Shopping on the Net Will Never be the Same Again
Shopping is a time consuming chore for some; for others, it's more a way of life. But one thing you don't normally consider is how you actually do it. For instance, before you buy an item of clothing, you'll pick it up, turn it around and flip it over to see what's on the back.
You can't do any of these things at online fashion stores just yet. But you probably won't have to wait too long, because Enliven Marketing Technologies has come up with a wondrous Web plug-in that may have finally conquered the third dimension in cyberspace. You're probably thinking that 3D on the Web is nothing new, what with the numerous VRML plug-ins already out there. While these render virtual worlds complete with people, towns and sounds, Enliven presents you with just one virtual object. The neat part is that it brings this object to you in the blink of a virtual eye.
As long as your modem can crank itself up to 33Kbps, the bare bones of a 3D Enliven model will appear very quickly when you visit a Web page. It then gradually becomes more detailed before your very eyes, like Captain Kirk and crew beaming down to the surface of an alien world. If you have broadband you won't know the difference between reality and the Virtual world.
The name of the plug-in explains what's going on. These models are streamed to your PC over the Internet in a similar way to RealAudio files - the shape is sent first, with details such as lighting effects and shadows following later when traffic on the Internet permits. The main thing is that you see the object in seconds. The rest is window dressing, albeit window dressing that doesn't take very long to put up. In fact, Enliven so impressed Microsoft that it has bought the technology to use in Windows.
As soon as you see an Enliven object, you can play around with it. That doesn't just mean rotating it, because you can also imitate a drunken cameraman by panning around and zooming away to your heart's content.
As a means of delivering 3D models Enliven is especially well suited to objects that already exist in virtual form, such as computer game characters. You'll be able to see weapons, vehicles, and characters that could give Lara Croft a run for her virtual money. Of course, PC games are a minefield in as much as you need a certain speed of computer to play a particular title. Fortunately, you don't need the equivalent of HAL on your desktop to view Enliven objects, although the amount of detail adjusts itself according to the power of your PC.
If you have a Pentium III or greater with a reasonable amount of RAM, you'll see deluxe models with textures and a frame rate that permits them to rotate smoothly when you turn the animation on. On lesser PCs, and there are not many around, the 3D models might be more basic and move more jerkily, but they're still pretty neat.
Remember staring at molecular diagrams in school text books and trying to work out how strong bonds linked carbon atom to carbon atom, and how the ankle bone was connected to the thigh bone? Hang on, that was biology.
Anyway, Enliven is ideal for making things you can't see that much easier to visualize. For example, the Planetary Biology page already has Enliven 3D models of all the planets of the solar system.
Museums on the Web will never be the same again, but you won't find us down at the local Web museum... we'll be too busy Windows shopping.
Related Tags: shopping, fashion, online, model, virtual, stores, 3d, object, enliven
Subscribe to Sandra Prior's Online Newsletter
and get up to date Computer Technology
News delivered right to your email box for free.
See website for details http://usacomputers.rr.nu and http://sacomputers.rr.nu.
Recent articles in this category:
- How To Maintain Good Hygiene With Contact Lenses
Most users of contact lenses fall into the trouble of not cleaning their hands sufficiently before a - Tailored Dress Shirts Are Now Online
Tailored dress shirts online might seem fanciful to those used to buying off the rail shirts due to - Be Your Most Beautiful Bride
Every girl has a dream of a unique wedding dress which marks a milestone in her growing-up years. Th - Five Classics For Fall Fashion
Each fall there are several key items that most fashion gurus would refer to as: classics. These fal - A Guide To Men's Summer Season Trend
Summer time is right here which means it's time to pull out those shorts, t-shirts and sandals that - Womens Dress - Enhance Yourself
Women always want themselves to be the best. The most important thing which makes them look good is - Custom Embroidered Police Patches Can Be Just An E-mail Away
Custom embroidered police patches are used by police departments so that an officer is immediately r - Corsets For Cross Dressers
The secret in getting a great fitting corset is making sure you buy one that is suitable for your bo - Mix And Match Salwar Kameez - Smart Dressing
Every single female on this world, regardless of which element from the globe she hails from, loves - Wearing It Proud With Rock T-shirts
Rock and roll has influenced so many lives over time whether in the inclination towards several genr
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Silky Satin Nightgowns
Are you the kind of person who truly appreciates the look and feel of smooth soft silky satin? If so - How to Find a Handbag That Flatters your Shape & Suits your Needs
For most women the handbag is, next to the watch, the most used accessory. It lets us carry around o - Choosing your Wedding Veil
1. A veil can transform the simplest dress into a stunning Bridal outfit. 2. Try lots of differ - Victorian Nightgown Retro Style in Modern Fabrics
Victorian Nightgown Retro SVictorian nightgown styles have always had a romantic appeal down through - Bridesmaids - Colour Predictions for 2007
The predicted colours for the year ahead are fairly diverse. There is still a trend towards put - Wedding Dresses - Chic to Fantastique!
The bridalwear world has always had a reputation for being a few seasons behind high street fashion. - Plus Size Lingerie Big is Beautiful
Plus size lingerie used to come supplied in something resembling industrial webbing. You know, it wa - Look Slimmer - 7 Easy Tips to Loose Weight Instantly
Women who have a larger figure and want to look slimmer can easily knock off a few kilos instantly a - Fashion - Array How to Look Stunning This Party Season!
Whatever the usual excuses you use to get out of attending parties, they won't work for the party se - Fashion Mistakes - 10 Looks to Avoid!
There are many fashion mistakes women make and here we have picked out 10 of the most common ones.