An introduction to Java3D (tutorial presentation)
Genevieve Orr · Journal of computing sciences in colleges · 2000
Java3D is a top-down approach for building 3D interactive programs which run in a web browser or as stand-alone applications. Built on top of the Java programming language, it uses a scene graph hierarchy as the basic structure. Various geometrical representations, animation/interaction, lighting, texture, collision detection, and sound are supported. Java3D offers an alternative approach to teaching the traditional first semester computer graphics course. Typically such courses cover basic low level algorithms such as line drawing and clipping which can take a significant amount of time to learn, implement, and integrate into a full rendering system. As a result, students gain little or no experience actually building real 3D applications. Java3D can change this. Students who are already well versed in Java can quickly begin writing fun interactive 3D applications, thus providing context and motivation for later understanding the low level algorithms. Java3D is also a natural choice since Java itself is being adopted as the first computer language in more and more colleges. It has the added advantage that it is freely available and can run on a standard pc. This workshop will present an overview of the Java3D scene-graph hierarchy. Classes for building shapes, textures, and lighting, as well as for creating behaviors will be described. Many sample programs will also be presented.