[Opensim-dev] Opensim-dev Digest, Vol 5, Issue 9

[Alan Tupper]

> On Tue, 5 Aug 2014 07:42:16 -0400 "Ovi Chris Rouly" <maelzel at ieee.org>
> wrote:
>
> > Dear Devs,
> >
> > I have been needing a viewer that is compact, has only MINIMAL
> > features (strong log-in "key" open/run protection, prompt for
> > iNet-target address input, 8-dof navigation
> > [frt,rgt,fwd,rev,up,dwn,yaw-l, yaw-r], TP-prompting, display of
> > "other" avatar name, runnable versions for Windows/Apple, and very
> > very little else) FOREVER!  Such a viewer would allow me to give my
> > Sponsors view-only access to my work.  I would pay a license fee per
> > copy too.
>
> Some of the viewer developers have been known to write custom viewers
> for money.  Me for instance.  B-)
>
> You can contact me off list if you like.
>
>
> I have also been working on a new viewer from scratch that does things
> differently internally, but uses modules to interface to other systems,
> massaging the internal protocols to what ever protocols are needed for
> the external system.  So that's the revolutionary approach for me.
>
>
A modular system would seem to be the way to get the best of both worlds.
We need a revolutionary viewer architecture to evolve the experience into
something more compelling.  Personally, I've been leaning in the direction
of a stripped down viewer with a more fleshed out embedded web framework.
The web framework would allow for a more flexible UI to be built, and opens
the door for dynamic UI that can be defined simulator side.  Additionally,
it could allow for a limited degree of viewer-side scripting via
Javascript, which has the potential to lead to a much more fluid user
experience.

It's my hunch that there will definitely be a place for LLLP viewers moving
forward, primarily as a power-user tool and and as a world/content editor
for creators.  Most casual users don't need or care about the majority of
features and options in a current viewer.   They just want it to do the
right thing at the right time without getting in their way.  A stripped
down viewer could do that, and it could open the floodgates for a wider
range of experimentation and creation on the Opensim platform.

While it's tempting to want to chase the idea of a web-based viewer, the
platform is too resource intensive to make it realistic.

-Alan Tupper
nexusomega at gmail.com
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