Intel Guru Predicts a 3D Internet in Five Years

It seems as though these days, we can't move for 3D technology; be it movies, games, consoles, sports, or televisions, the 3D craze is in full swing. Sean Koehl, a technology evangelist with Intel Labs, says that soon, even the Internet could be in 3D.

Discussing emerging technology, Koehl said that over the last 10 or 20 years, there's been a huge increase in the amount of computing power available for exploitation. Pairing this with the current passion for 3D, Koehl says we could be looking at some very different experiences than what we're used to; especially when it comes to the Internet.

Computerworld reports that of all the projects underway at the Intel Labs, Koehl is most excited about how 3D technology will change the way we interact with online information. Though Koehl did concede that the Internet will probably never go fully 3D (people probably wouldn't want to read 3D text for example), he predicted that in the next five years, 3D environments will be broadly accessible.

Computerworld:"The Internet may never go fully 3-D, but making 3-D environments broadly accessible is probably capable within five years," noted Koehl. "I think it remains to be seen but there are certain kinds of interactions people will want in two dimensions, like reading text. The things we'll do in three dimensions may be things that we don't do at all on the Internet today because it isn't feasible."

Koehl goes on to give the example of 3D conference, similar to the live Q&A we had earlier this week. However, instead of voices being represented by avatars in a virtual room, you could feel like you're in the room with us. Though we've seen similar ideas in the likes of Second Life and other virtual worlds, Koehl believes pairing 3D technology with more updated graphics, the realism could match the CGI we're used to seeing in movies.

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