In a groundbreaking move, Apple has joined hands with industry giants like Pixar, Adobe, Autodesk, NVIDIA, and Linux to support and enhance Pixar’s 3D Universal Scene Description technology. The primary objective of this collaboration is to standardize the 3D ecosystem by bolstering Open Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD), a technology that facilitates the creation of 3D content using a wide array of tools.
This collaborative effort seeks to improve interoperability among 3D tools and data, allowing developers and content creators to seamlessly describe, compose, and simulate large-scale 3D projects. The alliance aims to expand the range of 3D-enabled products and services available in the market, providing more opportunities for innovative applications and solutions.
OpenUSD, developed by Pixar Animation Studios, has already earned recognition for its high performance and robust interoperability across various tools and workflows. It serves as a powerful platform for new industries and applications in cinematic content production and artistic expression capture.
To promote compatibility and encourage wider adoption, the alliance is diligently working on creating written specifications that outline the features of OpenUSD. These specifications will be incorporated by other standards bodies, facilitating integration and implementation. The project will be hosted by The Linux Foundation’s Joint Development Foundation (JDF), ensuring open, efficient, and effective development of OpenUSD specifications. The ultimate goal is to gain recognition through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Furthermore, the alliance extends an invitation to various companies and organizations to join and actively participate in shaping the future of OpenUSD. AOUSD will serve as the primary platform for collaborative discussions to define enhancements to the technology within the industry.
Mike Rockwell, Apple’s vice president of the Vision Products Group, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “OpenUSD will help accelerate the next generation of AR experiences, from artistic creation to content delivery, and produce an ever-widening array of spatial computing applications. Apple has been an active contributor to the development of USD, and it is an essential technology for the groundbreaking visionOS platform, as well as the new Reality Composer Pro developer tool. We look forward to fostering its growth into a broadly adopted standard.”
Apple’s recent foray into virtual reality with Vision Pro, along with their new project focused on creating cinematic 3D content, highlights the company’s commitment to advancing the 3D content creation process and offering versatile tools for creators. The collaboration promises to revolutionize the 3D industry and pave the way for new and exciting possibilities in the world of spatial computing.
