OpenSG PLUS: Advances to current scenegraph technology

One of the unifying features of all VR and AR applications is the need for graphical output. In many cases this is done directly using OpenGL, even if it is tedious. A better way is using scenegraph systems, which work on a more abstract level. The scenegraph concept has been used in a number of commercial systems, many of which have stagnated or been cancelled. As a reaction to this state of affairs the OpenSG initiative was founded, which is developing the Open Source scenegraph OpenSG. The goal of the OpenSG PLUS project is to advance the state of the art in interactive computer graphics research and integrate the results into the OpenSG system to make them available to a wide audience. The targeted goals cover a wide area of topics. Clustering and mesh operations support on the low levels, NURBS, subdivision surfaces, volumes and others in the area of high-level primitives. The large model handling aspects include low-level operations like striping and occlusion culling up to hierarchy building strategies. To increase rendering quality the high-level shading part includes different new lighting models. The results have been and will be integrated into the OpenSG system and become available on the OpenSG website. They have been presented to a captive audience at the two OpenSG symposia and at the official OpenSG closing event last December.