WebGL brings Interactive 3D to the Internet, minus plugins

As the promise of HTML5 continues to create a major buzz in the minds of web developers around the world, there are several other technologies being tangentially developed that will assist HTML5 in ushering in a much more interactive Web 3.0 generation. If you aren’t familiar, WebGL is a web technology that is currently in development by the Khronos Group Consortium. WebGL presents a potential major leap in web application possibilities, by allowing JavaScript to natively run OpenGL ES 2.0, you will be able to experience full in-browser graphics acceleration, without the need for third-party plugins or software.

Mozilla began the first experiments with WebGL back in 2006. By 2009 Mozilla and non-profit web development group Khronos formed the WebGL Working Group, with the goal of making WebGL a standard specification across all major platforms and browsers, and with the support of the webs largest working groups such as Apple, Opera, Mozilla & Google, WebGL is sure to have a huge influence on the future of web development. As component costs for smartphones, netbooks, and tablet computers continue to drop, having a graphics accelerated, internet-enabled computing device is very close to becoming the mainstream.

A graphic accelerated internet is like nothing that we’ve seen yet. This opens the doors for web developers to create live, authentic, 3D graphics seamlessly in the space of a web browser.

Get a sneak peak at what’s possible with WebGL, check out some of these really cool demonstrations below:

3D Circular Tetris *Must See*
Lindsay Baker – Interactive Photography Gallery
Altar Dress Up – Interactive Drag & Drop Game

*Note for the Above to work, you may need the latest version of Firefox, or Google Chrome.