1. Immersive 3D or Immersive Reality
2. Interactive 3D or interactive reality

They have many in common. Such as both of them:

1. A computer generated virtual environment
2. Communicate with human via Human-Machine Interface (HMI)
3. Simulate the hypothetical scenes in 3D which either exist in the real physical world or not, or can not easily to be seen by human natural eyes

However, they distinguish how human involve and interactive with the virtual environment.

With immersive 3D —- human

1. View the environment from head mounted display (HMD) and
2. Interactive with the system with human body movement, such as via gloves, motion sensors, etc.
3. Are part of the entire system and the system user at the same time

With Interactive 3D —– human

1. View the environment from projected images, such as desktop computer monitor or big projected screen
2. Interactive with the system through computer commends via keyboard, mouse, joystick etc.
3. Is not part of the system but the system user only

Many times, those two different virtual reality core systems are interchangeable. Interactive 3D is more widely used, especially online version. The user need nothing but web browser. There is no special hardware, software or training overhead.

It is very value tool for general consumer market. Such as interactive 3 house, interactive 3D hotel, interactive 3D boat, etc. Which enable consumer walk through the building from their fingertip as if they are visiting the site in person even long before the ground break. Or the manufacture doesn’t have to build every possible floor model boat to dramatically reduce the risks.

Immersive 3D can almost simulate everything you can imagine if we don’t consider the cost constrain. It not only need special hardware, software, but also required dedicated space to hold the system and constant calibration to keep the accuracy.

One the other hand, interactive 3D can be done very easily at reasonable cost with normal computer. Sometime it may cost even less than traditional static rendering or animation. Then add additional function eventually.

Interactive 3D can also connect with additional hardware input devices, such as joystick, control console, scanner or other mechanical simulation hardware to reach sophistical virtual reality functions.
Compare interactive 3D with traditional 3D illustration which include 3D rendering, animation, the user can bi-directional communicate with the illustration, such as change the viewpoints, material options and view the simulation in real time, in 3D vs the user only can “watch” whatever pre-produced, if the user want to change the viewpoint or see the different color/material choice, they are out of luck.

More about traditional 3D vs interact 3D can be found at What’s missing in 3D illustration – Conversational Online 3D presentation

How about the interaction with real physical world via a camera in real time? Such as smart phone and laptop nowadays all have built in camera. This more belongs to Augment or mixed reality. I will write more about augment reality in separate articles.

Feel free to forward or share this article with other peoples if you like it. I’d love to hear your feedbacks as well.

There is no right or worry 3D technologies. However it is important to have good knowledge about what interactive online 3D platforms are and how to pick and choice the different technologies for the different project at various stages.

Ask the question to different person or organization and you will get a myriad of responses ranging from concrete initiatives to vague ideals; even with just panorama technology.

This article uses the comparison chart and related examples to be as specific and straight forward as possible about the different technologies and their advantages and limitations.

There are a lot of acronyms when dealing when dealing with interactive 3D content. We will do best to avoid those jargons, you don’t have to be 3D or graphic expertise to understand this document and incorporate those in the daily work and future planning.

In order easy the reading; the comparison chart will be divided into three:

1. Chart One: Traditional “talk” oriented illustrations which include static rendering/picture; animated picture/rendering; animation/fly-through; video clips
2. Chart Two: “Conversational” oriented illustrations which include 360 degree view; 720 degree view; Web3D; Virtual Reality; Interactive 3D
3. Chart Three: Comparison of above two categories,  physical model and model house

Chart One: Traditional online illustration

Chart Two: “Conversational” illustrations – interactive online 3D

Chart Three: Comparison of above two categories,  physical model and model house

Notes:

1. Interactive online 3D platform:   a 4^th generation of interactive online technology which combining video advertisement, animation, simulation, multimedia and 3D interactive online technologies into one.  It not only shows the spaces, but more importantly demonstrate the functions which more closer to the real world. The viewer only need web browser and in most case, no plug-in is needed. The viewers are able to get the overview of entire development, each individual building, the units detail in the buildings and surrounding environment from their fingertip!  It is a powerful open platform, compatible with Virtual Reality, Web3D, Video/Audio clips, 360 degree panorama view, slideshow, backend security system and sales/marketing, daily operation management database. It can be used during entire property lifecycle; from concept design, city approval, fundraise, sales, marketing and daily operation management. It can also incorporate with BIM(Building Information Modeling).  It is valuable tool for real estate, museum, travel and other industrial.

