3D is coming, are you ready?

While you may have heard of 3D technology and may think that it’s just for video games, the truth is that it has the potential to revolutionise the way we do things, just like the smartphone did. In fact, companies that failed to adopt mobile-centric design struggled to adapt to the digital age and their consumer’s needs, and the same could happen to those that are reluctant to embrace 3D technology. However, this article is not meant to be fear-mongering; rather, it’s meant to highlight the fact that 3D technology is more accessible than ever and has the potential to transform many different industries.

Here in Australia, a government led initiative the Digital Games Tax Offset (DGTO) was designed to support the local video game industry as well businesses to claim depreciation of intangible assets like intellectual property and in-house software. The use of technology in the video game industry has allowed for the creation of more immersive and interactive experiences, and has also facilitated the expansion of the industry into a variety of sectors, including education, health, engineering, fabrication and training.

It’s important to be prepared for this revolution and to start exploring the possibilities of 3D technology like interactive 3D models, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR). To start your creative juices on the potential, I highlight several areas from my career where industry has utilised 3D technology and have made a measurable impact in their business.

Creating a solution to solve a problem often requires the expertise and skills of highly qualified individuals. However, even with a team of experts, there is still a need for someone to handle the “busy work” in order to get a design in front of stakeholders. Using 3D technology in the design process, particularly during the prototyping phase, designers can quickly create and iterate on prototypes, generating a variety of options for more informed decision-making and ultimately a more successful solution to the problem at hand.

One process used for 3D design is parametric modelling, a technique in computer-aided design (CAD) in which the dimensions and properties of a design are defined by a set of parameters that can be adjusted and manipulated to modify the design. Through the use of parametric modelling in the optioneering phase, designers can create the rules of a design and then use artificial intelligence with CAD to generate a variety of potential solutions. This can save time and resources, as it eliminates the need for designers to generate multiple different design options manually. AR and VR technology can then be used to help designers visualise and evaluate the different design options, allowing them to quickly and easily identify the best solution. This allows designers to focus on creating the best possible solution, rather than spending time on tedious and repetitive tasks.

AR and VR technology can also be used to assist with the design and creation of products, allowing stakeholders and community to see their designs in a fully immersive environment and make changes in real time. One of the projects I was a part of involved using virtual reality to present a 3D design to a stakeholder. By immersing the stakeholder in the VR model, they were able to spot an issue with the design that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. This early identification of the issue saved the company a significant amount of money by avoiding having to change the design once it was installed. This can save time and resources, as it eliminates the need for physical prototypes and allows for rapid iteration.

3D is a powerful tool that can help designers to create better products more efficiently.

I realised not too long ago that I have had a 3D printer for the past ten years. Back then, 3D printers were expensive, but now I can pick up a printer for just a few hundred dollars and a kilogram of filament and start printing right away. Sites like Thingiverse make it easy for people to design and share 3D files, so that others can print them out. It’s amazing how much the technology has advanced in just a decade, and I’m excited to see how it will  revolutionise the way people can create and manufacture products.

With 3D printing, individuals and small businesses can create small runs of custom products, allowing them to solve bespoke problems and create unique solutions. For example, a farmer in a remote area could use a 3D printer to create replacement parts for their equipment, rather than having to wait for parts to be shipped in. We were demonstrating this during Beef Week here in Rockhampton, and farmers were eager to learn more about the technology. More so where could they learn the software to make their own 3D models.

Also 3D printers are capable of printing much more than just plastic. With the right equipment, 3D printers can be used to print a wide range of materials, including metals, ceramics, and even food. This opens up a whole world of possibilities for product development, prototyping, and manufacturing. For example, a company could use a 3D printer to create rapid prototypes of a new product, allowing them to quickly test and iterate on different designs. They could also expand out and add CNC machines with 3D printing to produce small batches of products for testing, or even to create localised manufacturing facilities with scalable production capabilities.

The ability to bring manufacturing locally allows for faster iterations of the design and enables small businesses to test out products and expand with consumer demand.

Improving spaces for people is a crucial aspect of urban planning and design. By carefully considering the needs and preferences of the people who will use these spaces, it is possible to create vibrant, functional, and enjoyable environments that enhance the quality of life for all members of the community. I have been a part of a variety of infrastructure and civil projects creating real time 3D visualisations to showcase to the community, however using game technology to connect these 3D models with databases and sensors to create digital twins. These have the potential to revolutionise the way we build and design future spaces and smart buildings. 

By creating digital twins of buildings and cities, we can create a link between the digital and physical world, allowing us to design and test new concepts and variations in a virtual environment. This can provide a more engaging and informative experience for community members, developers, and stakeholders, who can have a conversation about what they see, rather than trying to understand complex 2D drawings.

After a space is built, these digital twins can continue to be used to support the operation and maintenance of the space. For example, they can collect data on things like people traffic, temperature, WiFi bandwidth, and space utilisation, which can be used to improve the design and operation of the space. In addition, smart buildings that use neural networks can use this data to make better predictions and proactive choices for user comfort and energy efficiency, helping our communities to reach net zero.

These digital twins of our architecture and urban planning are a powerful tool that can help us to design and operate better spaces that are tailored to the specific needs and desires of the people who will use them, resulting in more livable and successful communities.

The early designs of head-mounted displays for augmented and virtual reality were not always user-friendly, often lacking in performance and featuring awkward methods of interaction. One example of this is the original Microsoft HoloLens, which had a small display and required users to perform an “air tap” gesture in order to interact with virtual objects.

