Blink 3D Viewer Guide

Introduction
This document describes the functionality of the Blink 3D Viewers. The Blink 3D Viewers allow you to view and interact with Blink3D environments. The different types of viewers are: the Blink 3D Standalone Player and the Web browser plug- ins.

Environments
A Blink 3D environment is a self-contained interactive area containing a variety of objects. Depending on how the environment was designed you can normally navigate (move around) within the environment. You may have a physical representation, known as an avatar. The environment may have features that you can control. It may change based on your interactions within it, and may have lighting, movement, physics, chat capability, multiple users and many other advanced game-like features, depending on what was implemented by the designer of the environment. 

Stand Alone Player
The stand alone player is a program that must be manually installed on your system to use it. The Standalone Player can be used to view Blink 3D environments files (.env) that are on your local hard drive.

Internet Explorer, Firefox and Opera
Blink 3D has plug-ins for Internet Explorer, Firefox and Opera. All 3 browsers allow you to open an HTML file that has a Blink 3D environment embeded in it. There will be a slight pause while the environment loads.

Blink 3D Environment Window

The image above shows an example of a Blink 3D environment window. Your interaction with the environment is through this window. The controls that may be available to you within this window depend on what was implemented by the designer of the environment.

Chatting
Chat is a feature that allows you to exchange text messages in real time with others sharing the same environment. To display the chat window as shown in the screen shot above either right click in the environment and select Chat from the popup menu, or, click on the chat icon on the toolbar. Note that sometimes the designer of the environment will hide the Chat window or cause it to be permanently open.

At the bottom of the main chat window is the chat input window where you can enter you messages. To enter your message, click in the chat window and then type your message. Press return when done to send the message.

All the messages you send are displayed in the main chat window and will be visible to others using the same environment. The messages you send will be displayed in black. The messages from other people will be displayed in blue. The nickname of the person who sent the message will be displayed to the left of the message.

Messages in the chat window are color codes as follows:

Your messages - Black
Other people's messages - Blue
System messages - Orange
Error messages - Red
Environment messages - Green

Not all 3D environments are chat enabled or multi-user.

Nicknames
Each person in a multi-user environment has a unique nickname. The nickname is primarily used in the chat window to show who sent the message. The default nickname normally consists of some numbers and letters. If allowed by the designer of the environment you can change your nickname to something more meaningful. To change your nickname enter /nickname followed by the nickname you want to use in the chat input window. You should receive a confirmation message in orange stating that your nickname has been changed.

Toolbar
The Toolbar shown below may not always be visible. It can be disabled by the designer of the environment. If the toolbar is visible, you can control several features by clicking on icons displayed in the toolbar. Note: Some or all icons may also be disabled as determined by the designer of the environment

The first icon on the toolbar is Collision. Collision may be enabled or disabled for your avatar only. When enabled, the avatar will not be able to pass through solid objects such as walls or the ground.

The second icon on the toolbar is Gravity. Gravity can be enabled or disabled for your avatar only. When enabled, your avatar will fall to the ground. 

The third icon on the toolbar is Show Avatar which allows you to show or hide your avatar.

The fourth icon on the toolbar is Chat Window. The chat window may be visible or hidden.

Right Click Popup Menu
The other approach available for you to control the environment is the popup menu below.

In order to see the popup menu, first, click inside the environment window. Then right click to bring up the menu. This menu and/or some or all of the options may not be available depending on the designer of the environment.

Opening Environments
There are several ways to open a Blink 3D environment using a viewer:

In the Windows File Explorer you can click on a .env file and it will open the environment as long as the Blink 3D Standalone Player has been installed. If the Standalone Player is already open you can open an new environment using File->Open from the main menu.

In both the Standalone Player and in the browser plug-ins you can open a new environment using the /Goto Slash command in the chat input window. First, click inside the chat input window to enter the Slash command, followed by the name and path of the .env file to be opened. The path can either be a local hard driver or a URL.

If you are in a Web browser, use can use File->Open from the main menu to open a .html or or .htm that is hosting a Blink 3D environment.

Navigation
You can navigate (move around) in the 3D environment using either the mouse or the keyboard. There are several commands available which are listed below. The commands reference the X axis and Y axis. Note that the X axis is the horizontal direction and the Y axis is the vertical direction.

Note: The keyboard and mouse commands can be disabled by the designer of the environment

Portals
A portal is an entryway into another environment. Portals can be identified by a visual cue that is created by the designer of the environment, such as a gateway or a door or they can be invisible to the eye but still active. The look of portals will vary by environment. When you go through a portal, there will be a short pause while the new environment is loaded.

Avatars
An avatar is supposed to represent you and shows your position in the 3D environment. Depending on how the 3D environment was designed you may be able to change your avatar. To change your avatar enter into the chat input window /avatar followed by the full path or URL to the new avatar.

Slash Commands
Slash Commands are commands that can be entered into the chat input window and are used to perform specific operations. The command must be prefixed by a / to identify it as a command. Commands and parameters below are case-insensitive

Documentation Version 2.0.0.150
Copyright (c) 2008 Pelican Crossing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Pelican Crossing, Blink 3D and inDuality are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pelican Crossing, Inc.