Frequently Asked Questions
Community Place FAQ version 0.3
Q01: What is Community Place?
A01: Sony originally created a 3D system based on VRML 1.0 along
with Sony Extensions (E-VRML)that would allow you to build and
animate 3D worlds. These worlds could contain not only animated 3D
geometric shapes, but also sound and video. This was the genesis of
the Community Place browser and its support tools.
Along with several other interested parties, Sony has taken VRML1.0
and enhanced it with support for features that allow you to build
interactive, interesting 3D worlds. Our current system is based
on VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) 2.0 which is the 3D
equivalent of HTML.
What's more, we have added support to our VRML 2.0 browser that allows
you to share a 3D world with friends and strangers alike, and to chat
watch each other move around the world.
The system consists of the following tools: our Enhanced-VRML 2.0
Browser "Community Place", an Enhanced-VRML Authoring Tool "Community
Place Conductor" and our shared worlds server "Community Place Bureau".
Q02: What is VRML?
A02: VRML is a programming language which allows you to create a 3D
"virtual world", it's designed to be the 3D equivilent of HTML.
Model data and Material data are in ASCII Text File Format so they are
easy to add to and change. A special browser will convert the text
file to 3D data ( rendering ) in order to create 3D space. With the
browser, you can move around the 3D world using your mouse or keyboard.
Also, in the same way that HTML creates hyper-links in text, VRML can
create hyper-links to objects. So you can download another 3D space or
2D data (HTML) by just clicking the mouse.
Q03: What is Enhanced-VRML?
A03: Enhanced-VRML(E-VRML) is based on standard VRML version 2.0 but
augmented with features to support multiuser interaction. We are
currently working with the VRML community to support the same kind
of functionality in the VRML specification.
Q04: Are there other companies making similar browsers?
A04: There are several other browsers which are based on VRML versions
1.0 and 2.0, but most do not support multiuser interaction.
Q05: What makes Community Place different from other browsers
already on the market?
A05: Based on the VRML 2.0 specification, Community Place not only enables
you to walk around the 3D world and interact with world objects such
as moving cars, movies, and music but also lets you share your experiences
such as manipulating objects and chatting your friends. However, because
E-VRML is just a superset of VRML 2.0, you can use the Community Place
browser to display any standard VRML 2.0 file.
Q06: What are the Enhanced-VRML 2.0 applications?
A06: That's up to the imagination of the world creators, We've built a
set of demo worlds that show off the functionality of E-VRML 2.0. However,
the really interesting worlds will be created by artistci authors using
the Community Place authoring tool Community Place Conductor.
Q07: What kind of computer is necessary to use Community Place?
A07: To use Community Place and Community Place Conductor, you need a
personal computer (PC/AT) running Windows 95.
Q08: Is there Community Place for Macintosh?
A08: We cannot make any official announcement about Macintosh support
at this moment. When the time comes, we will inform you via the Web.
Q09: What is the required CPU?
A09: 486DX2 66MHz or better, the faster your machine, the better the
experience. We recomend a pentium based machine if possible.
Q10: What is the required Memory?
A10: For Community Place, 12 MB or more, if possible 16MB or more.
For Community Place Conductor, 16MB or more. Again, the more memory you
have the better the system will perform.
Q11: What is the required free disk space?
A11: Community Place requires 6MB for downloading and 9MB or more for
installing. Community Place Conductor requires 9MB for downloading and
30MB or more for installing.
Q12: What is the required Display Mode?
A12: More than 256 colors are required and more than 65536 colors are
recommended. Minimum requirements of display size is 640 x 480 pixel.
But for Community Place, 800 x 600 pixel is recommended and for
Community Place Conductor, 1024 x 768 pixel or more is recommended.
Q13: Any other hardware necessary?
A13: In order to play sound, a sound board such as SoundBlanster is
necessary. But Community Place can work without a soundboard.
Q14: Any other Software necessary?
A14: Netscape Navigator for Windows (version 2 or later ) is
necessary in order to download VRML file from the Internet and to
display any HTML files which is linked to the Enhanced-VRML world.
Q15: Is it possible to use a HTML Browser other than
Netscape Navigator?
