WebVR

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WebVR is an experimental JavaScript application programming interface (API) that provides support for virtual reality devices, such as the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Google Cardboard or OSVR in a web browser.^[1]

This API is designed with the following goals in mind:^[2]

• Detect available Virtual Reality devices.
• Query the devices capabilities.
• Poll the device’s position and orientation.
• Display imagery on the device at the appropriate frame rate.

History[edit]

WebVR was first conceived in spring 2014 by Vladimir Vukićević from Mozilla. The API's contributors include Brandon Jones, Boris Smus and others from the Mozilla team.^[3] On March 1, 2016, the Mozilla VR team and the Google Chrome team announced the version 1.0 release of the WebVR API proposal. The resulting API refactoring brought many improvements to WebVR.^[4]

The last tagged version is 1.1,^[5] which was last edited on April 5, 2017. The editors of the document include members from Mozilla and Google teams. However some Microsoft members have joined, and are actively collaborating in the drafting process of version 2.0 for the WebVR API.^[6]

Design[edit]

The WebVR API exposes a few new interfaces (such as VR Display, VR pose) that allow web applications to present content in virtual reality, by using WebGL with the necessary camera settings and device interactions (such as controllers or point of view). The API has been designed to follow a certain path, which is very similar to other intrusive Web API like the Geolocation API. The necessary steps are:

1. Request a list of the available VR devices.
2. Checks to see if the desired device supports the presentation modes the application needs.
3. If so, application advertises VR functionality to the user.
4. User performs an action that indicates they want to enter VR mode.
5. Request a VR session to present VR content with.
6. Begin a render loop that produces graphical frames to be displayed on the VR device.
7. Continue producing frames until the user indicates that they wish to exit VR mode.
8. End the VR session.

Support[edit]

WebVR 1.0 is currently supported in the release version of Firefox 55+ for Windows (64 bit version only)^[7] and in Chrome for Android^[8] as an Origin Trial Experiment, which means that developers can request a token to add to their website which will seamlessly enable WebVR. WebVR 1.1 is supported in Microsoft Edge from build 15002+^[9], and in Samsung Internet, Chromium, Servo and Oculus Carmel.

Chrome for Windows supports WebVR 1.1 in a special build. Firefox 55+ on macOS also supports WebVR if a setting is enabled by the user.^[7]

Supermedium was released in 2018 as a pure VR browser solely for WebVR content, supporting desktop VR headsets.^[10]

Notable uses[edit]

Below are some notable companies or projects related to WebVR:

• Supermedium is pure VR browser for Web-based VR content.^[10]
• IdeaSpaceVR is an open source content management system with an API to create VR themes in order to create, publish and manage VR experiences.^[11]
• Rodin (VR) enables creation and deployment of virtual reality experiences cross-platform using just JavaScript.^[12]
• JanusVR JanusVR is a suite of software that makes it simple to create, share and experience spatially rich internet content.^[13]
• A-Frame (VR) is an open-source web framework for building VR experiences with HTML.^[14]
• Archilogic has successfully used WebVR to produce 3D models that can be visited in virtual reality.
• Blend4Web is used for authoring WebVR-based applications such as heritage reconstruction and games.^[15]
• Kokowa: Kokowa is a webVR publishing platform aimed at non-programmers. It provides a drag and drop editor to build and share webVR experiences on the web and on social media.^[16]
• Goocreate: Goo Create is a cloud based 3D WebGL content creation editor. It can be used to create games, ads, campaign websites product showcases and scientific visualizations that run in a web browser.
• PlayCanvas: PlayCanvas is an open source 3D game engine/interactive 3D application engine.
• Vizor: Vizor is a platform for creating and sharing VR content on the web.
• Sketchfab: allows people to display and share 3D content online. It provides a 3D model viewer that allows the display of 3D models on any mobile, desktop webpage or VR headset.
• X3DOM: is an open-source framework and runtime for 3D graphics on the Web including WebVR. It leverages X3D, the current ISO open standard for web3D.^[17]
• Within: Extraordinary storytelling in Virtual Reality. Choose and watch many movies from the Within catalog in WebVR.^[18]
• Babylon.js is an WebGL/WebVR open-source framework used to build render interactive 3D experiences.^[19]
• VRRollerCoaster.app is a WebVR roller coaster experience ^[20]
• WebVR.Space enables users to explore a procedurally generated space universe with WebVR ^[21]

Similar technologies[edit]

Although WebVR is unique as an API, there are native applications on most hardware allowing for networked experiences and access to web content. Several key tools, such as Unity and Blender, are also able to export for the web and provide users a way to use their content without installing a dedicated application.

WebXR[edit]

In 2018, the WebXR API superseded WebVR, being designed for both augmented reality and virtual reality devices.^[22][23]

See also[edit]

• WebGL
• VRML

References[edit]