diff --git a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.cpp b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.cpp
index 85d4749b27..7cca9d3ef5 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.cpp
@@ -1036,6 +1036,13 @@ void OctreeServer::readConfiguration() {
         strcpy(_persistFilename, qPrintable(persistFilename));
         qDebug("persistFilename=%s", _persistFilename);
 
+        QString persistAsFileType;
+        if (!readOptionString(QString("persistAsFileType"), settingsSectionObject, persistAsFileType)) {
+            persistAsFileType = "svo";
+        }
+        _persistAsFileType = persistAsFileType;
+        qDebug() << "persistAsFileType=" << _persistAsFileType;
+
         _persistInterval = OctreePersistThread::DEFAULT_PERSIST_INTERVAL;
         readOptionInt(QString("persistInterval"), settingsSectionObject, _persistInterval);
         qDebug() << "persistInterval=" << _persistInterval;
@@ -1131,7 +1138,7 @@ void OctreeServer::run() {
 
         // now set up PersistThread
         _persistThread = new OctreePersistThread(_tree, _persistFilename, _persistInterval,
-                                    _wantBackup, _settings, _debugTimestampNow);
+                                                 _wantBackup, _settings, _debugTimestampNow, _persistAsFileType);
         if (_persistThread) {
             _persistThread->initialize(true);
         }
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.h b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.h
index 0f90c2941e..41cd3259cf 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.h
+++ b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.h
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ protected:
     QString _statusHost;
 
     char _persistFilename[MAX_FILENAME_LENGTH];
+    QString _persistAsFileType;
     int _packetsPerClientPerInterval;
     int _packetsTotalPerInterval;
     Octree* _tree; // this IS a reaveraging tree
diff --git a/domain-server/resources/describe-settings.json b/domain-server/resources/describe-settings.json
index fdaede8c44..9af44f6a1b 100644
--- a/domain-server/resources/describe-settings.json
+++ b/domain-server/resources/describe-settings.json
@@ -325,6 +325,24 @@
         "default": "resources/models.svo",
         "advanced": true
       },
+      {
+        "name": "persistAsFileType",
+        "label": "File format for entity server's persistent data",
+        "help": "This defines how the entity server will save entities to disk.",
+        "default": "svo",
+        "type": "select",
+        "options": [
+          {
+            "value": "svo",
+            "label": "Entity server persists data as SVO"
+          },
+          {
+            "value": "json",
+            "label": "Entity server persists data as JSON"
+          }
+        ],
+        "advanced": true
+      },
       {
         "name": "persistInterval",
         "label": "Save Check Interval",
diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index 184d1bf940..147162384b 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -891,9 +891,10 @@ bool Application::event(QEvent* event) {
                 DependencyManager::get<AddressManager>()->handleLookupString(fileEvent->url().toString());
             } else if (url.path().toLower().endsWith(SVO_EXTENSION)) {
                 emit svoImportRequested(url.url());
+            } else if (url.path().toLower().endsWith(JS_EXTENSION)) {
+                askToLoadScript(url.toString());
             }
         }
-        
         return false;
     }
     
@@ -1454,31 +1455,43 @@ void Application::wheelEvent(QWheelEvent* event) {
 void Application::dropEvent(QDropEvent *event) {
     QString snapshotPath;
     const QMimeData *mimeData = event->mimeData();
+    bool atLeastOneFileAccepted = false;
     foreach (QUrl url, mimeData->urls()) {
         auto lower = url.path().toLower();
         if (lower.endsWith(SNAPSHOT_EXTENSION)) {
             snapshotPath = url.toLocalFile();
-            break;
+            
+            
+            SnapshotMetaData* snapshotData = Snapshot::parseSnapshotData(snapshotPath);
+            if (snapshotData) {
+                if (!snapshotData->getDomain().isEmpty()) {
+                    DependencyManager::get<NodeList>()->getDomainHandler().setHostnameAndPort(snapshotData->getDomain());
+                }
+
+                _myAvatar->setPosition(snapshotData->getLocation());
+                _myAvatar->setOrientation(snapshotData->getOrientation());
+                atLeastOneFileAccepted = true;
+                break; // don't process further files
+            } else {
+                QMessageBox msgBox;
+                msgBox.setText("No location details were found in the file "
+                                + snapshotPath + ", try dragging in an authentic Hifi snapshot.");
+                                
+                msgBox.setStandardButtons(QMessageBox::Ok);
+                msgBox.exec();
+            }
         } else if (lower.endsWith(SVO_EXTENSION)) {
             emit svoImportRequested(url.url());
             event->acceptProposedAction();
-            return;
+            atLeastOneFileAccepted = true;
+        } else if (lower.endsWith(JS_EXTENSION)) {
+            askToLoadScript(url.url());
+            atLeastOneFileAccepted = true;
         }
     }
-
-    SnapshotMetaData* snapshotData = Snapshot::parseSnapshotData(snapshotPath);
-    if (snapshotData) {
-        if (!snapshotData->getDomain().isEmpty()) {
-            DependencyManager::get<NodeList>()->getDomainHandler().setHostnameAndPort(snapshotData->getDomain());
-        }
-
-        _myAvatar->setPosition(snapshotData->getLocation());
-        _myAvatar->setOrientation(snapshotData->getOrientation());
-    } else {
-        QMessageBox msgBox;
-        msgBox.setText("No location details were found in this JPG, try dragging in an authentic Hifi snapshot.");
-        msgBox.setStandardButtons(QMessageBox::Ok);
-        msgBox.exec();
+    
+    if (atLeastOneFileAccepted) {
+        event->acceptProposedAction();
     }
 }
 
@@ -1798,7 +1811,7 @@ bool Application::importEntities(const QString& urlOrFilename) {
         url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(urlOrFilename);
     }
     
-    bool success = _entityClipboard.readFromSVOURL(url.toString());
+    bool success = _entityClipboard.readFromURL(url.toString());
     if (success) {
         _entityClipboard.reaverageOctreeElements();
     }
@@ -2795,7 +2808,31 @@ QImage Application::renderAvatarBillboard() {
     return image;
 }
 
+// FIXME, preprocessor guard this check to occur only in DEBUG builds
+static QThread * activeRenderingThread = nullptr;
+
+ViewFrustum* Application::getViewFrustum() {
+#ifdef DEBUG
+    if (QThread::currentThread() == activeRenderingThread) {
+        // FIXME, should this be an assert?
+        qWarning() << "Calling Application::getViewFrustum() from the active rendering thread, did you mean Application::getDisplayViewFrustum()?";
+    }
+#endif
+    return &_viewFrustum;
+}
+
+ViewFrustum* Application::getDisplayViewFrustum() {
+#ifdef DEBUG
+    if (QThread::currentThread() != activeRenderingThread) {
+        // FIXME, should this be an assert?
+        qWarning() << "Calling Application::getDisplayViewFrustum() from outside the active rendering thread or outside rendering, did you mean Application::getViewFrustum()?";
+    }
+#endif
+    return &_displayViewFrustum;
+}
+
 void Application::displaySide(Camera& theCamera, bool selfAvatarOnly, RenderArgs::RenderSide renderSide) {
+    activeRenderingThread = QThread::currentThread();
     PROFILE_RANGE(__FUNCTION__);
     PerformanceTimer perfTimer("display");
     PerformanceWarning warn(Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::PipelineWarnings), "Application::displaySide()");
@@ -3020,6 +3057,7 @@ void Application::displaySide(Camera& theCamera, bool selfAvatarOnly, RenderArgs
         glClear(GL_DEPTH_BUFFER_BIT);
         _overlays.renderWorld(true);
     }
+    activeRenderingThread = nullptr;
 }
 
 void Application::updateUntranslatedViewMatrix(const glm::vec3& viewMatrixTranslation) {
@@ -3112,17 +3150,25 @@ void Application::renderRearViewMirror(const QRect& region, bool billboard) {
                                   _myAvatar->getOrientation() * glm::vec3(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f) * MIRROR_REARVIEW_BODY_DISTANCE * _myAvatar->getScale());
 
     } else { // HEAD zoom level
-        _mirrorCamera.setFieldOfView(MIRROR_FIELD_OF_VIEW);     // degrees
-        if (_myAvatar->getSkeletonModel().isActive() && _myAvatar->getHead()->getFaceModel().isActive()) {
-            // as a hack until we have a better way of dealing with coordinate precision issues, reposition the
-            // face/body so that the average eye position lies at the origin
-            eyeRelativeCamera = true;
-            _mirrorCamera.setPosition(_myAvatar->getOrientation() * glm::vec3(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f) * MIRROR_REARVIEW_DISTANCE * _myAvatar->getScale());
+        // FIXME note that the positioing of the camera relative to the avatar can suffer limited 
+        // precision as the user's position moves further away from the origin.  Thus at 
+        // /1e7,1e7,1e7 (well outside the buildable volume) the mirror camera veers and sways 
+        // wildly as you rotate your avatar because the floating point values are becoming 
+        // larger, squeezing out the available digits of precision you have available at the 
+        // human scale for camera positioning.  
 
