| Could you expand upon the reason why you chose to use 3D over 2D floor plans? From a technological standpoint it's very cool, but I was wondering what value it adds for the business and customer satisfaction? If I understand your product correctly, 3D may bog down your customer service channels because people will pay more attention to the accuracy of your model (when it may not matter) instead of the metrics you are trying to convey. There are also some logistic issues that I'm wondering how you will overcome: -If I'm a local technician, this will be a great tool to spot check the receiver locations. But I have no way to (accurately and easily) measure if it's 4 feet or 6 feet off the ground. -If I'm a school admin, I need a quick graphic where the only change is the metrics I'm trying to analyze. Making me zoom/move around to see different classrooms / buildings on campus is time I probably don't have. Even pre-made locked 3D views distract me with extra information about the building when I'm really trying assess classroom attendance. And while showing the flow of students from classroom to classroom in 3D would be cool, it would again be much more useful as an analytical tool in 2D where the information being displayed is limited and focused on the task at hand. 3D is typically used to engage someone emotionally or show a highly detailed item. Emotionally, it allows us to connect to an event (such as the SailBoat Race) by filling our eyes with information that can only be gleaned at that time/space in reality. Analytically, it is a great tool to convey and compare important minute details, such as light coming into a room or organs wrapping around each other. It's a great tool when used appropriately and I do see some value added by making an admin see/feel the cramped musky hallways of a building to explain emotionally why students go to class less often in certain buildings. But I equally wonder if you won't find yourself in uphill battle as people focus more on the problems with your model instead of the problems with their attendance? On top of all that, what happens if: -I have a Netbook/Chromebook with too little horsepower for 3D? -I have to install flash just to use your product and can't (Mac)? -My internet connection is slow, intermittent or a combo? |
What we are trying to accomplish with the stack we are currently using is a generic multipurpose demo IP platform that anybody can extend with their own applications. In this case the 3rd dimension is something that might be very useful to show case.
For what concerns the rest of your (very valid) comments, Unity3D can export to WEBGL and other engines, not only flash. We will consider our options but right now for this initial beta release, flash sounds good enough.