Where there’s a will, there’s a way – 3D Style

3Dwalkthroughs.com has seen an increase in the number of builder/developers contacting us to see if we could help them create their marketing materials. In spite of, or better yet, because of the current climate in the real estate industry, the need to market new properties are becoming increasingly more important.

There is a big misconception amongst developers that creating 3D Walkthroughs, 3D Renderings and 3D Floor Plans are too expensive to be considered for smaller developments.

While a 3 minute custom 3D Walkthrough might be a little too pricey for the smaller builder/developer, there are still many 3D assets that can be created even for a very modest budget. 3Dwalkthroughs.com prides itself on it’s ability to come up with a host of options to meet even the most modest of marketing budgets.

In the past, the creation of 3D assets was very expensive. The recent improvements in 3D modeling software has resulted in a significant decrease in the cost of 3D asset creation. We encourage any builder or developer in need of pre-sales marketing tools to contact us. We ask that you give us the opportunity to strategize options that will exceed your goals without exceeding your budget.

Samsung - 3D High Definition TV launched in Australia

Next month Samsung will unveil the first commercially available 3D enabled television in Australia.

The brand new technology has been built into a 1080p full high-definition plasma television manufactured by Samsung which can display 3D movies, games and internet content when connected to a PC.

The technology requires the use of special glasses to deliver the full 3D effect.
The PC, which must be connected to the television, helps the device to interpret the 3D graphics and coordinates communication with the glasses.

With a lot of the major movie networks recently stating their plans to create many of their new movies in a 3D format, Samsung's 3D TV is sure to be a hot seller.

Manufacturers such as Philips are also working on 3D television technologies that do away with need for glasses altogether, to simplify the viewing experience for consumers.

Image and Date Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

3Dwalkthroughs.com is hopeful that this same 3D technology will soon be unveiled in the United States. Perhaps our next movie will be in 3D...American Cannibal 2 in 3D.

Prime Sense - Giving Digital Devices a 3D View of the World

3Dwalkthroughs.com came across an article about a Tel Aviv based company, Prime Sense, that just raised $20.4 million dollars in a second round of financing.

Israel-based Prime Sense is developing what it says is low-cost 3D vision technology that will "enable intuitive full body interaction for gaming, gesture based interface and background replacement for video communication/chat and self generated content applications."

"In the years since the mouse was introduced, the complexity of consumer devices has evolved dramatically. In comparison, user interfaces remained under developed. Prime Sense's technology propels user interfaces straight into the future," said Prime Sense president Aviad Maizels.

Source: dmwmedia.com

Some of the initial applications that 3D Vision is being developed for includes:
- Video Games
- Consumer Electronics
- Home Training and Fitness
- Video Communication
- Security
- Surveillance
- Automotive
- Safety

We believe this technology can also be used to move towards building a truly Interactive 3D Walkthrough. Imagine a viewer actually being able to manipulate objects in a scene just by moving their hands or feet.

As this technology evolves it might eventually replace the need for building a model home altogether...or not.

Business Week - 3D Virtual Worlds and Real Business Applications

3Dwalkthroughs.com came across an indepth article in Business Week which discusses the increasing number of companies that are using 3D virtual worlds to undergo "real" business applications and encourage global interaction.

According to the article companies like IBM are using 3D virtual worlds for meetings, collaboration, training and employee recruiting. Whether Second Life is the 3D platform of choice, or it is one of the many other existing 3D worlds, the technology can be a very effective way for people to interact and forge bonds from remote locations.

As unproven as these new digitized worlds may be, IBM is adopting virtual world technologies with gusto. The company has begun a mentoring program that encourages people who are retired or are about to retire to share knowledge with newer employees. Many in the program are using virtual worlds to meet, mentor, and make presentations. Globally, IBM is finding that virtual worlds are starting to help bridge culture and distance. IBM's Hamilton says virtual worlds actually make employees want to start working relationships with one another, adding, "Geography doesn't seem to be the barrier it once was."

Source: Business Week

It is our belief that as 3D virtual world platforms continue to focus their feature sets to specific industries, their perceived value and level of adoption will increase dramatically.

DAZ 3D - New 3D Modeling Software Can Export To Second Life

3Dwalkthroughs.com came across an article on Macworld.com about a 3D modeling application developer whose upgraded product will allow 3D models to be exported to Second Life.

The company, DAZ 3D has announced the release of Hexagon 2.5, a new version of its 3D polygonal and subdivision modeling software for Mac OS X and Windows.

Hexagon features tools for modeling 3D objects, refining them, mapping UV, texturing and previewing. It features freehand brush modeling with displacement brushes that can smooth, pinch, inflate geometry and add details. 3D paint tools let you apply textures using brushes, too.

New to the 2.5 release is the ability to export primitive objects to TGA format, which can be read by Linden Labs' virtual world software Second Life. The developers say that this lets Second Life users create more complex and organic shapes than they can in Second Life itself.

Source: Macworld.com

We believe the ability to import 3D models into virtual worlds from external sources will accelerate the improvement of the overall look and feel that can be achieved in 3D virtual worlds. We are excited to see some of the 3D models created by the new version of Hexagon actually integrated into Second Life.

Google Ocean - 3D Map of the Ocean

Google already has the sky and earth covered with their 3D maps, but what about the Ocean? Apparently a group of Oceanography experts had a meeting at the Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California to discuss plans to create a 3D map of the Ocean.

The tool--for now called Google Ocean, the sources say, though that name could change--is expected to be similar to other 3D online mapping applications. People will be able to see the underwater topography, called bathymetry; search for particular spots or attractions; and navigate through the digital environment by zooming and panning. (The tool, however, is not to be confused with the "Google Ocean" project by France-based Magic Instinct Software that uses Google Earth as a visualization tool for marine data.)

Google Ocean will feature a basic layer that shows the depth of the sea floor and will serve as a spatial framework for additional data, sources said, adding that Google plans to try to fill in some areas of the map with high-resolution images for more detail.

Additional data will be displayed as overlying layers that depict phenomena like weather patterns, currents, temperatures, shipwrecks, coral reefs, and algae blooms, much like the National Park Service and NASA provide additional data for Google Earth and Google Sky.

Source: news.com

One of the goals of Google Ocean is to promote advanced research on the vast ocean floor. 3Dwalkthroughs.com believes Google Ocean will eventually be a valuable navigational tool for divers around the world.

38 High Rock - 3D Walkthrough and 3D Renderings Now Available

3Dwalkthroughs.com is excited to announce that the developers of 38 High Rock Condominiums in Saratoga Springs, New York have launched their new website...the website features our 3D Walkthrough and 3D Renderings.

Saratoga Springs, NY, is probably best known for it's historic springs and legendary race track which draws thousands of people during the racing season.

38 High Rock Condominium is a first of its kind for Saratoga Springs and the surrounding area. Featuring 45 luxury condominium residences, 38 High Rock sits adjacent to the neighboring 123-room Hampton Inn & Suites hotel (under separate ownership than the condominium).

Condominium residents will have access to the same amenities as hotel guests,
including concierge and housekeeping services*, and aquatic and fitness facilities** while maintaining exclusive elevator access and indoor parking within a secured garage.

Source: 38 High Rock Website

From the minute we started working with the 38 High Rock team we knew this project was special. The attention to detail that was put into every brick went beyond many of the other projects we have been involved with.

It is a nice feeling when the first thing people say after seeing the 3D Walkthrough presentation and 3D Renderings is "When Can I Move In?". We highly recommend checking out their website, even better, purchasing a unit.