Digital Workshop

Been a while since I visited the age old Quick Time subject... however, I have a project coming up where I need to produce VR pans - but not use the quick time plugin (as the client's intranet will not permit it).

I can convert the QTVR to flash - but I want to be able to use the interaction - drag to view - So.... does anyone have a suggestion as to how to replicate a QTVR - without using the QT plugin???

Also... Just looked at the sample qtvr pub in Opus 8 - the QTVR's do not seem to be playing? Anyone else noticed this?

Thanks

Pete

QTVR has been problematic for a while and not just for Opus.

If both your publication and the VR are Flash based then it may be possible to communicate between the two to a degree that allows control of a VR using something like local connection or cookies.

Mack

So - it looks like Quick Time is dead in the water?
But my original question was, is there a way to create the virtual pan effect aside from using QTVR?

Or - Mack (thanks for your response as always... could you expand on


Any suggestions would be really welcome

Thanks

Pete

I have put things in Opus from this software before and it seemed to work really well.

Looks interesting...

Can you put hotspots in it for Opus actions that will stay put as one navigates around the panorama?

Dave

You'd probably have to do some dry runs, but I tried it not long ago for client and using the latest QT crashed my clean XP and W7 machines when previewing a publication with VR.

As for the other idea, I'd start by looking at how the Flash VR is controlled before seeing if Opus can communicate with it.

Mack

This is an area where DW would do well to attempt to find a solution. Whilst on my last contract before going to work here I was doing design work for the US Army on an IED detection and disposal simulation. I won't go into the whole story, but using Bryce to generate my "world" and Opus to run it I produced a rapid prototype the prime contractor was unable to duplicate in the "real" programming app they had chosen to the Army's satisfaction.

The only thing lacking at that point to realize the whole thing in Opus (I was not tasked with that part...) was this same problem.

A fluid panorama/VR player with hotspots that are reliable and stay "glued" to the right spot would open up a whole new area for Opus in high end virtual world sims.

Dave

I think, and don't quote me on this, but what you'd probably have to do is run it in a browser window and then use JavaScript to have things done. Not sure how it could communicate with Opus.

I'd noted your response. However, as you mention in your last post, apparent lots of "if, ands, or buts" and in the business end we have learned to be leary of spending expensive programmer time on anything except absolute essentials. So far, we've avoided issues where panoramic navigation is required for this reason.

We've spent LOTS of time and money developing workarounds and solutions for other things, independently as well as in cooperation with DW, but as fans of Sun Tzu we try to pick our battles carefully.

Definitely things we could do with this but more critical issues at the moment. Hope somebody will fight this one...

Dave

..and still the fish won't whistle...

Winnie the P'U

Okies, that's either British humor or a British insult...

Dave

Or I could just be agreeing with you...

as in sometimes, despite the money, time and effort you still cannot get Opus to whistle and therefore it's better to practice the Taoist philosophy of P'U, the uncarved block, pick your battles and recognise that power is in the original simplicity and not trying to shape something to be everything.

Besides, what idiot insults a Texan - don't you carry guns

Mack

Ahhhh...Really busy and didn't make the connection. It's been 20 years since I read the Tao of Pooh, though I still have it along with about 20 other translations of Lao Tzu. Fundamental philosophy for me. Oddly, studying Lao Tzu while living in southeast Asia caused me to return to Christianity with a completely new view of it.

Anyway, as to Texans and guns...yep, and usually concealed these days so it pays to ask yourself if you're feeling lucky before laughing at our boots.

I used to be a bit more sanguine about Opus limits but they've kept moving out to the point I keep finding new potential. Each of my staff programmers now has a specialty. One does ILT courseware, one does simulations, and another does utilities, SCORM packaging, and database manipulation stuff. I've another who is sort of a "pinch hitter" generalist.

With that many brains on Opus we are constantly coming up with "why nots?" and further pushing the limits.

And we've not run into the hologrid limits yet...

Dave

I promise not to laugh at your boots, if you don't laugh at my flip-flops

Mack