> For a lot of things, it won't be useful.
Indeed! The one good thing about today's web 3D now is that it is used in moderation -- by only the techie crowd who want substance over flash. The bad thing is that In the future it will be abused.

There are a couple of satarical Futurama episodes where the gang visits the internet is inundated by ads that shows how things might be. :-/ In the "Real World" Casino's overload the senses too. One can't escape the fundamental problem that Greed tends to motivate people to cause as much distraction as they cause to get your limited attention. 3D is just another medium/tool that will eventually be exploited. :-(

At for right now it is useful. :-)

> I guess maps in 3D, History places in 3D.
Yup, 3D should be used as a way _augment_ data presentation NOT replace it.

> Ok, just make sure the whole web doesn't use it for now reason (flash, cough, cough.)
I completely hear your lament and am right along with you. Sadly the corruption of 3D is coming. :-/

You will see this in tech. all the time. The pioneers invent a cool new tech -- radio, phone, TV, BBS, internet, newsgroups, email, IRC, Instant Messenger, etc. Then business and/or marketing get on board and you get advertising and spam diluting the S/N ratio and usefulness of said invention.

Fads come and go about every 20 years. i.e. VRML of the 90's. WebGL of the 2010's. Each new generation of kids "re-discovers" something "cool" new solution to an existing problem, generally ignoring the last time it was "popular", along with the strengths & weaknesses.

At least this time around we have some sense of standard API's instead of proprietary API's that Microsoft, Sony, etc. like to push.

> Everything 3D is either FPS or gimmick.

Total nonsense. http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3470211&cid=42935685

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Only cowards use censorship.

> Why should take off? What's the drive behind it? What need does it satisfy?

Short Answer: Curiosity

Long Answer: If you have to ask why you're _completely_ missing the point. That's akin to asking: "Why on earth do we need to visualize our data from a different perspective??"

To help us understand, model, and relate to existing structures, design, and art in a new and clever ways to help expand our paradigms.

Instead of wasting time explaining in a textual context, please see my previous post:
  http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3470211&cid=42935685

Having an unified 3D standard is GOOD thing. It means developers can spend less time using proprietary APIs and more time creating interesting content. Javascript + WebGL helps us bypass years of proprietary and over-engineered tech and just focusing on bringing content to the masses without needing yet another set of downloads that may or may not be safe.

> What is the 3d web going to give me that 2d doesn't?

At the risk of getting down modded: your thinking is the typical two dimensional can't-think-outside-the-proverbial-box. 3D has a time and a place for certain interactive and educational applications.

To put things into perspective.
http://workshop.chromeexperiments.com/stars/

For teaching about the science of waves, caustics, etc.
http://madebyevan.com/webgl-water/

For people to explore creativity without needing an over-priced program
http://derschmale.com/demo/farbe/watercolour/FarbeWaterColour.html

For rapid prototyping and fun playing around with shaders
http://www.iquilezles.org/apps/shadertoy/

Just because _you_ can't see a need or use for it does not imply it is useless for everyone else.

> Nitpick: that's not a technique. Those rays of light are called godrays, it says nothing about the implementation technique.

Indeed. They could be using "Volumetric Light", "Occlusion Stencil", or as a post-process in Screen Space. Hard to tell which algorithm they are using.

Reference:
* http://http.developer.nvidia.com/GPUGems3/gpugems3_ch13.html

Except for that one time they "had" to invest $150 million in Apple ...

http://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2009/08/dayintech_0806/

Standards exist to keep the vendor's implementation honest.

--
Only cowards use censorship.

> What won't happen is that some ditz who bought a hot beverage and spilled it in there lap and got burned

Sad to see people still completely and totally ignorant of the FACTS this many years later:

McDonalds also said during discovery that, based on a consultants advice, it held its coffee at between 180 and 190 degrees fahrenheit to maintain optimum taste. He admitted that he had not evaluated the safety ramifications at this temperature. Other establishments sell coffee at substantially lower temperatures, and coffee served at home is generally 135 to 140 degrees.

The jury awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages. This amount was reduced to $160,000 because the jury found Liebeck 20 percent at fault in the spill. The jury also awarded Liebeck $2.7 million in punitive damages, which equals about two days of McDonalds' coffee sales.

http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur78.htm

Wow, thought you were joking for a second but I see it is indeed true.
http://www.diffchecker.com/h14Uhs74
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/122119-Valves-Newell-Issues-Firings-Statement

Looks like Valve is focusing on the Steam Box + Linux.

As a visual thinking I have found the most important tool for programming (which is just another type of solving interesting problems) is a pencil and pad.

While you have an catchy cliche & interesting point I use Excel / OOCalc as a cheap digital notepad which I find quite effective. I can jot partial formulas down, do quick graphs, and have some semi-table-structure while I finalize organization and equations before throwing it into the "real" tool.

There are times a "lab notebook" (whether physical / digital) IS the right tool -- when you can minimize the time spent wasting with the UI then you can focus on actually solving the problem. :-) THAT is one of the advantages of using a spreadsheet that too many completely overlook or dismiss as not being relevant.

How is it a conspiracy when there are _facts_ that electric cars were not prioritized as being important??

"Who Killed the Electric Car?"
http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/who_killed_the_electric_car/

However, I agree with your analysis that Occam's Razor is probably closer to the truth. Sadly sensational "journalism" still sells eyeballs.

> and we can get more than 2 primaries, and have some faster cycling of parties.

Unfortunately that won't solve the problem as the system is fundamentally flawed.

The Problems with First Past the Post Voting Explained
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo

> My vote, this time and last, happened to be for the Democrat. But, I wasn't voting "for" the democrat, so much as I was voting "against" the other guy.

Oh, that's a "brilliant" strategy -- except for one thing -- the system _itself_ doesn't work.

The Problems with First Past the Post Voting Explained
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo

No, he's that brain surgeon guy :-)

Brain Surgeon - That Mitchell & Webb Look , Series 3 - BBC Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THNPmhBl-8I

Someone please mod this AC up -- he understands the fundamental problem.