A15: For the time being, no - sorry!
Q16: When will Community Place be on the market?
A16: An evaluation version of Community Place and Community Place
Conductor can be downloaded from Internet free of charge. In addition,
a test version of the Community Place Bureau multiuser server is
available for Windows 95, supporting up to 12 concurrent connections.
Q17: How can I get an evaluation version?
A17: Please download from the Community Place Home Page at
http://sonypic.com/vs/
Q18: What if problems occur when downloading?
A18: Confirm that your preferences are properly set for Netscape's
references/Options/Mail&News settings. Also try entering the URL (as
below) directly into Netscape's location prompt:
http://vs.spiw.com/release/cpb10ex.exe
If downloading problems still occur, please contact us at
vrmlmail@spiw.com
Q19: Where is the mirror sites?
A19: Now, following sites are available.
http://sonypic.com/vs
http://japan.park.org/Japan/Sony/VS/Release
Q20: How is Community Place installed?
A20: Double click on the downloaded file and follow the instructions in
the menu which appears. Installation will then proceed automatically.
Q21: For how much will Community Place be sold?
A21: Pricing has not been set yet.
Q22: How long is the evaluation period?
A22: Your evaluation copy of the Community Place browser will expire
30 days after installation. You must then reinstall the software or
obtain a later release copy from this site.
Q23: How is support handled?
A23: Please send questions and comments by email to vrmlmail@spiw.com
Q24: How is Community Place used?
A24: Basically, only a PC mouse is needed for operation. Executing a
drag with the left button held down allows 4-directional navigation
(F/B/L/R). Holding down the shift key allows vertical
movement and rotation. In place of a mouse, you may also use your
keyboard arrow keys for navigation.
Q25: How much time is required to download data?
A25: It depends on your connection speed to the server.
Q26: After data is downloaded, how much time until it is displayed?
A26: That depends on the size and complexity of the world you're
trying to display, the bigger and more complex it is, the longer it
takes to read in and render. However, the Community Place browser gives
you an idea of it's current loading status by the colored dots which
appear on the right side of the window: yellow dots appear while 3D
geometry is loaded and red dots overlay the yellow while image textures
are being loaded.
Q27: Can data/contents created with the Community Place
Conductor be viewed without using Community Place?
A27: Enhanced-VRML data/contents created with the Community Place
Conductor is based on the VRML 1.0 standard, and can therefore be
viewed with most VRML-saavy browsers. However, in this case, the
extended functions of E-VRML such as movies, sound, object movement
will not be supported.
In the future, Sony will announce an updated version of Conductor
which supports the VRML 2.0 standard.
Q28: How are 3D data/VRML contents created?
A28: Create the model data with any modeling tools currently available
on the market - as long as they can export VRML format files you're
OK. After converting this data to the VRML 2.0 standard, you may view
your real time rendered creations in the Community Place browser.
Q29: What modeling tools can be used?
A29: Tools such as WaveFront, SoftImage and 3D Studio Max are suitable.
Q30: What texture formats are supported?
A30: Windows BMP, RAS, GIF, JPEG.
Q31: What audio formats are supported?
A31: WAV and MOD.
Q32: What movie formats are supported?
A32: Currently multi-frame BMP or GIF. AVI and MPEG support is planned.
Q33: What scripting languages are supported?
A33: JAVA
Q34: What about multi-user access?
A34: By connecting via the Internet to a MultiUser Society Server,
Community Place Bureau, it is possible to navigate through interactive
3D, multiuser space. In this space, it is possible to communicate with
other users by sending text messages, as well as sharing objects with
one another.
Q35: How is the Community Place Bureau used?
A35: The Bureau server software is available for a number of Unix
plaforms as well as for Windows 95. Documentation accompanies these
versions as does online help.
Q36: How many users can be supported over the network with
MultiUser?
A36: This is a difficult question to answer since it largely depends
on the amount of avatar motion occurring in the world and the size of
your pipe (e.g., ISDN or T1 connection) to the Internet.
Simultaneous access for about 300 users can be reasonably expected on
the available bandwidth of a T1 line, although the theoretical limit
would be more around 1000.
