The manufacture, sales and support of products in the aerospace & defense, high tech, and automotive industries will soon undergo dramatic change as these manufacturers take advantage of Universal 3D (U3D). Aimed at becoming the Jpeg for 3D graphics, the U3D standard is already supported in a range of software products, including the recent release of Acrobat 7.0 by Adobe.
According to Hitachi and Intel, in industries that manufacture, service or maintain complex products, the significant cost savings and revenue increases made possible from including 3D graphics within maintenance, sales and training materials will make U3D an essential technology.
For some industries, like automotive, for instance, U3D has the potential to be a revolutionary technology, said Damian Smith, managing vice president of corporate management solutions at Hitachi Consulting. Eventually, U3D will become pervasive in all industries that market either consumer products or highly complex products.
Some companies will utilize U3D to enhance maintenance manuals, thereby reducing maintenance costs dramatically. Others will use U3D in interactive sales brochures and on websites to increase revenues. Others will realize value through advanced training programs, particularly where critical, just-in-time learning is needed.
