Have you heard about 3D web yet? Notice I didn’t say 3D television where you have to wear those special glasses. I’m referring to browsing the Internet in 3D.
Currently, when you look at any company’s web page, you’re looking at a 2D website. It’s a flat piece of paper that may have a hyperlink, an embedded photograph, or a video. Regardless, it’s still 2D.
I have recently used a prototype of a 3D mobile web browser. Based on what I’ve seen, it’s easy to predict that in the near future a 3D web browser will hit the consumer market…and it will literally transform how we design, build, and view all of our websites.
Currently, in order to have a good 3D viewing experience in a movie theater or your living room, you need to wear special glasses. That’s because the viewing angle is wide with many people looking at the same screen.
To view the first 3D web sites, you won’t need to wear special glasses because the viewing angle will be quite small with only you looking at it. That’s because you won’t be 3D surfing using your television in the living room with other people, and you won’t even be using your desktop or laptop at first. Instead, you will be using your primary personal computer, which is now your smart phone and/or tablet, as evidenced by the rapid rise in smart phone and tablet sales globally, and the corresponding decline in PC sales.
There was even a recent Wall Street Journal article discussing a report that Amazon was working on a phone with a 3D screen. So it’s not hard to guess who else is working on this, is it? Remember, if it can be done it will be done, and if you don’t do it, someone else will!
Here’s how a 3D web browser works. Suppose you’re looking to buy a new car, so you go to the 3D web site of your favorite car dealer. Once there, you’ll be able to not only look at the new models available, but also go inside the showroom, walk around, open the doors of the cars and sit inside, check out how much headroom and legroom you have, and look at the interior and open all the compartments. You’ll also be able to start the car and listen to the engine. Having good speakers will help! You can open the trunk and put some virtual golf clubs in to see how they fit. When you close the car door, you’ll hear the slam exactly how it would sound in real life.
Do you want to take the car for a test drive? You will be able to select what road, city, or country you would you like to take your test drive in. All will be available with the point of your finger or the click of a mouse.
As you can see, this technology is going to revolutionize websites. It’ll also revolutionize conferences and meetings. Not only will you go to your conference and visit all the vendors, but you’ll also be able to go to the virtual meeting afterwards, walk the aisles, see what was there in 3D, and schedule a call on a live web wall. In other words, you’ll be able to see the rep right there, even though the conference was over months ago. It doesn’t matter. The conference goes on, now in high definition 3D.
I’ve only given you a couple of quick applications, but I want you to think about this: How might you use a 3D website and a 3D browser to transform your business? I think you’ll uncover some great opportunities.
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