The Web3D Consortium has announced the Rich Media 3D (RM3D) initiative, which is developing an open standard to enable rich media content containing 3D graphics, video and audio to be sent over the Internet and used in broadcast applications. RM3D is intended to enable an emerging category of media-capable Internet and broadcast devices and appliances to receive and present advanced content optimally while simplifying the media authoring process. This initiative is being driven by a wide range of OEM, graphics and content companies including 3Dlabs, ATI, Eyematic, iVAST, OpenWorlds, Shout Interactive, Sony, SRI and uma. The group intends to publish rapidly an initial draft standard during March 2001 with final specifications and initial physical implementations to be completed by December 2001. "RM3D's focus on enabling rich media content to be delivered to connected devices and processed at high-speed makes it a logical and necessary extension to the Consortium's existing standardization activities," said Sandy Ressler, vice president of the Web3D Consortium and Web3D Guide for About.com. "The initiative also demonstrates how the Consortium is addressing the needs of broadcast as well as Internet applications."