In the near future, boring flat Web sites will be moving into another dimension.
Publishing software maker Adobe Systems on Monday announced that Adobe Atmosphere -- a tool that will enable the creation and interactive use of three-dimensional Web sites -- is scheduled for release in late summer.
"Today, browsing a site means clicking on document links and doing simple searches. In the near future, browsing a site will mean walking through 3D room spaces, speaking with other visitors or site representatives, and seeing animated objects in real time and in a more life-like setting," said Bruce Damer, president and chief executive of DigitalSpace.
The Atmosphere product promises to transform the Web experience for online shoppers, students, entertainment seekers and others, Adobe said in a release.
The Atmosphere authoring tool will help developers create a 3D environment into which they can import images built on 3D modelling tools like Viewpoint, Curious Labs and Discreet 3DStudio Max, Adobe Senior Product Manager for Atmosphere Asako Yoshimura told Reuters.
Such an environment could be a Web site of an automobile showroom floor with walls and pillars and staircases, Yoshimura said.
The developers would then use other tools to import a 3D version of a car and a sales representative who will answer questions posed by users, she said. Music and streaming video files also could be imported and incorporated into the site.
San Jose, California-based Adobe will be distributing its Atmosphere reader at no charge so users can open and interact with the 3D sites, she said.
The collaboration is the first product to emerge from Adobe`s investment in Viewpoint last year.
Adobe is making a test version of the software available in the products section of its company Web site at www.adobe.com.
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