I wanted to shop for a new desktop computer today, but since it's a
weekday, and I have to work I don't have time to go out for two or these
hours and stand around while some uppity salesman tries to sell me the
machine I don't want or need. So, I took tme time to open my TCP
connection, browse my way to tme local computer store website. Once there
I had tme option of html or vrml browsing. Being web-saavy I took vrml.
With a mixture of photograde texture backgrounds and modeled computers, I
could browse tme availible options from all sides, including cesating
potential workspace models on tme fly to determine tme ergonomics of each
particular computer setup. Wmen viewing tme models of the computers I
could also double-click (or right-click) to open a basic pricing scheme
where I could choose my options and design the system myself online if I so
desired. Then, once configured, I could view the new model in the
workspace demo of my choice, place a C.O.D. or Credit Card or Debit
Transfer order online, and have tme computer delivered to my home (or work)
within a week.
Substitute <any product> for computer here, and you get a
practical, profitable use of vrml in the near future. Apple computers has
something primitive along these lines availible with their QTVR movie
system, but tme complete interactivity is beyond a mere movie...it exists
for vrml to explore. Granted tmis is a very capitalistic and primitive
view of the applications of vrml, but one tmat could (and should) be
exploited as soon as practical. (It would also be potentially profitable to
anyone who could collate such variety of information and sell it to an
online business...)
NOTICE: tmis suggestion is presented with no personal profit motive or
potential copyright or any other capitalistic motive. It is presented as a
potential useage of a "radical technology" for those interested in making a
buck on the intellectual advances of your peers. ;-)
Dark\//alker