-        } else {
-            _mirrorCamera.setPosition(_myAvatar->getHead()->getEyePosition() +
-                                      _myAvatar->getOrientation() * glm::vec3(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f) * MIRROR_REARVIEW_DISTANCE * _myAvatar->getScale());
-        }
+        // Previously there was a hack to correct this using the mechanism of repositioning 
+        // the avatar at the origin of the world for the purposes of rendering the mirror, 
+        // but it resulted in failing to render the avatar's head model in the mirror view 
+        // when in first person mode.  Presumably this was because of some missed culling logic 
+        // that was not accounted for in the hack.  
+
+        // This was removed in commit 71e59cfa88c6563749594e25494102fe01db38e9 but could be further 
+        // investigated in order to adapt the technique while fixing the head rendering issue,
+        // but the complexity of the hack suggests that a better approach 
+        _mirrorCamera.setFieldOfView(MIRROR_FIELD_OF_VIEW);     // degrees
+        _mirrorCamera.setPosition(_myAvatar->getHead()->getEyePosition() +
+                                    _myAvatar->getOrientation() * glm::vec3(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f) * MIRROR_REARVIEW_DISTANCE * _myAvatar->getScale());
     }
     _mirrorCamera.setAspectRatio((float)region.width() / region.height());
 
@@ -3149,58 +3195,7 @@ void Application::renderRearViewMirror(const QRect& region, bool billboard) {
 
     // render rear mirror view
     glPushMatrix();
-    if (eyeRelativeCamera) {
-        // save absolute translations
-        glm::vec3 absoluteSkeletonTranslation = _myAvatar->getSkeletonModel().getTranslation();
-        glm::vec3 absoluteFaceTranslation = _myAvatar->getHead()->getFaceModel().getTranslation();
-
-        // get the neck position so we can translate the face relative to it
-        glm::vec3 neckPosition;
-        _myAvatar->getSkeletonModel().setTranslation(glm::vec3());
-        _myAvatar->getSkeletonModel().getNeckPosition(neckPosition);
-
-        // get the eye position relative to the body
-        glm::vec3 eyePosition = _myAvatar->getHead()->getEyePosition();
-        float eyeHeight = eyePosition.y - _myAvatar->getPosition().y;
-
-        // set the translation of the face relative to the neck position
-        _myAvatar->getHead()->getFaceModel().setTranslation(neckPosition - glm::vec3(0, eyeHeight, 0));
-
-        // translate the neck relative to the face
-        _myAvatar->getSkeletonModel().setTranslation(_myAvatar->getHead()->getFaceModel().getTranslation() -
-            neckPosition);
-
-        // update the attachments to match
-        QVector<glm::vec3> absoluteAttachmentTranslations;
-        glm::vec3 delta = _myAvatar->getSkeletonModel().getTranslation() - absoluteSkeletonTranslation;
-        foreach (Model* attachment, _myAvatar->getAttachmentModels()) {
-            absoluteAttachmentTranslations.append(attachment->getTranslation());
-            attachment->setTranslation(attachment->getTranslation() + delta);
-        }
-
-        // and lo, even the shadow matrices
-        glm::mat4 savedShadowMatrices[CASCADED_SHADOW_MATRIX_COUNT];
-        for (int i = 0; i < CASCADED_SHADOW_MATRIX_COUNT; i++) {
-            savedShadowMatrices[i] = _shadowMatrices[i];
-            _shadowMatrices[i] = glm::transpose(glm::transpose(_shadowMatrices[i]) * glm::translate(-delta));
-        }
-
-        displaySide(_mirrorCamera, true);
-
-        // restore absolute translations
-        _myAvatar->getSkeletonModel().setTranslation(absoluteSkeletonTranslation);
-        _myAvatar->getHead()->getFaceModel().setTranslation(absoluteFaceTranslation);
-        for (int i = 0; i < absoluteAttachmentTranslations.size(); i++) {
-            _myAvatar->getAttachmentModels().at(i)->setTranslation(absoluteAttachmentTranslations.at(i));
-        }
-        
-        // restore the shadow matrices
-        for (int i = 0; i < CASCADED_SHADOW_MATRIX_COUNT; i++) {
-            _shadowMatrices[i] = savedShadowMatrices[i];
-        }
-    } else {
-        displaySide(_mirrorCamera, true);
-    }
+    displaySide(_mirrorCamera, true);
     glPopMatrix();
 
     if (!billboard) {
@@ -3601,6 +3596,19 @@ void Application::registerScriptEngineWithApplicationServices(ScriptEngine* scri
     workerThread->start();
 }
 
+void Application::askToLoadScript(const QString& scriptFilenameOrURL) {
+    QMessageBox::StandardButton reply;
+    QString message = "Would you like to run this script:\n" + scriptFilenameOrURL;
+    reply = QMessageBox::question(getWindow(), "Run Script", message, QMessageBox::Yes|QMessageBox::No);
+
+    if (reply == QMessageBox::Yes) {
+        qDebug() << "Chose to run the script: " << scriptFilenameOrURL;
+        loadScript(scriptFilenameOrURL);
+    } else {
+        qDebug() << "Declined to run the script: " << scriptFilenameOrURL;
+    }
+}
+
 ScriptEngine* Application::loadScript(const QString& scriptFilename, bool isUserLoaded,
                                         bool loadScriptFromEditor, bool activateMainWindow) {
 
diff --git a/interface/src/Application.h b/interface/src/Application.h
index b013692393..49fdde5fb2 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.h
+++ b/interface/src/Application.h
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ static const float NODE_KILLED_BLUE  = 0.0f;
 
 static const QString SNAPSHOT_EXTENSION  = ".jpg";
 static const QString SVO_EXTENSION  = ".svo";
+static const QString JS_EXTENSION  = ".js";
 
 static const float BILLBOARD_FIELD_OF_VIEW = 30.0f; // degrees
 static const float BILLBOARD_DISTANCE = 5.56f;       // meters
@@ -174,8 +175,12 @@ public:
     bool isThrottleRendering() const { return _glWidget->isThrottleRendering(); }
 
     Camera* getCamera() { return &_myCamera; }
-    ViewFrustum* getViewFrustum() { return &_viewFrustum; }
-    ViewFrustum* getDisplayViewFrustum() { return &_displayViewFrustum; }
+    // Represents the current view frustum of the avatar.  
+    ViewFrustum* getViewFrustum();
+    // Represents the view frustum of the current rendering pass, 
+    // which might be different from the viewFrustum, i.e. shadowmap 
+    // passes, mirror window passes, etc
+    ViewFrustum* getDisplayViewFrustum();
     ViewFrustum* getShadowViewFrustum() { return &_shadowViewFrustum; }
     const OctreePacketProcessor& getOctreePacketProcessor() const { return _octreeProcessor; }
     EntityTreeRenderer* getEntities() { return &_entities; }
@@ -336,6 +341,7 @@ public slots:
     void loadDialog();
     void loadScriptURLDialog();
     void toggleLogDialog();
+    void askToLoadScript(const QString& scriptFilenameOrURL);
     ScriptEngine* loadScript(const QString& scriptFilename = QString(), bool isUserLoaded = true, 
         bool loadScriptFromEditor = false, bool activateMainWindow = false);
     void scriptFinished(const QString& scriptName);
diff --git a/interface/src/GLCanvas.cpp b/interface/src/GLCanvas.cpp
index 4587fca0f4..c615083335 100644
--- a/interface/src/GLCanvas.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/GLCanvas.cpp
@@ -168,10 +168,10 @@ void GLCanvas::wheelEvent(QWheelEvent* event) {
 }
 
 void GLCanvas::dragEnterEvent(QDragEnterEvent* event) {
-    const QMimeData *mimeData = event->mimeData();
+    const QMimeData* mimeData = event->mimeData();
     foreach (QUrl url, mimeData->urls()) {
         auto lower = url.path().toLower();
-        if (lower.endsWith(SNAPSHOT_EXTENSION) || lower.endsWith(SVO_EXTENSION)) {
+        if (lower.endsWith(SNAPSHOT_EXTENSION) || lower.endsWith(SVO_EXTENSION) || lower.endsWith(JS_EXTENSION)) {
             event->acceptProposedAction();
             break;
         }
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
index 75d77b780a..431b6e0d37 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ void Avatar::render(const glm::vec3& cameraPosition, RenderMode renderMode, bool
     // simple frustum check
     float boundingRadius = getBillboardSize();
     ViewFrustum* frustum = (renderMode == Avatar::SHADOW_RENDER_MODE) ?
-        Application::getInstance()->getShadowViewFrustum() : Application::getInstance()->getViewFrustum();
+        Application::getInstance()->getShadowViewFrustum() : Application::getInstance()->getDisplayViewFrustum();
     if (frustum->sphereInFrustum(getPosition(), boundingRadius) == ViewFrustum::OUTSIDE) {
         return;
     }
@@ -1013,16 +1013,18 @@ float Avatar::getSkeletonHeight() const {
 }
 
 float Avatar::getHeadHeight() const {
-    Extents extents = getHead()->getFaceModel().getBindExtents();
+    Extents extents = getHead()->getFaceModel().getMeshExtents();
     if (!extents.isEmpty()) {
         return extents.maximum.y - extents.minimum.y;
     }
+
+    extents = _skeletonModel.getMeshExtents();
     glm::vec3 neckPosition;
-    glm::vec3 headPosition;
-    if (_skeletonModel.getNeckPosition(neckPosition) && _skeletonModel.getHeadPosition(headPosition)) {
-        return glm::distance(neckPosition, headPosition);
+    if (!extents.isEmpty() && _skeletonModel.getNeckPosition(neckPosition)) {
+        return extents.maximum.y / 2.0f - neckPosition.y + _position.y;
     }
-    const float DEFAULT_HEAD_HEIGHT = 0.1f;
+
+    const float DEFAULT_HEAD_HEIGHT = 0.25f;
     return DEFAULT_HEAD_HEIGHT;
 }
 
diff --git a/interface/src/ui/DataWebPage.cpp b/interface/src/ui/DataWebPage.cpp
index bec2c98f55..c24e34fb64 100644
--- a/interface/src/ui/DataWebPage.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/ui/DataWebPage.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ bool DataWebPage::acceptNavigationRequest(QWebFrame* frame, const QNetworkReques
         if (request.url().path().toLower().endsWith(SVO_EXTENSION)) {
             Application::getInstance()->importSVOFromURL(request.url());
             return false;
+        } else if (request.url().path().toLower().endsWith(JS_EXTENSION)) {
+            Application::getInstance()->askToLoadScript(request.url().toString());
+            return false;
         }
         return true;
     } else {
diff --git a/interface/src/ui/overlays/Overlays.cpp b/interface/src/ui/overlays/Overlays.cpp
index c7b350f100..158deb00ff 100644
--- a/interface/src/ui/overlays/Overlays.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/ui/overlays/Overlays.cpp
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ void Overlays::renderWorld(bool drawFront, RenderArgs::RenderMode renderMode, Re
     float myAvatarScale = 1.0f;
     
     auto lodManager = DependencyManager::get<LODManager>();
-    RenderArgs args = { NULL, Application::getInstance()->getViewFrustum(),
+    RenderArgs args = { NULL, Application::getInstance()->getDisplayViewFrustum(),
                         lodManager->getOctreeSizeScale(),
                         lodManager->getBoundaryLevelAdjust(),
                         renderMode, renderSide,
diff --git a/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.cpp b/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.cpp
index c083fbc085..0dcab2c81b 100644
--- a/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.cpp
+++ b/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.cpp
@@ -812,7 +812,7 @@ void AudioClient::handleAudioInput() {
             }
             
             emit inputReceived(QByteArray(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(networkAudioSamples),
-                                          AudioConstants::NETWORK_FRAME_SAMPLES_PER_CHANNEL));
+                                          AudioConstants::NETWORK_FRAME_SAMPLES_PER_CHANNEL * sizeof(AudioConstants::AudioSample)));
 
