Editing Appendix/Ramblings/VirtualReality (section)

==Initial Browsing of Online Resources==

<ul>
  <li>'''DAE''' files &amp; '''XML COLLADA''' format &nbsp; <-- &nbsp; the ''Preview'' application on my MacBook Air will open/display a .DAE file</li>
  <ul>
<li>A file with the '''DAE''' file extension is a ''Digital Asset Exchange'' file.  DAE files are based on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COLLADA COLLADA] (COLLAborative Design Activity) XML schema, which is now owned and developed by Autodesk (e.g., Maya).  DAE files allow users to transmit 3D graphics files across multiple graphics applications.</li>
<li>'''Examples:'''<p></p>[https://developer.blender.org/F18376 cube.dae]&nbsp; <-- &nbsp; NOTE:  I have copied this "dae" file into a dropbox folder and have successfully modified it (changed color from red to purple) inside my txt editor.<p></p>In March 2011, [https://www.khronos.org/collada/ Khronos] released the COLLADA ''Conformance Test Suite'' (CTS).  The suite allows applications that import and export COLLADA to test against a large suite of examples, ensuring that they conform properly to the specification.  In July 2012, the [https://github.com/KhronosGroup/COLLADA-CTS CTS software was released on GitHub] &#8212; also see, an [https://www.khronos.org/files/collada_cts_rfq_2012.pdf associated PDF document], and [https://github.com/khronosGroup/OpenCOLLADA/ OpenCOLLADA hosted on Github] &#8212; allowing for community contributions.<p></p>Check out [https://www.turbosquid.com/Search/3D-Models/free/dae turbosquid.com]; or [https://free3d.com/3d-models/collada-cube Free3d]<p></p></li>
<li>August 2013:&nbsp; Autodesk has released [https://www.khronos.org/news/permalink/autodesk-releases-maya-lt-with-collada-export-capabilities Maya LT with COLLADA export capabilities].</li>
  </ul>
  <li>Four most common [https://all3dp.com/3d-printing-file-formats/ 3D printer file formats] in 2019.</li>
  <ul>
    <li>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format) '''STL:''']  <br />[https://all3dp.com/what-is-stl-file-format-extension-3d-printing/ File Format Simply Explained.]<p></p>As of today, STL is the undisputed champion among 3D printer file formats. STL’s history goes back to the invention of 3D printing itself. The first 3D printer was invented by Chuck Hull in 1987 at 3D Systems. The same guy was behind the STL file format.  If you are primarily printing with a single material and in a single color, STL will do the job. But the moment you move to multicolor printing, you have to ditch STL because it is simply not capable of storing colors.<p></p>There are many repositories, marketplaces and search engines on the web containing literally millions of free STL files. [https://www.thingiverse.com/ Thingiverse] is probably the largest STL file repository on the internet – so check it out.  You can also refer to our regularly updated list: [https://all3dp.com/1/free-stl-files-3d-printer-models-3d-print-files-stl-download/2019 Best Sites for Free STL Files & 3D Printer Models].<p></p>[https://all3dp.com/1/free-stl-viewer-mac-online-stl-file-viewer/ STL File Viewers]<p></p></li>
    <li>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavefront_.obj_file '''OBJ:''']  <p></p>[http://paulbourke.net/dataformats/obj/ File format explained].<p></p>Format developed by ''Wavefront''; note that a number of the above-referenced STL viewers will also view OBJ files.<p></p></li>
    <li>AMF</li>
    <li>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_Manufacturing_Format 3MF]</li>
  </ul>
  <li>Try this [http://www.greentoken.de/onlineconv/ online 3D converter]; in principle, it can be used to convert a DAE (i.e., COLLADA) file to an STL or OBJ file, and ''visa versa''.</li>
  <li>[https://unity.com/ Unity]</li>
  <ul>
    <li>See especially the ''Products'' page which briefly refers to &hellip;</li>
    <ul>
<li>'''Platforms:'''  Build once, deploy anywhere to reach the largest possible audience on our industry-leading platform; 25+ platforms across mobile, desktop, console, TV, VR (virtual reality), AR (augmented reality) and the Web.</li>
<li>'''XR:''' Powering over two-thirds of VR and AR experiences; Unity is the preferred development tool for the majority of XR creators.</li>
    </ul>
  </ul>
    <li>[https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/ Unreal Engine 4] &#8212; competitor of ''Unity''</li>
  <li>[https://www.oculus.com Oculus Rift S] driven by PC; or [https://developer.oculus.com/quest/ Oculus Quest, standalone 6DOF VR] &#8212; looks like they both can be driven by either ''Unity'' or ''Unreal'', or via the ''Native Platform'' provided by Oculus.</li>
    <ul>
      <li>In principle, the Oculus Rift can import new, user-supplied 3D scenes &#8212; see the [https://support.oculus.com/1005069889690411/#assetreq advanced help document] &#8212; but, for now, it only accepts files in ''GLB'' format.</li>
