WebVR: an interactive web browser for virtual environments

Emad Barsoum; Falko Kuester

doi:10.1117/12.582624

22 March 2005 WebVR: an interactive web browser for virtual environments

Emad Barsoum, Falko Kuester

Proceedings Volume 5664, Stereoscopic Displays and Virtual Reality Systems XII; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.582624
Event: Electronic Imaging 2005, 2005, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

The pervasive nature of web-based content has lead to the development of applications and user interfaces that port between a broad range of operating systems and databases, while providing intuitive access to static and time-varying information. However, the integration of this vast resource into virtual environments has remained elusive. In this paper we present a 3D Web Browser (WebVR) that allows users to search for arbitrary information on the Internet and to seamlessly augment the results into virtual environments. WebVR provides access to the standard data input and query mechanisms while supporting active texture-skins of web content that can be mapped onto arbitrary surfaces within the environment. Once mapped, the corresponding texture functions as a fully integrated web-browser that will respond to traditional events such as the selection of links or text input. As a result, any surface within the environment can be turned into a web-enabled resource that provides access to user-definable data. In order to leverage from the continuous advancement of browser technology and to support both static as well as streamed content, WebVR uses ActiveX controls to extract the desired texture skin from industry strength browsers, providing a unique mechanism for data fusion and extensibility.

Citation Download Citation

Emad Barsoum and Falko Kuester "WebVR: an interactive web browser for virtual environments", Proc. SPIE 5664, Stereoscopic Displays and Virtual Reality Systems XII, (22 March 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.582624

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