By Harendra Alwis

Much ado about Adobe Atmosphere

Did VRML float your boat? No? With the public beta release of its new authoring tool Atmosphere, Adobe is trying to succeed at creating JavaScript-based virtual environments where VRML ultimately failed. It manages to do so for interactivity enthusiasts, people who generate architectural and interior design walkthroughs or point-of-sale displays, and so on, but could ultimately herald a big boost for 3D graphics on the Web.

Atmosphere has three major components: a builder for creating navigable 3D environments, a browser plug-in for viewing those worlds on the Web, and a server component that supports multiple users and enables real-time chat. 

The Atmosphere builder program employs the standard, palette-based Adobe interface. This makes the program's functions accessible to anyone familiar with other Adobe products such as Photoshop or GoLive. But the program's flat learning curve also is helped by its limited toolset: a handful of smart geometric objects that literally know their place. Walls, for example, always remain perpendicular to the floor. There are even specific tools for the gateways and portals that allow visitors to move between different worlds.

When you work in wire frame mode, basic transformations, such as rotate and scale, are available. You can build modestly complex models by designating an object as subtractive, creating groups, or connecting sticky vertices. However, Adobe purposely kept Atmosphere's internal geometry simple to reduce Web transmission times. Instead of creating complex structures, you add realistic details and visual interest by mapping bitmaps to surfaces and by creating luminous objects.

If you want to move beyond Atmosphere's simple native object set, you must import models in the Viewpoint (formerly MetaCreations) MTX format. MTX is an XML-enabled file format that includes geometry, compressed surface textures, and animation sequences. Adobe's partnership with Viewpoint enables Atmosphere to leverage a robust and well-established Web 3D format. Although Atmosphere worlds can be distributed royalty-free, any MTX models used in a commercial application are subject to Viewpoint's Technology Licensing fee.

All of Atmosphere's high-end functions are driven by JavaScript. This includes creating atmospheric effects such as fog, triggering animation sequences, linking to standard HTML Web sites, building user interactivity, and customizing the browser plug-in controls. 

Adobe has published Atmosphere's JavaScript API calls, and experienced programmers will have no qualms about writing custom code. Unfortunately for nonprogrammers, Atmosphere does not provide pre-built scripts (akin to GoLive's Actions or Dreamweaver's Behaviors) for common operations.

Because Atmosphere worlds are saved in the proprietary AER format, you'll need a special browser plug-in to view an Atmosphere world on the Web. Adobe claims that a 56K connection is adequate to view 3D worlds. But a high-bandwidth connection is essential both to download the 5MB plug-in program and to interact with complex worlds. The plug-in actually contains two different rendering engines. The Atmosphere renderer deals with world geometry, while the Viewpoint renderer handles embedded MTX objects. The result is a seamless view of a cohesive space.

You move through an Atmosphere world simply by dragging the mouse. The interface includes useful features such as the ability to save favourite sites as bookmarks, toggle gravity on and off, and choose an avatar. Avatars, or digital personifications, allow you to see other visitors in the world and to be seen by them. Avatars primarily offer entertainment value. Of much more use is Atmosphere's chat function. 

Powered by the Atmosphere Community Server, this text-based communication method has the potential to move Atmosphere beyond the realm of multi-user games into real-world applications such as training and product demonstrations.

As a public beta, Atmosphere has an evolving feature set. The wish list starts with an Undo command and includes a repertoire of preset JavaScript actions, direct controls for light intensity, and voice-over IP instead of text-based chat. Though the price of the authoring program has not yet been finalized, anything more than $300 would be overpriced. Adobe has announced that it will make both the browser plug-in and the community server available at no cost in order to get 3D worlds out there.

Atmosphere faces some stiff competition, primarily in the form of Macromedia Director and its recently announced 3D-enabled version of Shockwave. 

Atmosphere promises to deliver a lower purchase price and a gentler learning curve than Director. For those reasons, Atmosphere will be attractive to Web developers already proficient in JavaScript who want to migrate to 3D. 

But to create an inclusive developer community, Adobe must make the advanced functionality in the Atmosphere API more accessible in the authoring program.

Write in to the
TECHNO PAGE
Mirror Magazine
C/o The Sunday Times
No. 8, Hunupitiya Cross Road
Colombo 2
Or e-mail: technopage_lk@yahoo.com