Web 3D technologies (would you like some more plug-in ?)

Today, various solutions exist to create 3D applications on the internet. This article focuses on current solutions on the market and on how it is relevant to use them.

 

In this article, we consider 3 types of solutions : Solutions without plug-in direct X that are Flash and Java, and solutions with plug-in direct X

What needs to be clearly defined to make the right choice

The first criterion concerns the need of interactivity.

When the 3D Cult from Cycore was launched, we have discovered applications that could show 360 degrees moving products.  Amazing, isn’t it ?but then it is necessary to put ourselves in the user position that have to : download the plug-in, install it on his computer, start his navigator again to… see a product moving round…

On the other hand, when  interactivity becomes better, real-time 3D technology  becomes even more relevant.

See the product configurator : it is more relevant to work with 3D real-time  technology on a product or a product database that offers many customized options. An example with a declining product in 40 different versions of colors, will definitely be preferable to process it only once with 3D rather than realizing 40 photographs !

But then, depending on the different application, solutions are more or less efficient and relevant.

Flash

The first 3D engine developed in Flash have been improved since a few years. Even if at first sight the offer seems very attractive, it also has its limits that set on a main restriction : Flash 3D engines don’t take account of your graphics card resources.

With real-time 3D technology, Flash is then relevant to represent products or places in a more symbolic way than photorealistic and doesn’t adapt to requirements for a quality rendering.

On the other hand,  Flash is the most adaptable solution as long as we don’t need 3D realtime technology, and can replace it with animations.

 

Advantages :

98% of posts equiped with Flash, plug-in don’t have to be installed

Development system and relevant interfacings

Compatibility Windows/Macintosh

 

Disadvantages :

Impossible to decently  represent  a product or a complex place

Java

Java platform seems to us to be the best compromise. Thanks to technologies as Webseed 3D, it is now possible to represent a product or a place in a qualitative way and to enable a high interactivity.

Java platform is the most relevant platform for the execution of 3D configurators and online-custom softwares, and interactive models.

 

Advantages :

85% of posts equiped with Java

Compatibility Windows/Macintosh

Powerful result  and powerful functionality

 

Disadvantages :

Resource needs in software engineering to develop relevant applications

Plug’in directX

Solutions with plug-in directX are the technical bases that provide  the more efficiency  to users. On the other hand, they bring more constraints for them too.

These solutions seems to be the most relevant for application development of because they have in certain cases a dedicated  framework that enables to ease  the creation of that type of applications.

We also often use them for the creation of viewers in a more industrial environment. B to B environment is less restrictive and a user will feel more comfortable  with the downloading and installation of the plug-in.

 

Advantages :

Powerful rendering  and powerful functionality

Disadvantages :

Compatibility issues with Macintosh or alternative navigators (Firefox, Safari…)

Resource needs in software engineering to develop relevant applications

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