         } else {
             // our input loudness is 0, since we're muted
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/Player.cpp b/libraries/avatars/src/Player.cpp
index 2b92acb189..b5cca61461 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/Player.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/Player.cpp
@@ -169,6 +169,8 @@ void Player::setupAudioThread() {
     _audioThread->setObjectName("Player Audio Thread");
     _options.position = _avatar->getPosition();
     _options.orientation = _avatar->getOrientation();
+    _options.stereo = _recording->numberAudioChannel() == 2;
+    
     _injector.reset(new AudioInjector(_recording->getAudioData(), _options), &QObject::deleteLater);
     _injector->moveToThread(_audioThread);
     _audioThread->start();
@@ -309,7 +311,7 @@ void Player::setCurrentFrame(int currentFrame) {
     
     if (isPlaying()) {
         _timer.start();
-        setAudionInjectorPosition();
+        setAudioInjectorPosition();
     } else {
         _pausedFrame = _currentFrame;
     }
@@ -349,15 +351,7 @@ void Player::setCurrentTime(int currentTime) {
         }
     }
     
-    _currentFrame = lowestBound;
-    _timerOffset = _recording->getFrameTimestamp(lowestBound);
-    
-    if (isPlaying()) {
-        _timer.start();
-        setAudionInjectorPosition();
-    } else {
-        _pausedFrame = lowestBound;
-    }
+    setCurrentFrame(lowestBound);
 }
 
 void Player::setVolume(float volume) {
@@ -372,11 +366,9 @@ void Player::setAudioOffset(int audioOffset) {
     _audioOffset = audioOffset;
 }
 
-void Player::setAudionInjectorPosition() {
+void Player::setAudioInjectorPosition() {
     int MSEC_PER_SEC = 1000;
-    int SAMPLE_SIZE = 2; // 16 bits
-    int CHANNEL_COUNT = 1;
-    int FRAME_SIZE = SAMPLE_SIZE * CHANNEL_COUNT;
+    int FRAME_SIZE = sizeof(AudioConstants::AudioSample) * _recording->numberAudioChannel();
     int currentAudioFrame = elapsed() * FRAME_SIZE * (AudioConstants::SAMPLE_RATE / MSEC_PER_SEC);
     _injector->setCurrentSendPosition(currentAudioFrame);
 }
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/Player.h b/libraries/avatars/src/Player.h
index 7ed76fa495..96f3cbc268 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/Player.h
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/Player.h
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ private:
     void setupAudioThread();
     void cleanupAudioThread();
     void loopRecording();
-    void setAudionInjectorPosition();
+    void setAudioInjectorPosition();
     bool computeCurrentFrame();
     
     AvatarData* _avatar;
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/Recording.cpp b/libraries/avatars/src/Recording.cpp
index 7fa8b79bda..6901e5e10d 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/Recording.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/Recording.cpp
@@ -65,6 +65,15 @@ const RecordingFrame& Recording::getFrame(int i) const {
     return _frames[i];
 }
 
+
+int Recording::numberAudioChannel() const {
+    // Check for stereo audio
+    int MSEC_PER_SEC = 1000;
+    int channelLength = (getLength() / MSEC_PER_SEC) *
+                        AudioConstants::SAMPLE_RATE * sizeof(AudioConstants::AudioSample);
+    return glm::round((float)channelLength / (float)getAudioData().size());
+}
+
 void Recording::addFrame(int timestamp, RecordingFrame &frame) {
     _timestamps << timestamp;
     _frames << frame;
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/Recording.h b/libraries/avatars/src/Recording.h
index d1da77560c..49d12ec5b5 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/Recording.h
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/Recording.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ public:
     qint32 getFrameTimestamp(int i) const;
     const RecordingFrame& getFrame(int i) const;
     const QByteArray& getAudioData() const { return _audioData; }
+    int numberAudioChannel() const;
     
 protected:
     void addFrame(int timestamp, RecordingFrame& frame);
diff --git a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
index 75c9f07881..7e57323d68 100644
--- a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
@@ -266,4 +266,53 @@ bool RenderableModelEntityItem::findDetailedRayIntersection(const glm::vec3& ori
     return _model->findRayIntersectionAgainstSubMeshes(origin, direction, distance, face, extraInfo, precisionPicking);
 }
 
+bool RenderableModelEntityItem::isReadyToComputeShape() {
+    if (_collisionModelURL == "") {
+        // no model url, so we're ready to compute a shape.
+        return true;
+    }
 
+    if (! _collisionNetworkGeometry.isNull() && _collisionNetworkGeometry->isLoadedWithTextures()) {
+        // we have a _collisionModelURL AND a _collisionNetworkGeometry AND it's fully loaded.
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    if (_collisionNetworkGeometry.isNull()) {
+        // we have a _collisionModelURL but we don't yet have a _collisionNetworkGeometry.
+        _collisionNetworkGeometry =
+            DependencyManager::get<GeometryCache>()->getGeometry(_collisionModelURL, QUrl(), false, false);
+
+        if (! _collisionNetworkGeometry.isNull() && _collisionNetworkGeometry->isLoadedWithTextures()) {
+            // shortcut in case it's already loaded.
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // the model is still being downloaded.
+    return false;
+}
+
+void RenderableModelEntityItem::computeShapeInfo(ShapeInfo& info) {
+    if (_collisionModelURL == "") {
+        info.setParams(getShapeType(), 0.5f * getDimensions());
+    } else {
+        const FBXGeometry& fbxGeometry = _collisionNetworkGeometry->getFBXGeometry();
+
+        _points.clear();
+        foreach (const FBXMesh& mesh, fbxGeometry.meshes) {
+            _points << mesh.vertices;
+        }
+
+        info.setParams(getShapeType(), 0.5f * getDimensions(), NULL, _collisionModelURL);
+        info.setConvexHull(_points);
+    }
+}
+
+ShapeType RenderableModelEntityItem::getShapeType() const {
+    // XXX make hull an option in edit.js ?
+    if (_collisionModelURL != "") {
+        return SHAPE_TYPE_CONVEX_HULL;
+    } else {
+        return _shapeType;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.h b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.h
index 65cded0207..6d50a52a95 100644
--- a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.h
+++ b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.h
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ public:
         _needsInitialSimulation(true),
         _needsModelReload(true),
         _myRenderer(NULL),
-        _originalTexturesRead(false) { }
+        _originalTexturesRead(false),
+        _collisionNetworkGeometry(QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry>()) { }
 
     virtual ~RenderableModelEntityItem();
 
@@ -52,6 +53,10 @@ public:
 
     bool needsToCallUpdate() const;
 
+    bool isReadyToComputeShape();
+    void computeShapeInfo(ShapeInfo& info);
+    ShapeType getShapeType() const;
+
 private:
     void remapTextures();
     
@@ -62,6 +67,9 @@ private:
     QString _currentTextures;
     QStringList _originalTextures;
     bool _originalTexturesRead;
+
+    QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> _collisionNetworkGeometry;
+    QVector<glm::vec3> _points;
 };
 
 #endif // hifi_RenderableModelEntityItem_h
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp
index 4f74438a45..5df0bec562 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp
@@ -1002,7 +1002,7 @@ float EntityItem::getRadius() const {
     return 0.5f * glm::length(_dimensions);
 }
 
-void EntityItem::computeShapeInfo(ShapeInfo& info) const {
+void EntityItem::computeShapeInfo(ShapeInfo& info) {
     info.setParams(getShapeType(), 0.5f * getDimensions());
 }
 
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.h b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.h
index 5193aa4490..03e6868cc8 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.h
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class EntityTreeElementExtraEncodeData;
 /// EntityItem class this is the base class for all entity types. It handles the basic properties and functionality available
 /// to all other entity types. In particular: postion, size, rotation, age, lifetime, velocity, gravity. You can not instantiate
 /// one directly, instead you must only construct one of it's derived classes with additional features.
-class EntityItem  {
+class EntityItem {
     friend class EntityTreeElement;
 public:
     enum EntityDirtyFlags {
@@ -256,7 +256,9 @@ public:
     
     virtual bool contains(const glm::vec3& point) const { return getAABox().contains(point); }
     virtual bool containsInDomainUnits(const glm::vec3& point) const { return getAABoxInDomainUnits().contains(point); }
-    virtual void computeShapeInfo(ShapeInfo& info) const;
+
+    virtual bool isReadyToComputeShape() { return true; }
+    virtual void computeShapeInfo(ShapeInfo& info);
 
