After having a little trouble locating a 216 color palette for VRML, I decided that I would throw together a color palette of my own. It has turned out to be quite useful for helping me to visualize how the color(s) will look in my VRML worlds..

The file was created in several steps:

1. I used notepad to write the world information, background, and colors PROTO.
2. I tested the colors PROTO by manually entering a couple of locations, colors, and text.
3. I wrote a Visual Basic program to run through all of the X, Y & Z coordinates in a series of nested for/next loops (0 to 10 stepping 2). Colors were calculated by multiplying the X, Y & Z coordinates by 0.1.
4. I sent the results of the run code (with some formatting to use the PROTO) to a text box on a form and then copied the text to the colors wrl file that I created earlier.
5. I added the entry viewpoint.

I got pretty bored today and decided to make a basic animated color sphere. I'm brushing up on my VRML skills, so I'm back to the basics.

I wrote this in a basic text editor and just kept playing with the animation until I thought it was a little more interesting than just a straight line. Don't worry I didn't go too far ;)

This animated VRML file uses TouchSensor, ColorInterpolator, PositionInterpolator, TimeSensor and Transform.

I haven't figured out how to display the color above the sphere when the "Stop" sensor is activated. I will add that feature once I find a fairly clean way of doing it.

After taking a walk through one of the houses under construction on our block, I decided to see if I could "build" something of my own in VRML..

I wrote this in a basic text editor. I created a couple of PROTOs for this one. The first was a standard 8x8 ft wall. Then I decided to see if I could add a door. Using the 2 prototypes I could build a fairly large construction site (as long as I stick to the 8x8 dimension for the wall height and width). Extending the height would not be too big of an issue as the 16in spacing between the studs would remain correct, but changing the width would definitely break construction codes...

I would like to try expanding on this idea in the near future. I am thinking about "building" a full detail house with the following options:

1. Allow furnishings to be selected and moved to any location.
2. Wall, trim, and floor colors/styles could be selectable.
3. Lightning can be changed to view the interior as it would appear at night (time of day/year could also be selected to see how it would appear throughout the year.
4. Cost projections could be made based on the materials used in construction.
5. Clicking on a wall would reveal the internal construction (studs, wiring, plumbing, etc.)

Testing

Fish

Aquarium with fish

So far the fish doesn't look very real and the swimming motion is still very simple.  I'll keep working on it and see how it turns out.