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A reference, toolkit, and tutorial for programmers and user-interface designers. Describes patterns and terminology useful for classifying 3D user interfaces and offers 3D techniques and a software framework to implement them. Part I discusses the future of 3D applications and the role of the interface. Part II describes patterns and techniques for developing 3D user interfaces, and Part III introduces the Java 3D application program interface. Part IV describes a lightweight Java/Java 3D framework that demonstrates many of the techniques described in Part II. Source code is available on a Web site. Author information is not given. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
3D User Interfaces with Java 3D
by Jon Barrilleaux
3D User Interfaces with Java 3D is a practical guide for providing next-generation applications with 3D user interfaces for manipulation of in-scene objects. Emphasis is on standalone and web-based business applications, such as for online sales and mass customization, but much of what this book offers has broad applicability to 3D user interfaces in other
Overview
3D User Interfaces with Java 3D is a practical guide for providing next-generation applications with 3D user interfaces for manipulation of in-scene objects. Emphasis is on standalone and web-based business applications, such as for online sales and mass customization, but much of what this book offers has broad applicability to 3D user interfaces in other pursuits such as scientific visualization and gaming.
This book provides an extensive conceptual framework for 3D user interface techniques, and an in-depth introduction to user interface support in the Java 3D API, including such topics as picking, collision, and drag-and-drop. Many of the techniques are demonstrated in a Java 3D software framework included with the book, which also provides developers with many general-purpose building blocks for constructing their own user interfaces.
Applications and their use of 3D are approached realistically. The book is geared towards sophisticated user interfaces for the "everyday user" who doesn't have a lot of time to learn another application—much less a complicated one—and an everyday computer system without exotic devices like head mounted displays and data gloves. Perhaps the best description of this book is: "A roadmap from Java 3D to 'Swing 3D'."
Editorial Reviews
Product Details
- ISBN-13:
- 9781884777905
- Publisher:
- O'Reilly Media, Incorporated
- Publication date:
- 08/28/2000
- Pages:
- 528
- Product dimensions:
- 7.43(w) x 9.26(h) x 1.14(d)
What People are saying about this
John Wright
I was struck by Jon's understanding that 3D is not a goal but
rather a tool for making applications potentially better. In other words
just because an application is "3D" it is not necessarily superior. This is
an excellent and important point. Jon Barrilleaux clearly is an intelligent
and experienced software developer. ...[He] should be given a standing
ovation for producing such an excellent piece of work for a topic (Java 3D)
that desperately needs more documentation.--John Wright, j3d.org, 11/14/00Adrian Hibbert
An overview of some of the techniques used in mapping the 3D
virtual environment to the 2D screen....provides a high level discussion of
user interface design considerations and concepts. It explores where using
3D in a GUI can enhance the usability of software and what the options are
for enabling the user to navigate the virtual 3D universe using the common
input devices...does well at providing a balanced discussion of how Java 3D,
in its current release, can be used to implement graphical user interfaces.
Overall, the book presents itself as somewhat academic in nature but does
well at providing a balanced discussion of how Java 3D, in its current
release, can be used to implement graphical user interfaces.Meet the Author
Barrilleaux is a consultant specializing in the application of 3D graphics, imaging and virtual reality. He has been involved in numerous projects to develop 2D and 3D user interfaces for research, training, electronic library and end-user applications.
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3D User Interfaces with Java 3D
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This book comprehensively covers the Java 3d API. It addresses all modalities of User Interface:Visual, audio, tactile. Not only does it clearly demonstrate how to used the Java 3D libraries, it also presents the concepts of good UI design that are absent in so many GUI programming books. If you are doing any 3D api development or game development, you should have this book on your shelf.
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