      <li>But see the import feature of [https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/28/17513574/oculus-medium-2-0-update-tools-vulkan-ui-home-export Oculus Medium 2.0].</li>
      <li>'''GLB format:''' &nbsp;a binary form of glTF that includes textures instead of referencing them as external images.</li>
      <li>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GlTF '''glTF:'''] &nbsp; (derivative short form of GL Transmission Format) is a file format for 3D scenes and models using the JSON standard. It is an API-neutral runtime asset delivery format developed by the Khronos Group 3D Formats Working Group. It was announced at HTML5DevConf 2016. This format is intended to be an efficient, interoperable format with minimum file size and runtime processing by apps. As such, its creators have described it as the "JPEG of 3D." </li>
    </ul>
  <li>[https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/gear-vr/ Gear VR] &#8212; Samsung's headset (powered by Oculus)<p></p>[http://www.gearvrf.org GearVR Framework] is the SDK for Samsung's Gear VR.</li>
  <li>Also consider [https://www.oculus.com/go/?locale=en_US ''Oculus Go'']</li>
  <li>''vtk'' has vtkOBJExporter as well as vtkOBJReader</li>
  <li>[https://www.kitware.com/ Kitware] may also be relevant</li>
  <li>[http://avsl.cct.lsu.edu/index-avizo-class-2012-2014.html Jinghua Ge's CCT-based visualization lab course]</li>
  <li>Look into the ''VR Model Viewer'' from [http://vrrobotsim.com/model-viewer MindRend Technologies], which "is a tool to import and view CAD models of various types in VR."<p></p>It claims to provide support for three of the four formats identified above in connection with 3D printers, namely:  '''STL''', '''OBJ''' (with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavefront_.obj_file#Material_template_library MTL] file), and '''3MF'''.<p></p>It supports the following VR headsets:  ''Oculus Rift'' and [https://www.vive.com/us/ ''HTC Vive''].</li>
  <li>[25 March 2020] It seems to me that in more than one instance I have read that Adobe Photoshop will import .dae-formatted (i.e., COLLADA) files, but I have been unable to locate this claim on any of Adobe's web pages.  Last night, as I was gearing up to purchase online a Lenovo laptop (see specifications immediately below), I was given the opportunity within the same order to purchase Photoshop.  But I did not know ''which'' Adobe software bundle to purchase.  From Adobe's website, I engaged in a "chat" session with the Adobe sales (?) team, but they were ultimately unable to answer my question regarding which application(s) and, therefore, which software bundle could actually import .dae-formatted files.
  <ul>
    <li><b>Lenova</b> laptop:&nbsp; Legion Y740 15" GTX Graphics. &nbsp; &nbsp; <b>Price</b> $1,699.99 (base), $1,749.99 (as configured below), -$370.00 PAXEAST2020 Coupon, Final = $1,379.99.</li>
    <ul>
<li>Processor:  9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H (2.60 GHz, up to 4.50 GHz with Turbo Boost, 6 Cores, 12 MB Cache)</li>
<li>Operating System:  Windows 10 Home 64</li>
<li>MS Office:  Selected "NONE"</li>
<li>Total Memory:  Selected 16 GB (8GB + 3GB) DDR4 2666MHz</li>
<li>First Hard Drive:  Selected 256GB SSD</li>
<li>Second Hard Drive:  Selected 256GB SSD PCIe</li>
<li>Display:  15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, anti-glare, Dolby vision HDR 400, 144 Hz, 500 nits</li>
<li>Graphic Card:  NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti 6 GB</li>
<li>Camera:  720p HD</li>
<li>Keyboard; Battery; Power Adapter; WiFi Wireless LAN Adapters (Killer Wireless 802.11AC (2 x 2) &amp; Bluetooth 4.1</li>
    </ul>
    <li><b>Adobe</b> software bundle possibilities:
    <ul>
<li>Photoshop ''Elements'' 2020 &#8212; does not appear to import COLLADA files</li>
<li>Premiere elements 2020 &#8212; does not appear to import COLLADA files</li>
<li>[https://www.adobe.com/in/creativecloud.html?promoid=NGWGRLB2&mv=other Adobe Aero] &hellip; Is Aero only availabe inside the ''ADOBE Creative Cloud''?
      <ul>
      <li>3D file formats that can be directly imported into Aero:   (1) PSD / PSB; (2) GLB (glTFbinary format)</li>
      <li>Inside an archive (.zip):  (1) OBJ; (2) <b><font color="red">COLLADA</font></b>; (3) 3DS; (4) glTF and GLB</li>
      </ul>
</li>
<li><b><font color="red">WAIT!!!</font></b>&nbsp; I have just realized that [https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/essential-3d-concepts-tools-photoshop.html this Adobe Photoshop page] &#8212; covering ''Essential 3D concepts and tools'' relevant to photoshop &#8212; states that files with .dae format ''can'' straightforwardly be ''opened'' inside photoshop.  We shall see!!</li>
    </ul>
  </ul>
  </li>
</ul>