     /// return preferred shape type (actual physical shape may differ)
     virtual ShapeType getShapeType() const { return SHAPE_TYPE_NONE; }
@@ -295,7 +297,6 @@ public:
     static void setSendPhysicsUpdates(bool value) { _sendPhysicsUpdates = value; }
     static bool getSendPhysicsUpdates() { return _sendPhysicsUpdates; }
 
-
 protected:
 
     static bool _sendPhysicsUpdates;
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.cpp
index 2b8e82d28f..dbb3cfa338 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.cpp
@@ -176,7 +176,8 @@ void EntityItemProperties::setLastEdited(quint64 usecTime) {
     _lastEdited = usecTime > _created ? usecTime : _created; 
 }
 
-const char* shapeTypeNames[] = {"none", "box", "sphere"};
+const char* shapeTypeNames[] = {"none", "box", "sphere", "ellipsoid", "convex-hull", "plane", "compound", "capsule-x",
+                                "capsule-y", "capsule-z", "cylinder-x", "cylinder-y", "cylinder-z"};
 
 QHash<QString, ShapeType> stringToShapeTypeLookup;
 
@@ -184,10 +185,22 @@ void buildStringToShapeTypeLookup() {
     stringToShapeTypeLookup["none"] = SHAPE_TYPE_NONE;
     stringToShapeTypeLookup["box"] = SHAPE_TYPE_BOX;
     stringToShapeTypeLookup["sphere"] = SHAPE_TYPE_SPHERE;
+    stringToShapeTypeLookup["ellipsoid"] = SHAPE_TYPE_ELLIPSOID;
+    stringToShapeTypeLookup["convex-hull"] = SHAPE_TYPE_CONVEX_HULL;
+    stringToShapeTypeLookup["plane"] = SHAPE_TYPE_PLANE;
+    stringToShapeTypeLookup["compound"] = SHAPE_TYPE_COMPOUND;
+    stringToShapeTypeLookup["capsule-x"] = SHAPE_TYPE_CAPSULE_X;
+    stringToShapeTypeLookup["capsule-y"] = SHAPE_TYPE_CAPSULE_Y;
+    stringToShapeTypeLookup["capsule-z"] = SHAPE_TYPE_CAPSULE_Z;
+    stringToShapeTypeLookup["cylinder-x"] = SHAPE_TYPE_CYLINDER_X;
+    stringToShapeTypeLookup["cylinder-y"] = SHAPE_TYPE_CYLINDER_Y;
+    stringToShapeTypeLookup["cylinder-z"] = SHAPE_TYPE_CYLINDER_Z;
 }
 
 QString EntityItemProperties::getShapeTypeAsString() const {
-    return QString(shapeTypeNames[_shapeType]);
+    if (_shapeType < sizeof(shapeTypeNames) / sizeof(char *))
+        return QString(shapeTypeNames[_shapeType]);
+    return QString("none");
 }
 
 void EntityItemProperties::setShapeTypeFromString(const QString& shapeName) {
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityScriptingInterface.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/EntityScriptingInterface.cpp
index 2585b5d33e..5624e0765b 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityScriptingInterface.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityScriptingInterface.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 //  See the accompanying file LICENSE or http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html
 //
 
+#include <VariantMapToScriptValue.h>
+
 #include "EntityScriptingInterface.h"
 #include "EntityTree.h"
 #include "LightEntityItem.h"
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.cpp
index 9be004828b..3ccff46a04 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.cpp
@@ -10,13 +10,18 @@
 //
 
 #include <PerfStat.h>
+#include <QDateTime>
+#include <QtScript/QScriptEngine>
 
 #include "EntityTree.h"
 #include "EntitySimulation.h"
+#include "VariantMapToScriptValue.h"
 
 #include "AddEntityOperator.h"
 #include "MovingEntitiesOperator.h"
 #include "UpdateEntityOperator.h"
+#include "QVariantGLM.h"
+#include "RecurseOctreeToMapOperator.h"
 
 EntityTree::EntityTree(bool shouldReaverage) : 
     Octree(shouldReaverage), 
@@ -466,7 +471,7 @@ bool EntityTree::findNearPointOperation(OctreeElement* element, void* extraData)
         return true; // keep searching in case children have closer entities
     }
 
-    // if this element doesn't contain the point, then none of it's children can contain the point, so stop searching
+    // if this element doesn't contain the point, then none of its children can contain the point, so stop searching
     return false;
 }
 
@@ -1080,3 +1085,41 @@ bool EntityTree::sendEntitiesOperation(OctreeElement* element, void* extraData)
     return true;
 }
 
+bool EntityTree::writeToMap(QVariantMap& entityDescription, OctreeElement* element) {
+    entityDescription["Entities"] = QVariantList();
+    QScriptEngine scriptEngine;
+    RecurseOctreeToMapOperator theOperator(entityDescription, element, &scriptEngine);
+    recurseTreeWithOperator(&theOperator);
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool EntityTree::readFromMap(QVariantMap& map) {
+    // map will have a top-level list keyed as "Entities".  This will be extracted
+    // and iterated over.  Each member of this list is converted to a QVariantMap, then
+    // to a QScriptValue, and then to EntityItemProperties.  These properties are used
+    // to add the new entity to the EnitytTree.
+    QVariantList entitiesQList = map["Entities"].toList();
+    QScriptEngine scriptEngine;
+
+    foreach (QVariant entityVariant, entitiesQList) {
+        // QVariantMap --> QScriptValue --> EntityItemProperties --> Entity
+        QVariantMap entityMap = entityVariant.toMap();
+        QScriptValue entityScriptValue = variantMapToScriptValue(entityMap, scriptEngine);
+        EntityItemProperties properties;
+        EntityItemPropertiesFromScriptValue(entityScriptValue, properties);
+
+        EntityItemID entityItemID;
+        if (entityMap.contains("id")) {
+            entityItemID = EntityItemID(QUuid(entityMap["id"].toString()));
+        } else {
+            entityItemID = EntityItemID(QUuid::createUuid());
+        }
+
+        EntityItem* entity = addEntity(entityItemID, properties);
+        if (!entity) {
+            qDebug() << "adding Entity failed:" << entityItemID << entity->getType();
+        }
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.h b/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.h
index 75a5daab4e..e1521ebd50 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.h
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.h
@@ -164,6 +164,9 @@ public:
     bool wantEditLogging() const { return _wantEditLogging; }
     void setWantEditLogging(bool value) { _wantEditLogging = value; }
 
+    bool writeToMap(QVariantMap& entityDescription, OctreeElement* element);
+    bool readFromMap(QVariantMap& entityDescription);
+
 signals:
     void deletingEntity(const EntityItemID& entityID);
     void addingEntity(const EntityItemID& entityID);
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.cpp
index d2a2714982..ce009988b1 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "EntityTree.h"
 #include "EntityTreeElement.h"
 #include "ModelEntityItem.h"
+#include "ResourceCache.h"
 
 const QString ModelEntityItem::DEFAULT_MODEL_URL = QString("");
 const QString ModelEntityItem::DEFAULT_COLLISION_MODEL_URL = QString("");
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/RecurseOctreeToMapOperator.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/RecurseOctreeToMapOperator.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..afe28e17e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/RecurseOctreeToMapOperator.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+//
+//  RecurseOctreeToMapOperator.cpp
+//  libraries/entities/src
+//
+//  Created by Seth Alves on 3/16/15.
+//  Copyright 2013 High Fidelity, Inc.
+//
+//  Distributed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.
+//  See the accompanying file LICENSE or http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html
+//
+
+#include "RecurseOctreeToMapOperator.h"
+
+
+RecurseOctreeToMapOperator::RecurseOctreeToMapOperator(QVariantMap& map, OctreeElement *top, QScriptEngine *engine) :
+        RecurseOctreeOperator(),
+        _map(map),
+        _top(top),
+        _engine(engine)
+{
+    // if some element "top" was given, only save information for that element and it's children.
+    if (_top) {
+        _withinTop = false;
+    } else {
+        // top was NULL, export entire tree.
+        _withinTop = true;
+    }
+};
+
+bool RecurseOctreeToMapOperator::preRecursion(OctreeElement* element) {
+    if (element == _top) {
+        _withinTop = true;
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool RecurseOctreeToMapOperator::postRecursion(OctreeElement* element) {
+
+    EntityTreeElement* entityTreeElement = static_cast<EntityTreeElement*>(element);
+    const QList<EntityItem*>& entities = entityTreeElement->getEntities();
+
+    QVariantList entitiesQList = qvariant_cast<QVariantList>(_map["Entities"]);
+
+    foreach (EntityItem* entityItem, entities) {
+        EntityItemProperties properties = entityItem->getProperties();
+        QScriptValue qScriptValues = EntityItemPropertiesToScriptValue(_engine, properties);
+        entitiesQList << qScriptValues.toVariant();
+    }
+    _map["Entities"] = entitiesQList;
+    if (element == _top) {
+        _withinTop = false;
+    }
+    return true;
+}
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/RecurseOctreeToMapOperator.h b/libraries/entities/src/RecurseOctreeToMapOperator.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6bd44f3cbf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/RecurseOctreeToMapOperator.h
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+//
+//  RecurseOctreeToMapOperator.h
+//  libraries/entities/src
+//
+//  Created by Seth Alves on 3/16/15.
+//  Copyright 2013 High Fidelity, Inc.
+//
+//  Distributed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.
+//  See the accompanying file LICENSE or http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html
+//
+
+#include "EntityTree.h"
+
+class RecurseOctreeToMapOperator : public RecurseOctreeOperator {
+public:
+    RecurseOctreeToMapOperator(QVariantMap& map, OctreeElement *top, QScriptEngine *engine);
+    bool preRecursion(OctreeElement* element);
+    bool postRecursion(OctreeElement* element);
+ private:
+    QVariantMap& _map;
+    OctreeElement *_top;
+    QScriptEngine *_engine;
+    bool _withinTop;
+};
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.cpp b/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.cpp
index dfb0d6c150..b574eb1aeb 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.cpp
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.cpp
@@ -48,14 +48,26 @@ void ResourceCache::refresh(const QUrl& url) {
     }
 }
 
