3D In the Browser

[albal]

WebGL is here.... that is 3D in the browser. You will need a browser that currently supports WebGL like Chrome or the faster Chrome Canary. Go check it out at:

http://ro.me/

[aidan2007]

I like it :)

The last scene reminds me of that Gorillaz video

[andyn]

We'll see if it takes off, I for one remember VRML...

[Mr. Grapes]

vrml was cack tho. lets be honest. if this is a web standard with no need for third party plugins then I'm all for it

[andyn]

This is true, it was a big idea without the hardware or tech to really back it up.

On the other hand, I think these things always get overhyped. Partly it's the old (and naive) idea that the natural future of the internet is going to involve us all running around in a tron-style environment, whereas in fact there are only actually a limited number of situations where that's an effective way of presenting information.

[InvalidSyntax]

This is true, it was a big idea without the hardware or tech to really back it up.

On the other hand, I think these things always get overhyped. Partly it's the old (and naive) idea that the natural future of the internet is going to involve us all running around in a tron-style environment, whereas in fact there are only actually a limited number of situations where that's an effective way of presenting information.

True. It's difficult to see where this sort of thing would be incorporated into the likes of twitter, facebook, and wikipedia, other than having the odd 3d graphic here and there. There is a common misconcenption with emerging technologies that newer always = better, but I think in reality much of the web is just better and more practical in plain old 2d.

[aidan2007]

Instead of trying to picture it being part of existing web norms, think of it more as a new medium for creative media such as the film in the example.

Not all new stuff has to shoehorned into existing stuff. It can be what it is and people can use it for what they like. In this case the technology has been used to create an interactive film, doesn't mean its pointless because you wouldn't want it in the Facebook sidebar.

Sent from my HTC Desire HD using Tapatalk

[andyn]

Well, there is a lot of 3D VR content out there already, in environments like Second Life, etc. So there's definitely applications for it, indeed the userbase has become large enough that there have been corporate promotions and even I believe online concerts and the like.

My point though was that the idea that the future is one where we're all using 3D 'avatars' to access information in the way envisioned by authors such as William Gibson and Neal Stephenson in the 80's is at this point largely dead in the water; because the simple truth is that for the presentation of much information a simple format (such as Wikipedia) is vastly more efficient and effective than a 'real world simulation'.

[theste]

i just love this :clap

[Pullen]

Meh, far too gimmicky for me.


Well, there is a lot of 3D VR content out there already, in environments like Second Life, etc. So there's definitely applications for it, indeed the userbase has become large enough that there have been corporate promotions and even I believe online concerts and the like.

My point though was that the idea that the future is one where we're all using 3D 'avatars' to access information in the way envisioned by authors such as William Gibson and Neal Stephenson in the 80's is at this point largely dead in the water; because the simple truth is that for the presentation of much information a simple format (such as Wikipedia) is vastly more efficient and effective than a 'real world simulation'.

3D avatars for gaming FTW.