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To: Jay Lowe who wrote (57)	12/5/1999 9:53:00 PM
From: Joe S Pack	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 68

Jay, The think you have mentioned about 3D text is what we call level of detail. You can achieve that in VRML (Virtual Reality Modelling Language)- a 3D modeling language. It is a interpretive language and is relatively easy to construct simple worlds. Java also supports that. These texts can also be placed as a Bill Board and as you move close to it you will get the effect of driving on a highway and seeing BB coming close to you and passing. As for not many 3D interfaces now, there are several hurdles: 1) processing power has become moot since last year as you can achieve reasonable 3D effect with off-the self graphics cards packaged with any standard brand PCs. But to get a good effect still you need a some what costly card. 2) the main problem is interface.We are still in 2d World and people just got a hang of it. It will take a lot of training and teaching before we can deploy it in common market. But we will be there. But a related issue is how will an ordinary person interact and behave in a 3D world given that the curent 2D itself looks sufficient. There are lot of progress to be made on interface devices. 3) Killer application. At present there are a few areas like simluation, games and real estate. I am more interested in using commercial applications like rendering networks, zooming into a particular node based on some signal/conditions and getting a view of what is there, overlaying a 3d space with a GIS (geographics Information) or sky as a backdrop etc. I think the first area to get maximum mileage is games and enterlustainment areas and that will be a good start to train kids who can transition without too much resistance in future. Sorry to ramble this on this thread. -Nat