Frequently asked questions

What are web3D, interactive 3D, panorama, 360° panorama and 3D video? How are they different? How we can use those 3D technologies? These and more questions about 3D and virtual reality are answered below.

1. What is Interactive 3D?

Interactive 3D is a virtual replica of real physical worlds, either existing or planned for the future. It can also be used to explore future technologies by accurately simulating structures that are nearly impossible to build in the real world of today. Good interactive 3D has all the traditional 3D functions, but it can also be “conversational”. It can be either online or offline. It eliminates the worry about the huge cost of creating many renderings or animations to cover all project viewpoints or many different needs.

2. Why Boundless Advantage?

Unlike other companies which only create limited and loosely connected 3D illustrations with partial or fragmented views, Boundless Advantage’s 3D is:

• Truly web enabled - No special software or hardware is needed. Start your web browser, and you're ready to go!

• Fully interactive - Bi-directional communication with the viewers. Contrast this with traditional 3D, which is a mere monologue in only one direction.

• A comprehensive 3D system - It combines video advertisement, rendering, animations, slideshows and other multimedia online technologies into one. • Scalable and deliverable in multiple phases - You can start with simple functions and less content, then enhance content over time to align with your needs at different project stages. You don't need to hire multiple service providers to do this, so you save the money and increase efficiency.

• Able to integrate with other database systems - can integrate with marketing, sales and property management databases

• Able to embed in multiple websites - It can be embedded into existing or other promotional websites without additional development or costs.

• A tightly integrated real 3D platform - clients can view the entire property or product and access related information from single place rather than jumping around within fragmented data.

• A lifelong presentation tool - Can be used from conceptual design to design development improvement, city plan approval, fundraising, marketing and daily operation management.

3. What are the differences between Interactive 3D and traditional static 3D?

The main difference is that traditional static 3D only “talks” -This communication may include static renderings, pictures, slideshows, animations or sample panorama views. But communication only goes in one direction. Interactive 3D enables “conversation” - bidirectional communication.

4. Is Interactive 3D a virtual tour or visual tour?

Yes and No.

"Virtual tour" or "visual tour" have different meanings for differnt people. It could mean anything from a picture gallery, a slideshow, an animation or a simple panorama view. Those have only a loose connection to 3D data and only provide fragmentary information or a partial snapshot of the property.

On the other hand, interactive 3D is a tightly integrated system which replicates the entire physical property or object.

For buildings and landscapes, the user has the luxury of being able to go inside and out of the property as if they are visiting the site in person. Every little detail, including possible floor plans, colors, textures, and all other options can be seen in real time from any viewpoint with a feature called "on-the-fly picture capture." This eliminates worries about huge costs associated with the need to create many separate rendering or animations to cover all project viewpoints. Companies can start marketing campaigns, rental plans, and promotional services long before the building is built.

Additionally, the service can be a lifelong building management and sales tool, aiding in city approvals and fundraising opportunities. For products, users have a 720°, or 360° X 180° (not just 360°, which doesn't allow top and bottom views) view of every item and detail. Many features create a personal interactive experience that allows customers to explore the full functions of items. Users can zoom in/out, push buttons, open boxes, move objects/appliances. They can even change between various options for colors, styles, and arrangements to see how each may fit their particular environments. No longer will users have to struggle with abstract and hard to understand text descriptions.

Click for more about virtual/visual tours or panoramas.

Click for more comparisons of the different 3D technologies

5. What kind of information must we provide in order to build interactive 3D?

CAD drawings, a BIM model, hand sketches, pictures or markups. Anything which lets us understand your requirements.

6. Can an interactive 3D be built for a future development or something that does not yet physically exist?

Yes. We can generate the interactive 3D purely from a computer model.

7. Can an interactive 3D be built from photos of an existing property or product?

Yes. We can build interactive 3D based on real scenes. This is useful for existing buildings or products.

8. Can an interactive 3D be built which mixes existing and future developments?

Yes. The interactive 3D which we build could mix a new development with an existing environment or modify existing conditions.

9. Does Boundless Advantage do traditinal rendering and animation?

Yes. In fact, our company started with a focus on traditional 3D and now concentrates more on interactive 3D due to increasing demand.

10. Is Boundless Advantage’s interactive 3D web enabled?

Yes. It works with almost all the web browsers and OSs (operation systems), such as IE(Internet Explorer), Firefox, Safari, Chrome and Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, etc.

11. Does Boundless Advantage’s interactive 3D require special hardware, software or plug-ins?

No special hardware or software is needed. All you need is a web browser. Any computer that can get online is powerful enough. Usually, not even a plug-in needed.

12. Does Boundless Advantage host the content?

Most clients prefer that we host the content. That allows them to embed the content into multiple promotional websites without additional work. However, clients do have option to host the content themselves. Content can be also be delivered via CD, USB drive or email for offline use.

13. Must the client go to Boundless Advantage’s website to view the content or show Boundless Advantage’s URL(web address)?

You can, but you don't have to. Our technology lets clients embed the content directly into their own or other promotion websites without showing our URL. In that case,the viewers won't know that the content is hosted on our online space.

14. What internet connection speed or bandwidth is required?

Any broadband internet connection is good enough. Our technology optimize the deliverables. The entire interactive 3D will be ready for viewing in less time than it takes to deliver a single image or video clip, compared with conventional technologies.

15. Can interactive 3D be delivered in multiple phases - such as starting simply, with less content, and then building more?

Yes. This is one of our strengths. Our system and services are not only powerful, but also flexible. Unlike most companies which only provide limited illustration services, we can start with traditional static 3D content, then add along the way to meet project requirements at varies stages or for different purposes or audiences. This protects the client’s investment, saves time and promotes efficiency.

16. Does interactive 3D have advantages over traditional static 3D illustration?

Yes. Boundless’ Interactive 3D combines static rendering, animations, picture galleries, slideshows and interactivity to build a true interactive 3D property or product. It is not a single function or view but comprehensive platform.

17. Is Boundless Advantage’s interactive 3D expensive? What does it cost?

The cost varies from project to project. It also depends on the kind of base information which the client can provide and how much we need to create or retouch. However, it doesn’t cost more than traditional 3D illusions. Client gets unlimited rendering, animation, plus interactive functions. And interactive 3D can even integrate with a client’s backend database. If a client is considering ising the graphics in multiple places, such as printing, handouts, or different websites, our interactive 3D costs even less. Sometimes the savings on time and money are huge. That's because there is no (or very minimal) additional cost to generate the 3D content for different usages.

18. Can I use Boundless Advantage’s interactive 3D in multiple places?

Yes. Boundless Advantage’s interactive 3D can be embedded directly into multiple websites or be used offline without any additional work or cost.

19. Can Boundless Advantage’s interactive 3D be integrated with backend database systems?

Yes. Our interactive 3D is “Smart’ 3D. It is not only interactive, but can also be integrated with backend databases, such as a sales or marketing database to show property sales statistics; security systems, options, inventory and other property management databases. The database could be as simple as an Excel spreadsheet or as complicated as a comprehensive property management system.

20. Can Boundless interactive 3D’s interface be customized?

Yes. Our layout, integration, interactive speed, etc all can be customized based on client needs. A client’s logo can be added, the color or layout theme revised to match the client’s standard, etc.

21. Does Boundless Advantage provide website development services?

Yes and No. Our interactive 3D is web enabled and can function as an independent website to demonstrate properties, development sites or products. It can be embedded/ integrated with a client’s corporate or other management website as well.

22. Have questions or comments which are not cover here, please contact us directly