-QSharedPointer<Resource> ResourceCache::getResource(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback, bool delayLoad, void* extra) {
-
+QSharedPointer<Resource> ResourceCache::getResource(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback,
+                                                    bool delayLoad, void* extra, bool block) {
     if (QThread::currentThread() != thread()) {
-        QSharedPointer<Resource> result;
-        QMetaObject::invokeMethod(this, "getResource", Qt::BlockingQueuedConnection,
-                                  Q_RETURN_ARG(QSharedPointer<Resource>, result), Q_ARG(const QUrl&, url), Q_ARG(const QUrl&, fallback),
-                                  Q_ARG(bool, delayLoad), Q_ARG(void*, extra));
-        return result;
+        // This will re-call this method in the main thread.  If block is true and the main thread
+        // is waiting on a lock, we'll deadlock here.
+        if (block) {
+            QSharedPointer<Resource> result;
+            QMetaObject::invokeMethod(this, "getResource", Qt::BlockingQueuedConnection,
+                                      Q_RETURN_ARG(QSharedPointer<Resource>, result), Q_ARG(const QUrl&, url),
+                                      Q_ARG(const QUrl&, fallback), Q_ARG(bool, delayLoad), Q_ARG(void*, extra));
+            return result;
+        } else {
+            // Queue the re-invocation of this method, but if the main thread is blocked, don't wait.  The
+            // return value may be NULL -- it's expected that this will be called again later, in order
+            // to receive the actual Resource.
+            QMetaObject::invokeMethod(this, "getResource", Qt::QueuedConnection,
+                                      Q_ARG(const QUrl&, url),
+                                      Q_ARG(const QUrl&, fallback), Q_ARG(bool, delayLoad), Q_ARG(void*, extra));
+            return _resources.value(url);
+        }
     }
 
     if (!url.isValid() && !url.isEmpty() && fallback.isValid()) {
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.h b/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.h
index 11b091a9e3..d4aa9a7fd9 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.h
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.h
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ protected:
     /// \param delayLoad if true, don't load the resource immediately; wait until load is first requested
     /// \param extra extra data to pass to the creator, if appropriate
     Q_INVOKABLE QSharedPointer<Resource> getResource(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback = QUrl(),
-        bool delayLoad = false, void* extra = NULL);
+                                                     bool delayLoad = false, void* extra = NULL, bool block = true);
 
     /// Creates a new resource.
     virtual QSharedPointer<Resource> createResource(const QUrl& url,
diff --git a/libraries/octree/src/Octree.cpp b/libraries/octree/src/Octree.cpp
index 2b29529f4e..85ea09b5ef 100644
--- a/libraries/octree/src/Octree.cpp
+++ b/libraries/octree/src/Octree.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@
 #include <QNetworkReply>
 #include <QNetworkAccessManager>
 #include <QVector>
+#include <QFile>
+#include <QJsonDocument>
+#include <QFileInfo>
+#include <QString>
 
 #include <GeometryUtil.h>
 #include <LogHandler.h>
@@ -35,6 +39,7 @@
 #include <PacketHeaders.h>
 #include <SharedUtil.h>
 #include <Shape.h>
+#include <PathUtils.h>
 
 #include "CoverageMap.h"
 #include "OctreeConstants.h"
@@ -42,6 +47,9 @@
 #include "Octree.h"
 #include "ViewFrustum.h"
 
+
+QVector<QString> PERSIST_EXTENSIONS = {"svo", "json"};
+
 float boundaryDistanceForRenderLevel(unsigned int renderLevel, float voxelSizeScale) {
     return voxelSizeScale / powf(2, renderLevel);
 }
@@ -1841,21 +1849,22 @@ int Octree::encodeTreeBitstreamRecursion(OctreeElement* element,
     return bytesAtThisLevel;
 }
 
-bool Octree::readFromSVOFile(const char* fileName) {
+bool Octree::readFromFile(const char* fileName) {
     bool fileOk = false;
 
-    QFile file(fileName);
+    QString qFileName = findMostRecentFileExtension(fileName, PERSIST_EXTENSIONS);
+    QFile file(qFileName);
     fileOk = file.open(QIODevice::ReadOnly);
 
     if(fileOk) {
         QDataStream fileInputStream(&file);
-        QFileInfo fileInfo(fileName);
+        QFileInfo fileInfo(qFileName);
         unsigned long fileLength = fileInfo.size();
 
         emit importSize(1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f);
         emit importProgress(0);
 
-        qDebug("Loading file %s...", fileName);
+        qDebug() << "Loading file" << qFileName << "...";
     
         fileOk = readFromStream(fileLength, fileInputStream);
 
@@ -1866,14 +1875,14 @@ bool Octree::readFromSVOFile(const char* fileName) {
     return fileOk;
 }
 
-bool Octree::readFromSVOURL(const QString& urlString) {
+bool Octree::readFromURL(const QString& urlString) {
     bool readOk = false;
 
     // determine if this is a local file or a network resource
     QUrl url(urlString);
     
     if (url.isLocalFile()) {
-        readOk = readFromSVOFile(qPrintable(url.toLocalFile()));
+        readOk = readFromFile(qPrintable(url.toLocalFile()));
     } else {
         QNetworkRequest request;
         request.setHeader(QNetworkRequest::UserAgentHeader, HIGH_FIDELITY_USER_AGENT);
@@ -1899,6 +1908,23 @@ bool Octree::readFromSVOURL(const QString& urlString) {
 
 
 bool Octree::readFromStream(unsigned long streamLength, QDataStream& inputStream) {
+
+    // decide if this is SVO or JSON
+    QIODevice *device = inputStream.device();
+    char firstChar;
+    device->getChar(&firstChar);
+    device->ungetChar(firstChar);
+
+    if (firstChar == (char) PacketTypeEntityData) {
+        return readSVOFromStream(streamLength, inputStream);
+    } else {
+        return readJSONFromStream(streamLength, inputStream);
+    }
+}
+
+
+bool Octree::readSVOFromStream(unsigned long streamLength, QDataStream& inputStream) {
+
     bool fileOk = false;
 
     PacketVersion gotVersion = 0;
@@ -2026,6 +2052,53 @@ bool Octree::readFromStream(unsigned long streamLength, QDataStream& inputStream
     return fileOk;
 }
 
+bool Octree::readJSONFromStream(unsigned long streamLength, QDataStream& inputStream) {
+    char *rawData = new char[streamLength];
+    inputStream.readRawData(rawData, streamLength);
+    QJsonDocument d = QJsonDocument::fromJson(rawData);
+    QVariant v = d.toVariant();
+    QVariantMap m = v.toMap();
+    readFromMap(m);
+    delete rawData;
+    return true;
+}
+
+void Octree::writeToFile(const char* fileName, OctreeElement* element, QString persistAsFileType) {
+    // make the sure file extension makes sense
+    QString qFileName = fileNameWithoutExtension(QString(fileName), PERSIST_EXTENSIONS) + "." + persistAsFileType;
+    QByteArray byteArray = qFileName.toUtf8();
+    const char* cFileName = byteArray.constData();
+
+    if (persistAsFileType == "svo") {
+        writeToSVOFile(fileName, element);
+    } else if (persistAsFileType == "json") {
+        writeToJSONFile(cFileName, element);
+    } else {
+        qDebug() << "unable to write octree to file of type" << persistAsFileType;
+    }
+}
+
+void Octree::writeToJSONFile(const char* fileName, OctreeElement* element) {
+    QFile persistFile(fileName);
+    QVariantMap entityDescription;
+
+    qDebug("Saving to file %s...", fileName);
+
+    OctreeElement* top;
+    if (element) {
+        top = element;
+    } else {
+        top = _rootElement;
+    }
+
+    bool entityDescriptionSuccess = writeToMap(entityDescription, top);
+    if (entityDescriptionSuccess && persistFile.open(QIODevice::WriteOnly)) {
+        persistFile.write(QJsonDocument::fromVariant(entityDescription).toJson());
+    } else {
+        qCritical("Could not write to JSON description of entities.");
+    }
+}
+
 void Octree::writeToSVOFile(const char* fileName, OctreeElement* element) {
     std::ofstream file(fileName, std::ios::out|std::ios::binary);
 
diff --git a/libraries/octree/src/Octree.h b/libraries/octree/src/Octree.h
index 672a3b63d5..21c3efc01d 100644
--- a/libraries/octree/src/Octree.h
+++ b/libraries/octree/src/Octree.h
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ class Shape;
 #include <QObject>
 #include <QReadWriteLock>
 
+
+extern QVector<QString> PERSIST_EXTENSIONS;
+
 /// derive from this class to use the Octree::recurseTreeWithOperator() method
 class RecurseOctreeOperator {
 public:
@@ -324,13 +327,19 @@ public:
     // Note: this assumes the fileFormat is the HIO individual voxels code files
     void loadOctreeFile(const char* fileName, bool wantColorRandomizer);
 
-    // these will read/write files that match the wireformat, excluding the 'V' leading
+    // Octree exporters
+    void writeToFile(const char* filename, OctreeElement* element = NULL, QString persistAsFileType = "svo");
+    void writeToJSONFile(const char* filename, OctreeElement* element = NULL);
     void writeToSVOFile(const char* filename, OctreeElement* element = NULL);
+    virtual bool writeToMap(QVariantMap& entityDescription, OctreeElement* element) = 0;
 
