So, you ask, "What in the world do I use this viewer for?". VRML files are small text scripts that have a "wrl" extention. Bringing up one of these files automatically starts a new browser window and the VRML viewer control screen appears in the browser window. The object the "anyname.wrl" file has created will appear on the VRML screen. Having this viewer will greatly enhance your enjoyment of this site and it will be a necessary tool if you want to design your own virtual world. It can be alot of fun and a great hobby.

The next step is to download the VRML viewer and install it. I would like to offer one bit of advise. If you have Wndows 7, you might have a problem loading, or running Cosmo Player. If this happens, go with Cortona 3D and there should not be any problems.

About VRML Viewer Controls

The controls are fairly simple. If you play with them for a few minutes, everything comes together quickly. When you click on one of the control functions, it will illuminate to show that it is active. Place your cursor in the viewing area, hold down the left mouse button, move the mouse in any direction and see what happens to the object on the screen. The speed you move the mouse will determine how fast the action is on the object.

The most interesting control functions on Cosmo Player is rotation. You will see a small lever on the left side of the button panel. Clicking on this lever will move it up and down, changing the selection of control buttons. If you click on the lever so it moves up, the center button will change to two arrows showing a circular motion, implying rotation. With your cursor on the screen, hold down the left mouse button, move the mouse in any direction and the object will rotate. The faster you move the mouse the faster it will rotate. Now here is a really cool feature. While the cursor is moving, let go of the mouse button and the object will continue to rotate on it's own. The tricky part is to practice speed control with the mouse. The faster the cursor moves, the faster the action. I do not believe Cortona has this speed function. Check it out. I could be wrong.

This example is not the end of the functionality of VRML, but, the beginning. Using VRML scripts, you can create whole worlds, such as an office building, a house, or a whole city. In a large virtual world the rotation function allows your avatar to turn 380 degrees to view a room, or countryside. Lights can turn on when your avatar enters a room. You can touch an object to make it transparent, showing what is behind, or inside the object. Anything that happens in the real world can be duplicted with VRML, and more. The VRML viewers are free, you can write the scripts using wordpad and you can modify images with Paint.

Interactive

One of the most important things to remember is that these VRML, virtual worlds are completely interactive. Powerpoint, for instance, is a great multimedia presentation tool, but having the facility to examine products, in real time, from any angle, or any viewpoint, explode a mechanism to show all of the parts and have the specification sheet appear by touching the part are attributes you probably have never seen before, and your customers probably haven't either. Give a presentation with that kind of content and they will never forget it.