WebGL standard promises plug-in free 3D acceleration
updated 01:10 pm EDT, Tue August 4, 2009
WebGL standard detailed
Standards firm Khronos has revealed details on WebGL, an upcoming graphics technology. The standard provides a JavaScript binding for OpenGL ES 2.0, allowing 3D-accelerated graphics within a variety of web browsers. More crucially the standard eliminates the need for custom rendering plug-ins, enabling complex 3D on websites as matter of course. Some expected uses include online gaming, as at sites like Instant Action, or elaborate navigation interfaces.
The standard is said to be possible because of the Canvas element in HTML 5, and a general performance increase throughout most JavaScript engines. Members of the WebGL working group include AMD, Ericsson, Google, Mozilla, NVIDIA and Opera, which are together said to be cooperating with Khronos on cross-platform compatibility, as well as portable secure shaders. An initial public release of WebGL should occur in the first half of 2010; the standard will be royalty-free, and at some point supported by Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.