-    bool readFromSVOFile(const char* filename);
-    bool readFromSVOURL(const QString& url); // will support file urls as well...
+    // Octree importers
+    bool readFromFile(const char* filename);
+    bool readFromURL(const QString& url); // will support file urls as well...
     bool readFromStream(unsigned long streamLength, QDataStream& inputStream);
-    
+    bool readSVOFromStream(unsigned long streamLength, QDataStream& inputStream);
+    bool readJSONFromStream(unsigned long streamLength, QDataStream& inputStream);
+    virtual bool readFromMap(QVariantMap& entityDescription) = 0;
 
     unsigned long getOctreeElementsCount();
 
diff --git a/libraries/octree/src/OctreePersistThread.cpp b/libraries/octree/src/OctreePersistThread.cpp
index 2a563dc50a..02f46ee64b 100644
--- a/libraries/octree/src/OctreePersistThread.cpp
+++ b/libraries/octree/src/OctreePersistThread.cpp
@@ -20,16 +20,19 @@
 #include <QFile>
 #include <QJsonArray>
 #include <QJsonObject>
+#include <QJsonDocument>
 
 #include <PerfStat.h>
 #include <SharedUtil.h>
+#include <PathUtils.h>
 
 #include "OctreePersistThread.h"
 
 const int OctreePersistThread::DEFAULT_PERSIST_INTERVAL = 1000 * 30; // every 30 seconds
 
 OctreePersistThread::OctreePersistThread(Octree* tree, const QString& filename, int persistInterval, 
-                                                bool wantBackup, const QJsonObject& settings, bool debugTimestampNow) :
+                                         bool wantBackup, const QJsonObject& settings, bool debugTimestampNow,
+                                         QString persistAsFileType) :
     _tree(tree),
     _filename(filename),
     _persistInterval(persistInterval),
@@ -38,9 +41,14 @@ OctreePersistThread::OctreePersistThread(Octree* tree, const QString& filename,
     _lastCheck(0),
     _wantBackup(wantBackup),
     _debugTimestampNow(debugTimestampNow),
-    _lastTimeDebug(0)
+    _lastTimeDebug(0),
+    _persistAsFileType(persistAsFileType)
 {
     parseSettings(settings);
+
+    // in case the persist filename has an extension that doesn't match the file type
+    QString sansExt = fileNameWithoutExtension(_filename, PERSIST_EXTENSIONS);
+    _filename = sansExt + "." + _persistAsFileType;
 }
 
 void OctreePersistThread::parseSettings(const QJsonObject& settings) {
@@ -140,7 +148,7 @@ bool OctreePersistThread::process() {
                 qDebug() << "Loading Octree... lock file removed:" << lockFileName;
             }
 
-            persistantFileRead = _tree->readFromSVOFile(_filename.toLocal8Bit().constData());
+            persistantFileRead = _tree->readFromFile(qPrintable(_filename.toLocal8Bit()));
             _tree->pruneTree();
         }
         _tree->unlock();
@@ -242,9 +250,7 @@ void OctreePersistThread::persist() {
         if(lockFile.is_open()) {
             qDebug() << "saving Octree lock file created at:" << lockFileName;
 
-            qDebug() << "saving Octree to file " << _filename << "...";
-            
-            _tree->writeToSVOFile(qPrintable(_filename));
+            _tree->writeToFile(qPrintable(_filename), NULL, _persistAsFileType);
             time(&_lastPersistTime);
             _tree->clearDirtyBit(); // tree is clean after saving
             qDebug() << "DONE saving Octree to file...";
@@ -346,8 +352,8 @@ void OctreePersistThread::rollOldBackupVersions(const BackupRule& rule) {
                 QString backupExtensionNplusOne = rule.extensionFormat;
                 backupExtensionN.replace(QString("%N"), QString::number(n));
                 backupExtensionNplusOne.replace(QString("%N"), QString::number(n+1));
-    
-                QString backupFilenameN = _filename + backupExtensionN;
+
+                QString backupFilenameN = findMostRecentFileExtension(_filename, PERSIST_EXTENSIONS) + backupExtensionN;
                 QString backupFilenameNplusOne = _filename + backupExtensionNplusOne;
 
                 QFile backupFileN(backupFilenameN);
diff --git a/libraries/octree/src/OctreePersistThread.h b/libraries/octree/src/OctreePersistThread.h
index 374de79f0a..e756c13f59 100644
--- a/libraries/octree/src/OctreePersistThread.h
+++ b/libraries/octree/src/OctreePersistThread.h
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ public:
     static const int DEFAULT_PERSIST_INTERVAL;
 
     OctreePersistThread(Octree* tree, const QString& filename, int persistInterval = DEFAULT_PERSIST_INTERVAL, 
-                                bool wantBackup = false, const QJsonObject& settings = QJsonObject(), 
-                                bool debugTimestampNow = false);
+                        bool wantBackup = false, const QJsonObject& settings = QJsonObject(), 
+                        bool debugTimestampNow = false, QString persistAsFileType="svo");
 
     bool isInitialLoadComplete() const { return _initialLoadComplete; }
     quint64 getLoadElapsedTime() const { return _loadTimeUSecs; }
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ private:
     
     bool _debugTimestampNow;
     quint64 _lastTimeDebug;
+
+    QString _persistAsFileType;
 };
 
 #endif // hifi_OctreePersistThread_h
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicsEngine.cpp b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicsEngine.cpp
index 3e2fabfd89..c7b3d60e41 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicsEngine.cpp
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicsEngine.cpp
@@ -63,23 +63,26 @@ void PhysicsEngine::addEntityInternal(EntityItem* entity) {
     assert(entity);
     void* physicsInfo = entity->getPhysicsInfo();
     if (!physicsInfo) {
-        ShapeInfo shapeInfo;
-        entity->computeShapeInfo(shapeInfo);
-        btCollisionShape* shape = _shapeManager.getShape(shapeInfo);
-        if (shape) {
-            EntityMotionState* motionState = new EntityMotionState(entity);
-            entity->setPhysicsInfo(static_cast<void*>(motionState));
-            _entityMotionStates.insert(motionState);
-            addObject(shapeInfo, shape, motionState);
-        } else if (entity->isMoving()) {
-            EntityMotionState* motionState = new EntityMotionState(entity);
-            entity->setPhysicsInfo(static_cast<void*>(motionState));
-            _entityMotionStates.insert(motionState);
+        qDebug() << "PhysicsEngine::addEntityInternal(" << entity;
+        if (entity->isReadyToComputeShape()) {
+            ShapeInfo shapeInfo;
+            entity->computeShapeInfo(shapeInfo);
+            btCollisionShape* shape = _shapeManager.getShape(shapeInfo);
+            if (shape) {
+                EntityMotionState* motionState = new EntityMotionState(entity);
+                entity->setPhysicsInfo(static_cast<void*>(motionState));
+                _entityMotionStates.insert(motionState);
+                addObject(shapeInfo, shape, motionState);
+            } else if (entity->isMoving()) {
+                EntityMotionState* motionState = new EntityMotionState(entity);
+                entity->setPhysicsInfo(static_cast<void*>(motionState));
+                _entityMotionStates.insert(motionState);
 
-            motionState->setKinematic(true, _numSubsteps);
-            _nonPhysicalKinematicObjects.insert(motionState);
-            // We failed to add the entity to the simulation.  Probably because we couldn't create a shape for it.
-            //qDebug() << "failed to add entity " << entity->getEntityItemID() << " to physics engine";
+                motionState->setKinematic(true, _numSubsteps);
+                _nonPhysicalKinematicObjects.insert(motionState);
+                // We failed to add the entity to the simulation.  Probably because we couldn't create a shape for it.
+                //qDebug() << "failed to add entity " << entity->getEntityItemID() << " to physics engine";
+            }
         }
     }
 }
@@ -322,16 +325,21 @@ void PhysicsEngine::stepSimulation() {
         //
         // TODO: untangle these lock sequences.
         _entityTree->lockForWrite();
-        _avatarData->lockForWrite();
+
         lock();
         _dynamicsWorld->synchronizeMotionStates();
 
-        if (_avatarData->isPhysicsEnabled()) {
+        _avatarData->lockForRead();
+        bool avatarHasPhysicsEnabled = _avatarData->isPhysicsEnabled();
+        _avatarData->unlock();
+        if (avatarHasPhysicsEnabled) {
             const btTransform& avatarTransform = _avatarGhostObject->getWorldTransform();
             glm::quat rotation = bulletToGLM(avatarTransform.getRotation());
             glm::vec3 offset = rotation * _avatarShapeLocalOffset;
+            _avatarData->lockForWrite();
             _avatarData->setOrientation(rotation);
             _avatarData->setPosition(bulletToGLM(avatarTransform.getOrigin()) - offset);
+            _avatarData->unlock();
         }
 
