Why WebGL and HTML5 are the present and future for 3D-Web.

Microsoft announced some time ago that the next version of Internet Explorer will allow the visualization of 3D objects. This is made possible by the enormous progress of WebGL technology (enable to create beautiful 3D configurators). With the help of HTML5 (Canvas) viewers, impressive 3D visualizations can be developed in the future. The following video illustrates the development of a cube in 3D with HTML5 and ThreeJS:

In the past, there were two main fronts in the world of the 3D web. While Microsoft favored a closed DirectX technology, a large number of renowned companies such as Mozilla, Apple or Google favored an open source platform called OpenGL.

With the support of Internet Explorer for WebGL and HTML5-based 3D content, it seems that Microsoft has already thrown in the towel with its multimedia content platform for Web DirectX.

This decision by Microsoft not only puts its own DirectX technology into the background, but also other ambitious technologies such as 3D with Java or 3D in Flash format. Especially the competition between HTML5 and “Java 3D” has attracted a lot of attention lately.

However, 3D with Java and Flash have three critical bugs that speak for HTML5:

• Both technologies require a plug-in to run, which must be downloaded and installed. This aspect has a negative effect on the User experience.
• The installation of plug-ins often requires continuous updates to close security holes.
• There are often incompatibilities with smartphones and tablets that do not support plug-ins or add-ons.

These 3 very important disadvantages of Java and Flash make WebGL with HTML5 unrivalled in the field of 3D-Web today and probably also in the near future.