Michael Jones (mtj++at++babar)
Sun, 7 Jan 1996 09:11:22 -0800
1. The Performer team is implementing the Cosmo graphics library
(known by several names: Cosmo MediaEngine, Cosmo3D, and Cosmo
Motion). Goals are speed, portability, and small footprint.
2. It will be available in beta and released versions this year
with full details available at the Cosmo Developers Conference.
3. SGI is codefining these APIs with SUN with the objective of
developing an extensible (via subclassing and callbacks in
Java) and fast 3D graphics and multimedia library for broad
use in all Java environments that need graphics.
4. The Cosmo MediaEngine will be a widely available API and fast
implementations will exist from the start for a number of
computer systems, including SGI, SUN, and PCs. For PCs, both
accellerated and unaccellerated systems will be supported.
5. Features of the design are based on the needs of several new
constituents beyond those driving the original Performer
design effort. The new list includes VRML, SUN, Silicon Studio,
Inventor, Performer, Interactive TV, Game Consoles, and others.
6. This is a new product--not just a port. Changes are required
for world-class graphics in the WEB and PC games contexts, so
we've taken a new tack. Don't expect direct support for all of
the advanced features of either Performer or Inventor. It's
better to think of it as the intersection of IV and PF rather
than the union.
Further, just to be clear on point #6, the MediaEngine is a small
and powerful child of both Performer and Inventor but it is not
a replacement for either. On the other hand, if your use of any
graphics library is to develop applications that you'd like to see
portable across all WEB browsers and Java environments, then you
will be interested in the MediaEngine.
Looking to the future, I can see the child (MediaEngine) growing
to an adulthood that could include current Performer and Inventor
application domains, but for now, Performer and Inventor continue
to be actively enhanced and developed for their users and the new
MediaEngine is on a parallel development track.
I hope this clears matters up. Check http://www.sgi.com for more
information about Cosmo, Performer, and Inventor.
Michael Jones
IRIS Performer and Cosmo MediaEngine
Be seeing you, Phone:415.933.1455 Fax:415.965.2658 M/S:8U-590
Michael T. Jones Silicon Graphics, Advanced Systems Division
mtj++at++sgi.com 2011 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mtn. View, CA 94039-7311
"Du musst Amboss oder Hammer sein" -- Goethe
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