Summary

The Java Media APIs provide a common platform for developing media, imaging, and visualization applications that are suitable for many platforms and the Internet. One of the particular strengths is having access to the entire Java language as well as the other Java Media APIs.

This book attempts to get the developer up and running with the Java 3D APIs using less complicated heuristic examples augmented by more complex comprehensive examples. There is no way that the entire API could be covered in this text nor any other for that matter. Java 3D is immense and is changing frequently. You will also gain some insight into 3D graphics. From experience, we can say that these are both somewhat difficult topics that can take years to master. However, much of what developers want to produce can be done rapidly with Java 3D.

We wish you well in your use of these exciting technologies. We hope you will enjoy using them as much as we enjoyed writing about them.