Crystal Reality is/was a project to create a virtual 3d world that used cunning object representations to minimize file sizes - this would allow complex worlds to be browsed over the internet using relatively low bandwidth. The aim of the project was to write a file format, then an object viewer and then a world viewer. I have built a simple object viewer in Java, using Java3D, which demonstrates the concept nicely. See the status section for more details.

• Prototype (43Kb) - the original CR file is 31 bytes
  The first CR file, worked out byte-by-byte by hand, before the viewer was created (!)
  
• TicTacThing (62Kb) - the original CR file is 193 bytes
  An abstract jumble of shapes
  
• Pen (41Kb) - the original CR file is 97 bytes
  An object built from primitives
  

The project seems to be pretty much on hold, as other things got in the way. I will produce a downloadable version of the object viewer and some object files at some point.

Object Viewer
Coded in Java with Java3D - runs smoothly with a 3D graphics card. Downloads object files via HTTP or loads them from the local filesystem. Object primitives supported include Sphere, Cone, Cube, Cuboid and Cylinder. Started experimenting with textures. Yet to implement link objects.

Metacode Compiler
Coded in Java, this program converts simple text files of object code into the bytecode of CRO (Crystal Reality Object) files. A lot easier than writing bytecode each time!

World Viewer
Not started. See ActiveWorlds for a similar kind of thing.

Other Information
Tim Needham produced a complex object builder/viewer as part of his degree project - check out his homepage and look under 'computers' (about the third page in that section) and also his DIG page.

If you have any feedback about Crystal Reality, please email:

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16th January 2001