Quantizing the Void: Extending Web3D for Space-Filling Haptic Meshes

In this paper we summarize the progress of the Web3D scene graph model, and associated standards, specifically Extensible 3D (X3D) in the domain of medical simulation. Historically, the Web3D nodesets have focused on the representation and rendering of point, line or surface geometry. More recently, significant progress in X3D Volume rendering has been made available through the co-operative DICOM work item, n-Dimensional Presentation States. However, here we outline the need for a standard for simulation meshes and review several related approaches. As a result, we propose preliminary requirements for a simulation mesh standard and provide several use case scenarios of how Web3D and haptic technologies can aid the fulfillment of these requirements. We conclude with an X3D proposal to describe simulation meshes for soft (deformable) bodies.