VREAM releases the world's first interactive virtual reality web browser, a plug-in for Netscape Navigator;

Business Wire, Jan 24, 1996

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 1996--

WIRL is Here: The Web will Never be the Same!

Now available for "free download" from the market leader in virtual reality and interactive 3D technology is VREAM's WIRL (Alpha Release 1.0), a Netscape plug-in VRML browser for Windows 95 that brings new life to the Internet in a way that many would not believe possible. After downloading this freeware version of WIRL, users can immediately "take a WIRL on the Web" at VREAM's Web site, experiencing spinning 3D logos, a flying helicopter, a playable piano, a morphing video cube, a product assembly demonstration, and Virtual Man, a cyber-gymnast that does flips. For $29, VREAM offers a subscription to the commercial version of WIRL, which includes additional functionality, online help, technical support, documentation, and all software upgrades through December 31, 1996.

WIRL Extends VRML Functionality to Include Object Behaviors and Logic

Fully compatible with the emerging VRML standard for 3D on the Web, WIRL (which stands for Web Interactive Reality Layer) takes VRML to a new level through its "inline extensions" architecture in which an additional command line that references an external file can be inserted into a VRML file. When a Web surfer that has WIRL accesses the VRML file, the functionality of the 3D world is extended based on the contents of the external file. If a Web surfer is not using WIRL, but rather is using another VRML browser, he will see the 3D world defined by the VRML file but there will be no additional functionality.

The external files can be used to define behaviors and logic functions for the objects defined in the VRML file. Because the current VRML specification does not yet support object behaviors or cause and effect logic, WIRL's inline extensions architecture is a ground-breaking development for the Web and vastly expands the level of functionality that is available to VRML Web site developers. "Our inline extensions architecture is a simple yet very powerful way to enhance VRML," said Edward R. LaHood, president of VREAM. "The net result is a more engaging, exciting and useful Internet."

With WIRL, static VRML objects can be transformed into active moving entities with dynamic behaviors such as motion, rotation, gravity, weight, elasticity, throwability, and sound. WIRL also enables complex cause and effect relationships to be built into the virtual reality content. As a result, users can now enter computer-generated 3D environments in which real-time rendered objects intelligently interact with each other, with the viewer, with the computer, and even the Internet itself.

The alpha release version of WIRL that is currently available for free download extends VRML file functionality through references to extension files that contain VREAMScript commands. VREAMScript is an open, high-level script language for representing virtual reality content, created by VREAM in 1991, that is very similar in concept to VRML. WIRL also can read straight VRML files without extensions (.WRL files) and straight VREAMScript files (.VRW files). In addition, WIRL will soon include inline extension support for a number of other emerging technologies such as Java.

Authoring Capabilities and Many Other Features

One of the nicest features that WIRL offers is its extensive authoring capabilities, allowing users to modify and enhance the contents of a virtual world. For example, a user can arrive at a 3D site on the Web and change the textures on the objects, give the objects physical attributes such as motion and rotation, define cause and effect relationships for the virtual world, and add new objects to the scene. Additional authoring capabilities are available through VREAM's WIRL software subscription and through a software subscription to VREAM's more advanced VRCreator virtual reality creation software.

The current alpha release of WIRL supports the following features:

- Runs on Windows 95 and Windows NT as a Netscape Plug-In - Full Object Interactivity (pick up objects, throw them around

in 3D space) - Gravity and Elasticity, Object Animations, and Object Paths - Full Texturing and Texture Animations - Reads the Following File formats from Local Hard Drive or the Web

VRML (.WRL)

VREAMScript (.VRW)

VREAM Extended VRML (.WRL ) - Embedded VREAMScript Defined Behaviors and Logic - Authoring Capabilities (Alter content of world while within browser) - Integration with Windows Multimedia Facilities

Future releases of WIRL will add support for the following features:

- Windows 3.x, Macintosh, and UNIX Workstation Support - Compatibility with other browsers, including Microsoft Internet

Explorer - VRML 2.0, Java, Visual Basic, and OLE Controls Compatibility - Multi-Participant Capabilities over the Internet - Support for Multiple Interface Devices (Mouse, Head-Mounted Displays,

Gloves, etc.) - Integration with Windows Applications via DDE and OLE

Where to Get the Freeware Version of WIRL

WIRL is available for free download at VREAM's Web site, http://www.vream.com, and at Netscape's Web site, http://home.netscape.com, on the inline plug-ins page.