Early last week, Google updated their browser WebGL extension to HTML5, making it possible to view 3D graphics in Chrome without a plug in. To demo their new 3D graphics feature, Google released a nifty Human body exploration tool, Google Human Body Lab. If you ever wondered what flipping through the insides of your chest and stomach look like, here’s your chance. The tool allows users to peel away at the human body, allowing you to adjust and zoom in between muscles, organs, bones, and skins. It is extremely detailed, allowing you to view different veins and ventricles, a human anatomy students dream come true.
The new 3D feature creates numerous possibilities for not only health care and education, but various industries and businesses, especially those that provide tangible consumer products. For e-commerce, Chrome provides an alternative tool for e-store development outside of Flash. Engineers are already familiar with design tools, such as Solidorks and AutoCAD. With the new Google update, they may be able to transfer their detailed work into a browser for potential consumers and manufacturers to view in full detail.
For e-commerce, web site developers and designers can look forward to developing elaborate interactive item view pages, allowing customers to see exactly what it is they’re buying in detail. If you’ve ever had a problem with viewing an item from certain angle, searching for that specific feature, or just not getting enough from a particular item photo; this could be a welcome tool. This is also a potentially powerful tool for customer service support and development of detailed, interactive instructional manuals. Not only is this useful, but makes shopping much more fun and interactive.
Google’s 3D extension is a welcome addition to it’s growing list of features.I’m crossing my fingers for stereoscopic digital projection shopping next. I’ll never have to leave home again.