Here are two examples

http://virtual3dreality.com/

http://boundlessadvantages.com/virtualhome/boundlessvrhome.html

1. Web3D: Distributed real-time 3D rendering technology to achieve unlimited scale real-time scene rendering, and 3D online game similar to the core technology to increase the compression and network streaming functionality, without the prior 3D data downloaded to the local, the viewers can view the content while the content is generating and downloading. Through the establishment of a virtual space to achieve human-computer interaction roaming through the browser in 3D environment and interactive! One example: http://activeopenhouse.com/
2. Virtual Reality (VR): Combining computer hardware, software and various sensors form a 3D artificial environment – a virtual environment that can truly simulate the real world (or even not possible to archive in the real world) physical, functional objects and the environment. User gets into such a virtual environment, and explores the interaction in person. Many university has a VR lib which include University of Minnesota
3. 360 degree panorama virtual view: With camera and computer technology restore virtual reality scenes. The viewer not only can control the scene, but also can rotate the scene in 360 degrees and zoom in/out.  It significantly improves the customer experience level. Now, most view is 720°  or 360 degree by 180 degree (360° X 180°) which can be viewed for the entire sphere rather than lack of top and bottom views.

Examples:

720° panorama view

360° panorama view  

More about panorama technology, please click here.

Summary:

Best solution should be: Interactive 3D online property platform which can achieve: bird’s eye view, overview, search, and location, details to a certain unit. Based on customer requirements and financial status, it can integrate with video clips, web3D, virtual reality, 360 degree panoramic image display. The potential buyers/renters can explore entire development, at the same time experience the immersive model for the particular space. This is especially valuable in the earlier selection stage. It well worth the investment.

Good 3D illustration make sales, bad one just cost money.

Panoramic and 360 degree virtual presentation are commonly used technologies. However not everyone’s presentations are built equal, especial some of the service provide only can produce the view from existing building but future development. This article overviews the major panorama, 360 degree technologies and what the major differences are.

How to choice the different technologies to fit into different firms’ needs at vary stages will be covered in the separated article.

This article will only cover the panoramic based technologies. The other interactive real 3D technologies will be in separated articles.

We will write other articles to explore the implementation and technical detail’s in the future newsletter. Such as:

• How to choice the 3D illustration technologies? — side-by-side comparison
• What are the pitfalls during 3D multimedia marketing content implementation?
• Most commonly used terms in 3D multimedia content creation
• ….

If you have recommendation or other comments, please post or contact me directly at andy@boundlessadvantages.com .

Panorama is came from the Greek words pân means everything and hòrama means to see, which stands for the all-around view. It became know in 1787 by Robert Barker (an Irishman) when he patented his plans.

Click there to view the article and click here to take the survey to win free interactive real 3D online property services!

Here we will concentrate with the panoramas which are generated either by computer graphics (CG) or digital cameras.

The earliest panoramas were made by placing two or more daguerreotype plates side-by-side. Below are the major panoramas types:

1. Flat:
   1. Two or more views are placed together either with one row or multiple rows without any modification.
   2. The view is limited to 110 x 110 degree ( vertical and horizontal). No matter how big the view is, you can’t see the scenes behind.
   3. No special software need to create it
   4. No special viewer needed to view it
   5. Click there to view example
2. Cylinder:
   1. An image which looks prospectively-correct when mapped onto the inside of a cylinder.
   2. The view is limited to 180 x 110 degree (horizontal and vertical). It cannot capture any objects positioned either above or below you, as the cylinder has a limited height
   3. Need special software to create it
   4. Need special viewer to view it
   5. Click here to view example
3. Sphere: It is also called equirectangular
   1. An image which looks prospectively correct when mapped to the inside surface of a sphere.
   2. It can display everything around you in a viewer which can display 180 x 360 degrees.
   3. Need special software to create it
   4. Need special viewer to view it
   5. Click here to view the example
4. Cubic :
   1. A spherical panorama can be converted to six of 90×90 degrees rectilinear images
   2. Function similar as Sphere, except projection differently and use different methodology to review it.

Except flat or conventional panorama, all the others are needed to be viewed in a viewer. Most modem and advanced panoramic viewers are Flash or JavaScript based. Java based viewers are mostly used in the earlier days and less popular right now. HTML5 based viewer has been coming in slowly.

The viewers function or how the panoramas can be viewed, various dramatically. Here are major types of panorama view function types:

1. Single view only: can only view  one panorama scene and pan, tilt, zoom in/out (PTZ) function only. Click here to view the example
2. Multiple view: can view multiple panoramas in a single interface and has PTZ.
3. Multiple view + hotspot: has hotspots to link with other views or website, beside above. Click here to view the example
4. Multiple view + hotspot +  slideshow: has static flat view slideshow function, beside above.
5. Multiple view + hotspot + slideshow + limited interactive: limited interactive between panorama, hotspot, slideshow. Click here to view the example
6. Multiple view + hotspot + slideshow + movie + comprehensive interactive: Intelligent, comprehensive integrations between scenes and other objects to build virtual 3D online interactive replica of real physical worlds which either already exist or will be built in the future.  Click here to view the example 

Depend on your situation; you can choice the different panorama presentation technologies. However the truly interactive intelligent 3D panorama is most efficient and the cost is not much different than those less efficient technologies. This is especially true in now a day.

Good 3D illustration make the sales, the bad one only cost money!

