Use Your Hand to Open Doors and Windows In a 3D Walkthrough

A new Israeli start-up, XTR 3D, has developed a technology that can best be described as the technology used in the movie Minority Report.

The new 3D Motion Capturing technology allows users to control their computer screen just by using a regular webcam and XTR 3D's motion capture software interface. While this technology has been available in the past, it has required expensive hardware and 3D cameras. Now that this technology is affordable for the average home or business user we expect to see the appearance of a large number of applications which integrate XTR 3D's technology.

How The Technology Works?
According to XTR 3D's CTO Dor Givon, the software - known as the 3D Human-Machine Interface - "extrapolates depth and human body motion capture based on revolutionary computer vision algorithms." And, as an interface, Givon says, the system is software based and platform independent - meaning that it can essentially be used in any program on any embedded platform.

In the not to distance future, 3Dwalkthroughs.com envisions integrating this technology into our Custom 3D Walkthroughs. Imagine being able to completely navigate through an Interactive 3D Walkthrough, opening doors and windows, using nothing but the motion of your hand? We will certainly be keeping our eyes on this technology as it hits the mass market.

For a demo of this technology click here>>>

3D Walkthroughs and Event Planning

3Dwalkthroughs.com has officially entered a new market albeit by mistake. To make a long story short, we have been working with one of our client's party planners to create 3D Renderings of facility concepts she has designed.

In New York City it is not uncommon to rent a loft or warehouse space to throw a Wedding, Sweet 16, Bar-Mitzvah, Corporate Event etc. Often times these facilities are wide open spaces that require the imagination of a party planner to furnish and decorate.

Similar to utilizing a 3D Walkthrough or 3D Floor Plan to give a potential buyer of a real estate property a good sense of the property before it is built, these same tools can be used by party planners to more accurately depict their concepts.

By previewing the facility layout, table settings, interior finishings along with all other details, the party planner can minimize the risk of an unhappy client on the day of their event.

While we have not yet created an actual 3D Walkthrough for a party planner, we have had requests to create 3D Walkthroughs for a trade show producer that was planning a product launch for a pharmaceutical company.

The party that we designed the 3D Renderings for is taking place tonight and we will be in attendance. It will be interesting to see which design they chose to go with and how accurate our 3D Renderings were to the final decision.

Improved Outlook for The Future of a 3D Internet

IBM and Second Life creator Linden Lab have announced they are teaming up to build an open standard for virtual 3D worlds. This news comes in conjuntion with Google's announcement that they are partnering with the Multiverse Network to create a new online 3D environment for the masses.

Both of these new partnerships will exponentially increase the speed at which the internet evolves to a truly 3D environment.

IBM's project will focus on securing transactions, increasing the stability of 3D platforms and introduce interoperability by creating universal avatars. Most 3D platforms currently lack interoperability. For example a Second Life player cannot stroll around in a Google Maps projection.

Google's project will allow people to design custom virtual worlds using the large database of 3D models created by SketchUp. It wil also allow people to import pieces of terrain by entering specific longitude and latitude data from Google Earth.

3Dwalkthroughs.com is currently working with one virtual 3D technology provider to bring an improved level of realism to their current product. While we are not at liberty to mention this companies name just yet, we think you will be impressed with the final product. 3D applications are believed to offer a better user experience than traditional 2D environments and are proven to increase the "stickiness of websites".

3D Walkthroughs - Perfect For International Marketing

3Dwalkthroughs.com has been noticing an increase call volume from international clients interested in using our products to market their properties to remote clients.

Unlike many other media formats, 3D Walkthroughs, 3D Renderings and 3D Floor Plans can showcase a very realistic view of a new development property and its surrounding area BEFORE the property is built.

Other advantages using 3D technology as opposed to just building a model unit, is that it can really go into detail about all that a property has to offer including and the local culture and landmarks. This is valuable for international clients looking for vacation or investment properties with little knowledge of the area.

One of our clients recently mentioned how excited they were excited to "finally be able to tell the unique story behind their development concept". According to the client, "Within 2 weeks of distributing the 3D Walkthrough presentation on a CD, they experienced a huge spike in inquiries."

3Dwalkthtroughs.com has been focused on improving the production process as it relates to international clients. Most of our clients have been amazed at how smooth the project went even though it was created halfway across the world. It is quite fulfilling to hear from one of our international clients how accurate one of our presentations was to their final development.

Check out The 3D Walkthrough Of This New NYC Development

200 Eleventh Avenue, a new luxury building going up on the West Side of NYC is raising the bar for the term "luxury". With amenities such as a fully equipped gym, treatment room, Hudson River views, open terraces, 24/7 doorman and key lock elevator entry, 200 Eleventh Avenue is sure to be one of the most desired buildings in the city.

One of the most unique features of this new condominium is an En-Suite car garage for each of the 14 available apartments. The car garage is the ultimate paparazzi deterrent as residents can drive right into an elevator which takes them up to their own private 300 Sq. Ft. parking garage.

For a 3D Walkthrough of 200 Eleventh Avenue, which demonstrates the En-Suite car garage as well as many other amenities the building has to offer please visit their website.

3Dwalkthroughs.com is always on the lookout for innovative new architecture and is excited to see this building once it is completed. I think it is safe to say with only 14 units available, they will fetch a pretty penny. Perhaps we can stow away in the trunk of a residents car to get a better look inside.

3D Walkthroughs on Steroids

One of the largest simulation facilities in the world has been unveiled in Tokyo Japan. The cyberdome is an 8.5-meter-high hemisphere-shaped screen designed to simulate houses and cities in a mind-blowing 3D immersive environment.

The Cyberdome has a huge trackball and is powered by by 19 computers and 18 projectors. The projectors are suspended above the viewing platform which is a couple of meters off the ground and allows a viewer to look straight at the center of the screen.

One of the goals of creating the Cyberdome was to give city planners and architects very large and very real 3D Walkthroughs of newly proposed building exteriors and interiors.

Similar to the products of 3Dwalkthroughs.com the architects and city planners can then make modifications to their plans before they start construction on a property.

In order to get a true immersive experience, the Cyberdome requires that the viewer wear 3D glasses. Reporters that tested the simulation facility stated that the Cyberdome was one of the most engaging simulation facilities they have ever seen.

I guess we will not be able to test this type of technology any time soon unless it comes to the United States or my wife gets her wish and we go to Japan.

Inserting an Interactive 3D Object Into A Live Video

French company, Total Immersion, has developed a software called D-Fusion which allows for the integration of interactive 3D objects into a live video.

Total Immersion's technology creates "Augmented Reality" applications. Augmented reality applications are defined as the use of live video imagery digitally processed and "augmented" by the addition of interactive 3D graphic objects.

They have a number of really wild sample videos on their website which demonstrates their technology in action. Total Immersion's target markets include: Automotive and Aerospace, Television and Movies, Theme Park & Entertainment, Military, Special Event and Design, Maintenance, Architecture and Telecom Operators,

3Dwalkthroughs.com believes this technology offers significant potential for the sales and marketing of all types of real estate properties.

Interesting Idea: Utilize Total Immersion technology to immerse 3D Walkthroughs, 3D Floor Plans and 3D Renderings into existing property videos to demonstrate capital improvements before an investment is made.

While the price of this software is not clear it does offer an interesting potential application for many industries. Total Immersion is reportedly setting their sites on the creation of an interactive product for mobile devices. It will be interesting to follow this progressive company.