I think 3D, therefore I am 3D

One of the most striking arguments for using 3D is visualization. Visualization is great for communication and document creation. 3D is a great way to get a head start creating pictures of products, today you can even include an interactive 3D in a document. But the real power of 3D is not only the 3D but the ability to do much more.

"A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words"
I think everyone understands this concept but let's start with the idea of a simple picture versus a written description.

- Is it easier to follow a map or "turn right at the third lamppost behind Arby's"?

- Is it easier to understand a weather radar image or "it's raining somewhat hard north of highway 380"?

- Is it easier to identify a specific motor from a photo or "it's the one with the green top"?

Of course many of the answers depend on the quality of the map, image or photo. But assuming the picture is of decent quality most people prefer the weather map, a detailed road map or a photo of the product. Clearly, simple pictures make it easier to identify specific objects and places. For product communication visual identification is key to error reduction and time savings. Pictures can also help cross language barriers, present complex concepts, and increase interest in a topic, among others.

I think 3D, therefore I am 3D
A picture is worth a thousand words but a 3D model may be worth a million. We all live in a 3D world, surrounded by 3D stuff.

For products designed with 3D, the visualization benefits of using these existing models is extremely significant. Using 3D models means that interactivity can be added to your communications or used as a tool when creating your documents. 3D models let you rotate, pan and zoom the objects to get the most informative view.

With a map or a weather radar you will find almost all online tools of this type provide interactivity using a 2D image that you can pan and zoom. This morning we used an interactive weather radar to watch some nasty thunderstorms move across Texas. The weather radar starts out focused on Dallas but using the interactive features I was quickly able to zoom in on Allen, TX to see information relevant to my area. Using a 2D image is suitable and the right choice for viewing weather or maps.

Manufactured products require 3D, but the same concepts apply. With an interactive 3D object you can easily rotate around to the area of interest, zoom in and get relevant information. Product communication can leverage interactive viewing to allow individual users to select a custom view.

Time after time
Step-by-step instructions make it easy to follow directions by providing ordered procedures that can be executed one step at a time, provide a current status, and other information such as where you came from and where you are headed.

When you use www.mapquest.com to get directions from one address to another the results are presented as a visual map and a set of driving instructions. This will (hopefully) get you from point A to B. Breaking a complex set of instructions down into individual steps makes it much easier to accomplish the task without mistakes and as quickly as possible.

Product communication is often accomplished step-by-step. Internal and external customers who purchase a manufactured product will need instructions regarding use, maintenance, service, installation, and more. Instructions require a concept of time or ordered procedures to communicate. To offer instructions you need to be able to tell someone this procedure is accomplished before this one and so on. For complex products visually animating or illustrating the changes to the product during a procedure can be key to a clear understanding.

The Written Word
Ironically, one of the the truly revolutionary aspects of shared 3D CAD files is not just the "pretty picture" but a whole other layer of information that is stored as metadata. For products this metadata or textual information can describe the materials used, the part numbers, the price, or individual parts. With QuadriSpace you can even set up step-by-step procedures in this way.

Bringing it all together
The power of combining visual identification, interactive features, ordered procedures and textual information is extraordinary.

One of the most clear examples of this is the use of a GPS in a car. The GPS provides up-to-date information on where you are, the current driving instruction is displayed as waymark's are reached, a map provides visual feedback and interactive features allow you to dial in the destination or zoom the map as needed.

Using this powerful combination for product communication and documentation can have a significant impact. For example, assembly instructions can be very complex procedures that are expected to be executed with minimal training, with minimal errors and meeting a typically aggressive schedule. This is already a tough problem, and the trend toward offshore manufacturing and worldwide use requires assembly plans to consider language barriers as well.

This assembly problem is solved in a rather dramatic way when the concepts outlined in this entry are applied. You should try it!