Click here  to win free online 3D interactive property by taking Online 3D illustration Survey!

If the 3D online content doesn’t “communicate”, you miss a great opportunity! This is especially true for the companies whose core marketing information is graphic based.

“A picture is worth a thousand of words.” How about the “conversational picture”? It will be worth a thousand of dialogues!

The “conversational picture” will streamline entire online market campaigns, an ideal marketing strategy for companies involved in real-estate, appliances, rental and travel services, etc.

What is the “conversational picture or 3D”? The short answer is interactive 3D.

We are all familiar with 3D, which includes 3D rendering, animation/fly-through, pictures, etc. All of those belong to the category of traditional “talk” orientated 3D.

Interactive 3D is the virtual replica of real physical worlds which either already exist or will be built in the future. It also has the ability to accurately simulate structures that would be near impossible to build in the real world for the exploration of future technologies. Good interactive 3D has all the traditional 3D functions listed above but can also “communicate”. It can be either online or offline only. Here we will only concentrate on the online interactive 3D.

Interactive 3D not only shows the imaging, but more importantly shows the functions. Interactive 3D is used in two major areas:

1. Real Estate Properties which include buildings, structures, room space and landscapes, etc
2. Products which include household appliances and industry equipments.

The purposed can be for:

1. Marketing and sales
2. Evaluation and design improvements
3. Training and simulation

For buildings and landscapes, the user has the luxury of being able to go inside and out of the property as if they are visiting the site in person. Every little detail, including possible floor plans, colors, textures, and all other options can be seen in real time from any viewpoint with the feature of on-the-fly picture capture.  This eliminates the worry about huge costs associated with the number of rendering or animations that needs to be created in order to cover all viewpoints. Companies can initiate marketing campaigns, rental plans, and promotional services long before the building is even built. Additionally, the service can be used as a lifelong building management and sales tool, aiding in the city’s approval and fundraising opportunities.

An Interactive 3D property is like having a team of dedicated sales and a property manager for the customer 24 X 7. Also, features allow potential buyers/renters to pre-qualify themselves and prepare the documentation right from their fingertips!

For the  product, users have a 720 degree (not just 360) view of every item and detail. A personal interactive experience is provided with features that allow customers to zoom in/out, push buttons, open boxes, move objects/appliances, exploring the full functions of items. Alternative options for colors, styles, and arrangements can even be changed on the spot to see how each may fit their particular environments.  No longer will users have to struggle with abstract and hard to understand text descriptions.

This like having a dedicated engineer, consultant, or trainer available all times for customers.

Here are four additional examples:

Example one: cabinets. The customer can select virtual cabinets either online or in the showroom with every possible combination, colors, and textures. They can even open the cabinet door, cut the cabinet in any section to examine the joints, workmanship, etc.  After proper adjustments and selections, they put the final cabinets into certain styled room to find the perfect fit.

Example two: the builder can show their potential client virtually just as if they are walking through the physical site. Insulation details, workmanship, different materials/textures/color options can all be seen by embedding related pictures, animations, video clips, and voice descriptions all in one place.   

Examples three: meeting room and resort. The potential client can “walk through” the meeting spaces and virtual buildings, evaluate different room layouts, and plan activities ahead of time. When the client arrives at the destination, they are already comfortable with the environments and have an idea of where they want to spend their time/money, decreasing buyer’s remorse and increasing customer satisfaction.  

Examples four: outdoor landscape. The potential client can “walk through” the virtual yard, view the countertops, grills, tables, chairs from any degree and any angle, from a detailed perspective or an overall layout. It is like having a 24 X 7 X 365 show room with availability at any time.

Interactive 3D allows for a transformation from “push” to “pull”, “explore” to “experience” for marketing, sales, and training. With the technology of virtual products, demonstrations can be done at much lower costs, passing on the savings to consumers and dramatically increasing revenue and customer satisfaction. Additionally, the immediate need for physical samples can also eliminated for logistical purposes.

Interactive online 3D doesn’t replace personal contacts but enhances it.  The experience will encourage and allow prospective customers to prepare, prequalified themselves, ask more intelligent questions when they go to store, interact more comfortably with sales, and even continue their own exploration.  Studies show that people are more likely to visit physical sites after viewing the good online, leading to an increase in the chance of purchase.  This enable sales to handle more inquiries, reduce operation costs, and greatly increase the sales efficiency and customer satisfaction.

How expensive is Interactive Online 3D? It depends how and who you work with, just like any other technology. One thing is for sure, it is no longer a luxury. The cost is very comparable with traditional illustration and occasionally can be attained for less. This is especially true when comparing the total cost of 3D content creation for the different purposes. The 3D content is extremely flexible and can be implemented for multiple usages if done right, such as printing materials, CDs, emails, etc. with minimal or no content redevelopment.

What should you watch out when working with 3D illustration? What kind of questions should you ask when communicating with 3D content creation service providers?  We will talk about those in separate articles.