made a call for proposals for a language redesign. Silicon Graphics, Netscape, and others worked together to create the Moving Worlds proposal, submitted in January 1996. That proposal was later accepted and became the starting point for developing VRML 2.0. The final VRML 2.0 language specification is still sometimes referred to as the Moving Worlds specification, though it differs significantly from the original Moving Worlds proposal.
VRML 2.0
August 1996
After seven months of intense effort by the VRML community, the Moving Worlds proposal evolved to become the final VRML 2.0 specification, released in August 1996. The new specification redesigned the VRML syntax and added an extensive set of new features for shape building, animation, interaction, sound, fog, backgrounds, and language extensions.
While multiple VRML 2.0 browsers exist today, as of this writing, none are complete. All of the browsers are missing a few features. Fortunately, most of the missing features are obscure aspects of
VRML.
VRML 97
December 1997
In early 1997, efforts got under way to present the VRML 2.0 specification to the International Standards Organization (ISO) which oversees most of the major language specifications in use in the computing community. The ISO version of VRML 2.0 was reviewed and the specification significantly rewritten to clarify issues. A few minor changes to the language were also made. The final ISO VRML was dubbed VRML 97. The VRML 97 specification features finalized in March 1997 and its explanitory text finalized in September 1997.
This specification was ratified by ISO in December 1997.
Most major VRML 2.0 browsers are now VRML 97 browsers.