         unlock();
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/ShapeInfoUtil.cpp b/libraries/physics/src/ShapeInfoUtil.cpp
index e98bb07052..116be984b9 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/ShapeInfoUtil.cpp
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/ShapeInfoUtil.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ int ShapeInfoUtil::toBulletShapeType(int shapeInfoType) {
         case SHAPE_TYPE_CAPSULE_Y:
             bulletShapeType = CAPSULE_SHAPE_PROXYTYPE;
             break;
+        case SHAPE_TYPE_CONVEX_HULL:
+            bulletShapeType = CONVEX_HULL_SHAPE_PROXYTYPE;
+            break;
     }
     return bulletShapeType;
 }
@@ -42,6 +45,9 @@ int ShapeInfoUtil::fromBulletShapeType(int bulletShapeType) {
         case CAPSULE_SHAPE_PROXYTYPE:
             shapeInfoType = SHAPE_TYPE_CAPSULE_Y;
             break;
+        case CONVEX_HULL_SHAPE_PROXYTYPE:
+            shapeInfoType = SHAPE_TYPE_CONVEX_HULL;
+            break;
     }
     return shapeInfoType;
 }
@@ -60,8 +66,21 @@ void ShapeInfoUtil::collectInfoFromShape(const btCollisionShape* shape, ShapeInf
                 info.setSphere(sphereShape->getRadius());
             }
             break;
-            default:
+            case SHAPE_TYPE_CONVEX_HULL: {
+                const btConvexHullShape* convexHullShape = static_cast<const btConvexHullShape*>(shape);
+                const int numPoints = convexHullShape->getNumPoints();
+                const btVector3* btPoints = convexHullShape->getUnscaledPoints();
+                QVector<glm::vec3> points;
+                for (int i = 0; i < numPoints; i++) {
+                    glm::vec3 point(btPoints->getX(), btPoints->getY(), btPoints->getZ());
+                    points << point;
+                }
+                info.setConvexHull(points);
+            }
+            break;
+            default: {
                 info.clear();
+            }
             break;
         }
     } else {
@@ -88,6 +107,15 @@ btCollisionShape* ShapeInfoUtil::createShapeFromInfo(const ShapeInfo& info) {
             shape = new btCapsuleShape(radius, height);
         }
         break;
+        case SHAPE_TYPE_CONVEX_HULL: {
+            shape = new btConvexHullShape();
+            const QVector<glm::vec3>& points = info.getPoints();
+            foreach (glm::vec3 point, points) {
+                btVector3 btPoint(point[0], point[1], point[2]);
+                static_cast<btConvexHullShape*>(shape)->addPoint(btPoint);
+            }
+        }
+        break;
     }
     return shape;
 }
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/GeometryCache.cpp b/libraries/render-utils/src/GeometryCache.cpp
index b80cc04b3f..29f76291ea 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/GeometryCache.cpp
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/GeometryCache.cpp
@@ -1770,8 +1770,8 @@ void GeometryCache::renderLine(const glm::vec2& p1, const glm::vec2& p2,
 }
 
 
-QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> GeometryCache::getGeometry(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback, bool delayLoad) {
-    return getResource(url, fallback, delayLoad).staticCast<NetworkGeometry>();
+QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> GeometryCache::getGeometry(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback, bool delayLoad, bool block) {
+    return getResource(url, fallback, delayLoad, NULL, block).staticCast<NetworkGeometry>();
 }
 
 QSharedPointer<Resource> GeometryCache::createResource(const QUrl& url,
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/GeometryCache.h b/libraries/render-utils/src/GeometryCache.h
index ba7c16bc10..a64d041fc1 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/GeometryCache.h
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/GeometryCache.h
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@
 #include <DependencyManager.h>
 #include <ResourceCache.h>
 
-#include <FBXReader.h>
-#include <OBJReader.h>
+#include "FBXReader.h"
+#include "OBJReader.h"
 
 #include <AnimationCache.h>
 
@@ -203,7 +203,8 @@ public:
     /// Loads geometry from the specified URL.
     /// \param fallback a fallback URL to load if the desired one is unavailable
     /// \param delayLoad if true, don't load the geometry immediately; wait until load is first requested
-    QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> getGeometry(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback = QUrl(), bool delayLoad = false);
+    QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> getGeometry(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback = QUrl(),
+                                                bool delayLoad = false, bool block = true);
 
 protected:
 
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
index be2e7b4aec..d5e15ed2c8 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 #include <gpu/GLBackend.h>
 #include <PathUtils.h>
 #include <PerfStat.h>
-#include <PhysicsEntity.h>
+#include "PhysicsEntity.h"
 #include <ShapeCollider.h>
 #include <SphereShape.h>
 #include <ViewFrustum.h>
@@ -1101,6 +1101,14 @@ void Model::setURL(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback, bool retainCurrent, bo
     }
 }
 
+void Model::setCollisionModelURL(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback, bool delayLoad) {
+    if (_collisionUrl == url) {
+        return;
+    }
+    _collisionUrl = url;
+    _collisionGeometry = DependencyManager::get<GeometryCache>()->getGeometry(url, fallback, delayLoad);
+}
+
 bool Model::getJointPositionInWorldFrame(int jointIndex, glm::vec3& position) const {
     if (jointIndex == -1 || jointIndex >= _jointStates.size()) {
         return false;
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
index 453d721962..f95c87e99f 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 #include <GeometryUtil.h>
 #include <gpu/Stream.h>
 #include <gpu/Batch.h>
-#include <PhysicsEntity.h>
+#include "PhysicsEntity.h"
 #include <Transform.h>
 
 #include "AnimationHandle.h"
@@ -106,7 +106,10 @@ public:
     /// \param delayLoad if true, don't load the model immediately; wait until actually requested
     Q_INVOKABLE void setURL(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback = QUrl(),
         bool retainCurrent = false, bool delayLoad = false);
-    
+
+    // Set the model to use for collisions
+    Q_INVOKABLE void setCollisionModelURL(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback = QUrl(), bool delayLoad = false);
+
     const QUrl& getURL() const { return _url; }
     
     /// Sets the distance parameter used for LOD computations.
@@ -287,11 +290,14 @@ private:
     float _lodDistance;
     float _lodHysteresis;
     float _nextLODHysteresis;
+
+    QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> _collisionGeometry;
     
     float _pupilDilation;
     QVector<float> _blendshapeCoefficients;
     
     QUrl _url;
+    QUrl _collisionUrl;
 
     gpu::Buffers _blendedVertexBuffers;
     std::vector<Transform> _transforms;
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicsEntity.cpp b/libraries/render-utils/src/PhysicsEntity.cpp
similarity index 100%
rename from libraries/physics/src/PhysicsEntity.cpp
rename to libraries/render-utils/src/PhysicsEntity.cpp
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicsEntity.h b/libraries/render-utils/src/PhysicsEntity.h
similarity index 100%
rename from libraries/physics/src/PhysicsEntity.h
rename to libraries/render-utils/src/PhysicsEntity.h
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/PathUtils.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/PathUtils.cpp
index 0b99f22228..545183e8f5 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/PathUtils.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/PathUtils.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@
 
 #include <QCoreApplication>
 #include <QString>
+#include <QVector>
+#include <QDateTime>
+#include <QFileInfo>
 
 #include "PathUtils.h"
 
@@ -23,3 +26,30 @@ QString& PathUtils::resourcesPath() {
 #endif
     return staticResourcePath;
 }
+
+
+QString fileNameWithoutExtension(const QString& fileName, const QVector<QString> possibleExtensions) {
+    foreach (const QString possibleExtension, possibleExtensions) {
+        if (fileName.endsWith(possibleExtension) ||
+            fileName.endsWith(possibleExtension.toUpper()) ||
+            fileName.endsWith(possibleExtension.toLower())) {
+            return fileName.left(fileName.count() - possibleExtension.count() - 1);
+        }
+    }
+    return fileName;
+}
+
+QString findMostRecentFileExtension(const QString& originalFileName, QVector<QString> possibleExtensions) {
+    QString sansExt = fileNameWithoutExtension(originalFileName, possibleExtensions);
+    QString newestFileName = originalFileName;
+    QDateTime newestTime = QDateTime::fromMSecsSinceEpoch(0);
+    foreach (QString possibleExtension, possibleExtensions) {
+        QString fileName = sansExt + "." + possibleExtension;
+        QFileInfo fileInfo(fileName);
+        if (fileInfo.exists() && fileInfo.lastModified() > newestTime) {
+            newestFileName = fileName;
+            newestTime = fileInfo.lastModified();
+        }
+    }
+    return newestFileName;
+}
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/PathUtils.h b/libraries/shared/src/PathUtils.h
index 71cabc727d..6b6893574b 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/PathUtils.h
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/PathUtils.h
@@ -19,4 +19,7 @@ namespace PathUtils {
     QString& resourcesPath();
 }
 
-#endif // hifi_PathUtils_h
\ No newline at end of file
+QString fileNameWithoutExtension(const QString& fileName, const QVector<QString> possibleExtensions);
+QString findMostRecentFileExtension(const QString& originalFileName, QVector<QString> possibleExtensions);
+
+#endif // hifi_PathUtils_h
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/QVariantGLM.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/QVariantGLM.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..aa8fa40593
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/QVariantGLM.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+//
+//  QVariantGLM.cpp
+//  libraries/shared/src
+//
+//  Created by Seth Alves on 3/9/15.
+//  Copyright 2013 High Fidelity, Inc.
+//
+//  Distributed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.
+//  See the accompanying file LICENSE or http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html
+//
+
+#include "QVariantGLM.h"
+#include "OctalCode.h"
+
+QVariantList glmToQList(const glm::vec3& g) {
+    return QVariantList() << g[0] << g[1] << g[2];
+}
+
+QVariantList glmToQList(const glm::quat& g) {
+    return QVariantList() << g.x << g.y << g.z << g.w;
+}
+
+QVariantList rgbColorToQList(rgbColor& v) {
+    return QVariantList() << (int)(v[0]) << (int)(v[1]) << (int)(v[2]);
+}
+
+
+
+glm::vec3 qListToGlmVec3(const QVariant q) {
+    QVariantList qList = q.toList();
+    return glm::vec3(qList[RED_INDEX].toFloat(), qList[GREEN_INDEX].toFloat(), qList[BLUE_INDEX].toFloat());
+}
+
+glm::quat qListToGlmQuat(const QVariant q) {
+    QVariantList qList = q.toList();
+    float x = qList[0].toFloat();
+    float y = qList[1].toFloat();
+    float z = qList[2].toFloat();
+    float w = qList[3].toFloat();
+    return glm::quat(w, x, y, z);
+}
+
+void qListtoRgbColor(const QVariant q, rgbColor returnValue) {
+    QVariantList qList = q.toList();
+    returnValue[RED_INDEX] = qList[RED_INDEX].toInt();
+    returnValue[GREEN_INDEX] = qList[GREEN_INDEX].toInt();
+    returnValue[BLUE_INDEX] = qList[BLUE_INDEX].toInt();
+}
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/QVariantGLM.h b/libraries/shared/src/QVariantGLM.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4cc1d038a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/QVariantGLM.h
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+//
+//  QVariantGLM.h
+//  libraries/shared/src
+//
+//  Created by Seth Alves on 3/9/15.
+//  Copyright 2013 High Fidelity, Inc.
+//
+//  Distributed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.
+//  See the accompanying file LICENSE or http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html
+//
+
+#include <QList>
+#include <QVariant>
+#include <QVariantList>
+#include <glm/glm.hpp>
+#include <glm/gtx/quaternion.hpp>
+
+#include "SharedUtil.h"
+
+QVariantList glmToQList(const glm::vec3& g);
+QVariantList glmToQList(const glm::quat& g);
+QVariantList rgbColorToQList(rgbColor& v);
+
+glm::vec3 qListToGlmVec3(const QVariant q);
+glm::quat qListToGlmQuat(const QVariant q);
+void qListtoRgbColor(const QVariant q, rgbColor returnValue);
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/ShapeInfo.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/ShapeInfo.cpp
index 8b2a3e3a73..d92decad2a 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/ShapeInfo.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/ShapeInfo.cpp
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ void ShapeInfo::clear() {
     _externalData = NULL;
 }
 