However, modern devices like the HoloLens 2 have greatly improved upon these shortcomings, offering a more intuitive and immersive experience. With its hand tracking and gesture recognition capabilities, the HoloLens 2 allows users to interact with virtual objects in a more natural way, such as by reaching out to grab holograms. It can also be used to passively show context-sensitive information and allow users to keep both hands free to continue doing what they are doing. This has the potential to dramatically change the way we interact with equipment and physical spaces, making the experience more intuitive and immersive.

For example, a technician working on a complex piece of equipment could use AR to see detailed instructions and 4D Phasing sequences overlaid on the equipment, without having to stop and consult a manual. These technologies can be used to support remote collaboration, allowing people to work together even if they are on different continents. This can improve efficiency, user understanding and can help to prevent mistakes.

In addition, these technologies can be integrated with the Internet of Things (IoT) to expand the capabilities of device interfaces and provide more information to users. In the case of a Firefighter. Augmented reality could be used to provide real-time data and diagrams overlaid on the equipment and situation, allowing the first responders to quickly and easily access the information they need in a high-stress environment. The IoT could also be used to collect information about the fire, and any geospatial information of the area and infrastructure, allowing the first responder to make more informed decisions and better manage the situation. Additionally, the system could provide warnings if they are distracted or occupied with the situation, alerting them to potential dangers or people and allowing them to take appropriate action.

This technology has the potential to greatly enhance the human-computer experience and improve the way we work and live.

In today’s competitive market, having visually appealing products is essential for driving sales and attracting customers. By creating high-quality, realistic visuals of your products, you can give potential customers a better understanding of what they are purchasing, which can help to increase confidence in your brand and drive sales. When I have produced 3D marketing material and run virtual product demonstrations, the customers can experience your products in a way that traditional 2D imagery cannot, further enhancing their understanding and desire to purchase.

With 3D models, companies can create highly detailed, interactive representations of their products, allowing customers to see every aspect of the product from every angle. AR and VR technology can take this a step further by allowing customers to experience the product in a fully immersive environment. For example, a furniture company could use AR to allow customers to see how a piece of furniture would look in their own home before they make a purchase.

In addition, the use of 360-degree imaging can be used in a similar case. More suited to show a sense of space like real estate and 3D models are more like a snow globe where you look around the item. Both can help to eliminate any uncertainty or doubt, which can also increase sales.

Furthermore, the use of interactive 3D models and 360-degree imaging can provide valuable data on customer behaviour. By tracking what customers are looking at and where they are clicking, companies can gain insights into what customers like and don’t like, and can use this information to show them other products that might interest them.

Investing in the creation of 3D assets for your products can be a valuable strategy for improving sales,customer satisfaction and standing out in the market.

Saving the best till last as this is my current role, a support professional working with 3D technology in tertiary education, I have seen firsthand the impact that interactive 3D, augmented, and virtual reality can bring to a university environment by providing numerous benefits for both students and academics.

As we are a rural university with distant students in a variety of locations, the importance of technology-enhanced learning has a vital role on how it supports our students. The experiences are optimised for their devices, to ensure that our 3D models are accessible to all of our students, regardless of their location or technology capabilities.

By utilising 3D modelling and virtual reality, academics can create interactive training materials that can enhance student learning and engagement. These tools can be used to visualise complex concepts and allow students to explore and interact with virtual environments in a way that is not possible with traditional teaching methods. Additionally, 3D technology can be used to create simulations and scenarios that can provide students with valuable hands-on experience and help them to develop practical skills.

These technologies provide a consequence-free environment in which students can learn complex procedures and apply them in a safe and controlled setting. For example, a medical student could use a VR simulation to practise a difficult surgical procedure without the risks associated with practising on a real patient. Similarly, a student studying engineering could use a 3D model to test out different design configurations and see how they would function in the real world.

By providing a framework for understanding and applying complex concepts, these technologies can be a powerful learning tool to help students to better understand the material, prepare for real-world scenarios and set them up for success in their careers.

Interactive 3D, virtual reality and augmented reality technologies have the potential to significantly change how we do business and impact people’s lives. While headsets for VR and AR are currently expensive and not widely available, many of the underlying technologies can be accessed on modern smartphones. Apple’s iPhone, for example, can create 3D assets in real time using lidar and a wide range of devices can view GL Transmission Format Binary files (.glb), a simple to share 3D file type.

I feel we are just before and will witness this 3D singularity and how it could potentially revolutionise how we interact with the world digitally and physically. I am excited to see what 3D has to offer.

Also there is a lot of interest in the development of 3D digital platforms, often referred to as “metaverses,” which are virtual spaces that allow users to interact with each other and with virtual objects in a realistic, immersive way. There are a variety of companies pioneering the first glimpse of these platforms that could be supported by software created for game development like Unreal Engine and Unity3D. It is not yet clear which one will emerge as the dominant player or that multiple platforms will coexist in this space. However, it is likely that the metaverse will become an increasingly important part of the tech landscape in the coming years, as more and more people turn to digital spaces for social interaction, entertainment, and collaboration.

It is worth noting that the adoption of new technologies often follows a pattern. Remember Steve Jobs at MacWorld? When the first smartphones were introduced in 2007, many people did not fully grasp the potential of these devices. However, as the technology improved and the price point became more accessible, smartphones became widely adopted and revolutionised the way we communicate and access information. Similarly, it is likely that there will be a point in the future where a VR or AR headset or device becomes widely available at a price point and with enough value to drive widespread adoption.