Coinciding with SIGGRAPH 2011, the Khronos Group has released OpenGL 4.2, outlined exciting changes for WebCL, and detailed a new sensor processing API called StreamInput. OpenGL 4.2, which comes almost exactly a year after version 4.1, brings improved shader performance, better texture handling, and an extension that speeds up the replication and repositioning of complex objects. As with previous point releases, any graphics card capable of running OpenGL 4 and 4.1 will be able to run applications that use 4.2. This includes the Nvidia GeForce 400 and 500 series, and ATI/AMD Radeon 5000 and 6000 series of graphics cards.

On the WebCL front, Khronos has detailed how its working on a JavaScript binding to the OpenCL (GPGPU) standard, to bring heterogeneous, parallel computing to web apps. The idea is that WebGL, like OpenGL, will continue to power the actual rendering of browser-based apps and games, and WebCL, like OpenCL, will allow for incredibly complex image and physics processing. Ultimately, if WebCL comes to fruition (and the demos suggest that it will), then web browsers will have access to the same amount of processing power as installed, compiled applications.

StreamInput, on the other hand, is an entirely new “advanced sensor processing and user interaction API” that is designed to provide a general, cross-platform framework for interaction between computers and the new breed of complex sensors, like tablet and smartphone touchscreens and Kinect’s depth-sensing camera. The intent of StreamInput seems to be focused on making discovery of sensors easier for software developers, and on synchronizing the input from multiple sensors, as required by augmented reality applications.

Khronos always moves quickly to provide exactly what developers want, and it usually occupies the bleeding edge with regard to the hardware capabilities of new GPUs, too. With OpenGL 4.2, the Khronos Group has yet again steamed ahead of Microsoft and its slow-and-steady DirectX framework. Its tardiness and proprietary nature has taken its toll, too: With DirectX now only being used by Windows and Xbox gamers, and OpenGL or OpenGL ES being used across every smartphone, tablet, Wii, and PlayStation 3, it would seem that DirectX has all but lost. StreamInput could certainly prove to be a killer addition to any PC, console, and smartphone, too.

Khronos’ breakneck speed has its drawbacks, though. Eerily omitted from Khronos’ announcements is any mention of the WebGL standard and continuing steps to shore up its flawed specification. In fact, rather than stepping up security, WebCL will provide untrusted websites with even more access to your computer’s underlying hardware.

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Read more about OpenGL 4.2, WebCL, and StreamInput. Developers should read the OpenGL 4.2 spec with the changes highlighted [PDF].If you want to try out OpenGL 4.2 and you’re using an Nvidia graphics card, download the developer/beta drivers; Radeon users will have to wait until AMD releases new drivers (which should be soon).