Re: [xml-dev] [FOSI] was RE: [xml-dev] XML has arrived

["Andrew Welch" <andrew.j.welch@gmail.com>]

On 11/2/06, Len Bullard <cbullard@hiwaay.net> wrote:
> 3)  Real-time X3D can do things PDF can't do.  Drilldown IS the problem.  It
> is faster and much more informative to jump to the correct viewpoint and
> auto rotate into position.  It is also easy to convert the CAD drawings into
> X3D than any PDF.  Try chat inside PDF.  Now try it inside even the cheapest
> 3D with freeware and unencumbered IP.  If your customers don't get this,
> then they are about to spend themselves poor.

One of the required features that emerged for trilogi was a good
quality print out - it turns out the engineers were happiest printing
out the data modules and working from paper, rather than screen.  It
seems most had computers on desks and got fed up walking between
repair job and the computer.  Those that had laptops still struggled
with getting the laptop into tight gaps, balancing it places etc.
Paper was very durable, it was what they were used to, and could be
taken anywhere...

The company invested in wearable computers where a 640x480 display was
mounted just in front of the eye, powered by a custom pc mounted on a
jacket.  It had great promise, but  was never really good enough to
use in production.  Apparently the company behind it had 35 staff - 5
working on the product and 30 protecting the patents...


> 4) Parts handling databases are already advanced.  That bit most of us
> understand.

Not quite yet.  Each plane has a number of parts that have to be
replaced after X number of flying hours.  The goal was (and still is I
believe) for the plane to land and be connected to a computer on the
ground.  This would would be told how many flight hours and work out
what parts needed replacing.  It would produce a job sheet for the
engineer, and a pick list for the parts dept, and place an order to
replenish the stock.

All interesting stuff, but a bit OT for an XML list :)