-void ShapeInfo::setParams(ShapeType type, const glm::vec3& halfExtents, QVector<glm::vec3>* data) {
+void ShapeInfo::setParams(ShapeType type, const glm::vec3& halfExtents, QVector<glm::vec3>* data, QString url) {
     _type = type;
     switch(type) {
         case SHAPE_TYPE_NONE:
@@ -37,8 +37,13 @@ void ShapeInfo::setParams(ShapeType type, const glm::vec3& halfExtents, QVector<
             _halfExtents = glm::vec3(radius);
             break;
         }
+        case SHAPE_TYPE_CONVEX_HULL:
+            _url = QUrl(url);
+            _halfExtents = halfExtents;
+            break;
         default:
             _halfExtents = halfExtents;
+            break;
     }
     _externalData = data;
 }
@@ -61,6 +66,11 @@ void ShapeInfo::setEllipsoid(const glm::vec3& halfExtents) {
     _doubleHashKey.clear();
 }
 
+void ShapeInfo::setConvexHull(const QVector<glm::vec3>& points) {
+    _type = SHAPE_TYPE_CONVEX_HULL;
+    _points = points;
+}
+
 void ShapeInfo::setCapsuleY(float radius, float halfHeight) {
     _type = SHAPE_TYPE_CAPSULE_Y;
     _halfExtents = glm::vec3(radius, halfHeight, radius);
@@ -130,21 +140,30 @@ const DoubleHashKey& ShapeInfo::getHash() const {
             thisPtr->_doubleHashKey.setHash(hash);
         
             // compute hash2
-            hash = _doubleHashKey.getHash2();
-            for (int i = 0; i < numData; ++i) {
-                tmpData = (*data)[i];
-                for (int j = 0; j < 3; ++j) {
-                    // NOTE: 0.49f is used to bump the float up almost half a millimeter
-                    // so the cast to int produces a round() effect rather than a floor()
-                    uint32_t floatHash =
-                        DoubleHashKey::hashFunction2((uint32_t)(tmpData[j] * MILLIMETERS_PER_METER + copysignf(1.0f, tmpData[j]) * 0.49f));
-                    hash += ~(floatHash << 17);
-                    hash ^=  (floatHash >> 11);
-                    hash +=  (floatHash << 4);
-                    hash ^=  (floatHash >> 7);
-                    hash += ~(floatHash << 10);
-                    hash = (hash << 16) | (hash >> 16);
+
+            QString url = _url.toString();
+
+            if (url == "") {
+                hash = _doubleHashKey.getHash2();
+                for (int i = 0; i < numData; ++i) {
+                    tmpData = (*data)[i];
+                    for (int j = 0; j < 3; ++j) {
+                        // NOTE: 0.49f is used to bump the float up almost half a millimeter
+                        // so the cast to int produces a round() effect rather than a floor()
+                        uint32_t floatHash =
+                            DoubleHashKey::hashFunction2((uint32_t)(tmpData[j] * MILLIMETERS_PER_METER + copysignf(1.0f, tmpData[j]) * 0.49f));
+                        hash += ~(floatHash << 17);
+                        hash ^=  (floatHash >> 11);
+                        hash +=  (floatHash << 4);
+                        hash ^=  (floatHash >> 7);
+                        hash += ~(floatHash << 10);
+                        hash = (hash << 16) | (hash >> 16);
+                    }
                 }
+            } else {
+                QByteArray baUrl = url.toLocal8Bit();
+                const char *cUrl = baUrl.data();
+                hash = qChecksum(cUrl, baUrl.count());
             }
             thisPtr->_doubleHashKey.setHash2(hash);
         } else {
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/ShapeInfo.h b/libraries/shared/src/ShapeInfo.h
index b6dc88e4b7..ff0b5ca8ff 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/ShapeInfo.h
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/ShapeInfo.h
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 #define hifi_ShapeInfo_h
 
 #include <QVector>
+#include <QString>
+#include <QUrl>
 #include <glm/glm.hpp>
 
 #include "DoubleHashKey.h"
@@ -22,7 +24,7 @@ enum ShapeType {
     SHAPE_TYPE_BOX,
     SHAPE_TYPE_SPHERE,
     SHAPE_TYPE_ELLIPSOID,
-    SHAPE_TYPE_HULL,
+    SHAPE_TYPE_CONVEX_HULL,
     SHAPE_TYPE_PLANE,
     SHAPE_TYPE_COMPOUND,
     SHAPE_TYPE_CAPSULE_X,
@@ -34,14 +36,15 @@ enum ShapeType {
 };
 
 class ShapeInfo {
+
 public:
     void clear();
 
-    void setParams(ShapeType type, const glm::vec3& halfExtents, QVector<glm::vec3>* data = NULL);
+    void setParams(ShapeType type, const glm::vec3& halfExtents, QVector<glm::vec3>* data = NULL, QString url="");
     void setBox(const glm::vec3& halfExtents);
     void setSphere(float radius);
     void setEllipsoid(const glm::vec3& halfExtents);
-    //void setHull(); // TODO: implement this
+    void setConvexHull(const QVector<glm::vec3>& points);
     void setCapsuleY(float radius, float halfHeight);
 
     const int getType() const { return _type; }
@@ -51,6 +54,11 @@ public:
     void setData(const QVector<glm::vec3>* data) { _externalData = data; }
     const QVector<glm::vec3>* getData() const { return _externalData; }
 
+    const QVector<glm::vec3>& getPoints() const { return _points; }
+
+    void clearPoints () { _points.clear(); }
+    void appendToPoints (const QVector<glm::vec3>& newPoints) { _points << newPoints; }
+
     float computeVolume() const;
 
     const DoubleHashKey& getHash() const;
@@ -60,6 +68,8 @@ protected:
     glm::vec3 _halfExtents = glm::vec3(0.0f);
     DoubleHashKey _doubleHashKey;
     const QVector<glm::vec3>* _externalData = NULL;
+    QVector<glm::vec3> _points; // points for convex collision hull
+    QUrl _url; // url for model of convex collision hull
 };
 
 #endif // hifi_ShapeInfo_h
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/VariantMapToScriptValue.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/VariantMapToScriptValue.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6fa3fd04e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/VariantMapToScriptValue.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+//
+//  VariantMapToScriptValue.cpp
+//  libraries/shared/src/
+//
+//  Created by Brad Hefta-Gaub on 12/6/13.
+//  Copyright 2013 High Fidelity, Inc.
+//
+//  Distributed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.
+//  See the accompanying file LICENSE or http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html
+//
+
+#include <QDebug>
+#include "VariantMapToScriptValue.h"
+
+QScriptValue variantMapToScriptValue(QVariantMap& variantMap, QScriptEngine& scriptEngine) {
+    QScriptValue scriptValue = scriptEngine.newObject();
+
+    for (QVariantMap::const_iterator iter = variantMap.begin(); iter != variantMap.end(); ++iter) {
+        QString key = iter.key();
+        QVariant qValue = iter.value();
+
+        switch(qValue.type()) {
+        case QVariant::Bool:
+            scriptValue.setProperty(key, qValue.toBool());
+            break;
+        case QVariant::Int:
+            scriptValue.setProperty(key, qValue.toInt());
+            break;
+        case QVariant::Double:
+            scriptValue.setProperty(key, qValue.toDouble());
+            break;
+        case QVariant::String: {
+            scriptValue.setProperty(key, scriptEngine.newVariant(qValue));
+            break;
+        }
+        case QVariant::Map: {
+            QVariantMap childMap = qValue.toMap();
+            scriptValue.setProperty(key, variantMapToScriptValue(childMap, scriptEngine));
+            break;
+        }
+        default:
+            qDebug() << "unhandled QScript type" << qValue.type();
+        }
+    }
+
+    return scriptValue;
+}
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/VariantMapToScriptValue.h b/libraries/shared/src/VariantMapToScriptValue.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..503f8c6490
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/VariantMapToScriptValue.h
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+//
+//  VariantMapToScriptValue.h
+//  libraries/shared/src/
+//
+//  Created by Brad Hefta-Gaub on 12/6/13.
+//  Copyright 2013 High Fidelity, Inc.
+//
+//  Distributed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.
+//  See the accompanying file LICENSE or http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html
+//
+
+#include <QVariant>
+#include <QScriptValue>
+#include <QScriptEngine>
+
+QScriptValue variantMapToScriptValue(QVariantMap& variantMap, QScriptEngine& scriptEngine);