Interactive Web Graphics: A look at HTML5 Canvas .vs. SVG .vs. Flash .vs. Silverlight .vs. Unity .vs. Java .vs. VRML
Image by tonynetone via Flickr
Something has happened recently on the World Wide Web that really impresses me. The web has finally begun to come alive with rich, interactive, high-performance, animated graphics. Not only are these graphics becoming comparable to any previously achievable only in a Desktop Application running on the OS, but they are also pushing the boundaries in terms of what’s possible in UI design, HCI and Data Visualization. From graphs and plots for mathematics to 3D maps and models for architecture, and from immersive panoramic real estate tours to high fidelity gaming engines for emergency healthcare scenarios, the possibilities are endless.
This all serves to help in bringing about a ubiquitous Semantic Web not just for document archiving and sharing information, but for the development of a shared understanding (Knowledge Base), that has long been envisioned by the World Wide Web’s founders. These new interaction platforms offer an incredible venue for cutting through immense amounts of data and explaining complicated ideas in an easy to comprehend manner. Now is the time to take stock of the leading technologies and attempt to make sense of which technologies will be most useful going forward towards a 3D Web. The obvious leaders are Canvas, SVG, Flash, Unity, Silverlight, Java and VRML.
Side-by-Side Comparison
BC$ = Behavior, Content, Money
The goal of the BC$ project is to raise awareness and make changes with respect to the three pillars of information freedom - Behavior (pursuit of interests and passions), Content (sharing/exchanging ideas in various formats), Money (fairness and accessibility) - bringing to light the fact that:
1. We regularly hand over our browser histories, search histories and daily online activities to companies that want our money, or, to benefit from our use of their services with lucrative ad deals or sales of personal information.
2. We create and/or consume interesting content on their services, but we aren't adequately rewarded for our creative efforts or loyalty.
3. We pay money to be connected online (and possibly also over mobile), yet we lose both time and money by allowing companies to market to us with unsolicited advertisements, irrelevant product offers and unfairly structured service pricing plans.