OSSL’s TextureDrawing
by azwaldo on Apr.01, 2009, under opensim, scripting
First use of OpenSim-specific functions today. Even though this occured on the same day as a significant HubBub erupted in the OpenSim community (note the date of this post), it is encouraging to find that the potential of OpenSim is already proving itself…making strides beyond the capabilities of Second Life®.
TextureDrawing Example
I implemented the example script for TextureDrawing in ReactionGrid’s OpenSim. This function allows the display of text on a prim’s surface. Font resolution is crisp (see image) and some styles can be applied to the text (font size, decoration and color all applied in object in background). I modified the example script to receive a string from public chat, edit into display-size chunks (lines), and draw onto prim surface.
Next, we poll a file on an external server to retrieve text submitted via website.
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May 21st, 2009 on 3:22 am
Hi Azzy,
Now I know what you have been doing with your time!
I have come to this page as a result of reading your response to a posting on the RezEd site about the potential of OpenSim for those age groups unable to access the main Linden grid. Strangely, I have recently become involved in a project the focus of which is developing curricula, pedagogy and actual learning modules for primary and secondary school students, and OpenSim has been on my mind for some time. Via another friend I also have a presence in an OpenSim grid, although I haven’t really spent enough time looking into the whole OpenSim situation yet.
One of the things that stood out in your posted response on the RezEd site was your development of tools for OpenSim that are not available on the Linden grid. As you know, I am always very interested in any tool that may prove useful in enhancing the learning experience of my students. My question is, are any of these new tools (like the one you describe above) likely to also be available for use on the main Linden grid? I ask this because, for me the reality is that we as a university department have made a substantial commitment resource and time wise to SL, and while I am definitely going to be following developments in relation to the use of OpenSim, I still have to make full use of our existing facilities in SL.
Hope this makes sense.
Cheers,
Scott
May 24th, 2009 on 2:10 pm
Is Second Life likely to implement functionality developed first in OpenSim? I am not familiar with an instance of this happening; but then, I don’t get out much. In some cases, I would expect it to happen. Consider the function mentioned in this post. There, the OpenSim development community has produced a feature that improves the experience of both the user and the content creator.
The OSSL TextureDrawing function assigns text to a prim surface by script, which alleviates the need to use XYText (a technique that is prim-heavy and more complicated to implement). TextureDrawing in OpenSim allows one to assign font size and decoration such as bold, underline; this would be a challenge with XYText. The black border of the prim in that image was also created by script. We might even see the application of mathematics to generate some interesting effects with this feature.
There are other examples of OpenSim functionality not found in Second Life. This will be interesting to watch.
May 21st, 2009 on 3:24 am
By the way, I tried subscribing to the RSS feed for this site, but can’t for some technical reason. If you have time, any chance you could drop a note into SL?
Thanks a million!
Scott