Comment 3D Web Applications (Score 2, Interesting) 191
If you build it, they will come... real 3D web applications, that is. They're heeerree, or at least they will be.
People claim that there are no real applications for web 3D. Humbug. Here's just a tiny subset without even trying. No, 3D isn't the solution for everything, but it's the solution for enough things.
Phase 1: Niche 3D apps move to the web
It'll start with the niche applications that are already 3D moving onto the web - CAD, architectural walkthroughs, collaborative design etc. A light version of your CAD or design software will be a web app (starting with SketchUp).
Phase 2: Mainstream web apps add 3D
Next, existing non-3D web apps will start to add 3D capabilities. Product configurators will be visual, your driving directions will have a 3D mode, your customer service applications will let you pull up a model of a piece of equipment and engage in real-time collaboration. These apps will function like regular web apps, but better.
Phase 3: Entirely new 3D web apps
Finally, over time, 3D will find its way into nearly every current web application that even touches on visual or spatial data - search, maps, 3D medical atlases, you name it. You'll be able to use 3D models to index databases. Text and visual information will co-exist like images and text but better because 3D models are structured. Virtually whatever you see can be 3D.
Oh yes, it will happen. Maybe not right away. The first batch of 3D web apps will almost certainly suck. There will be lots of failed projects until people figure out how to build 3D web apps. O3D may or may not be the ticket, but something else similar to it will be. It will take years and years, but it will happen.
Be kind to everyone you meet, for they are fighting a difficult battle. - plato
People claim that there are no real applications for web 3D. Humbug. Here's just a tiny subset without even trying. No, 3D isn't the solution for everything, but it's the solution for enough things.
Phase 1: Niche 3D apps move to the web
It'll start with the niche applications that are already 3D moving onto the web - CAD, architectural walkthroughs, collaborative design etc. A light version of your CAD or design software will be a web app (starting with SketchUp).
Phase 2: Mainstream web apps add 3D
Next, existing non-3D web apps will start to add 3D capabilities. Product configurators will be visual, your driving directions will have a 3D mode, your customer service applications will let you pull up a model of a piece of equipment and engage in real-time collaboration. These apps will function like regular web apps, but better.
Phase 3: Entirely new 3D web apps
Finally, over time, 3D will find its way into nearly every current web application that even touches on visual or spatial data - search, maps, 3D medical atlases, you name it. You'll be able to use 3D models to index databases. Text and visual information will co-exist like images and text but better because 3D models are structured. Virtually whatever you see can be 3D.
Oh yes, it will happen. Maybe not right away. The first batch of 3D web apps will almost certainly suck. There will be lots of failed projects until people figure out how to build 3D web apps. O3D may or may not be the ticket, but something else similar to it will be. It will take years and years, but it will happen.
Be kind to everyone you meet, for they are fighting a difficult battle. - plato
