YouTube和英偉達計劃在非游戲玩家中普及3D視頻

????自從互聯網誕生以來，就不斷有人嘗試把3D技術搬到網頁上。還記得所謂的“虛擬實境模型語言”（簡稱VRML）嗎？它是創建3D特效的標準，主要考慮的是游戲效果和“網頁體驗”。不過由于90年代中期的硬件還沒有跟上，因此VRML也成了部分當時還未成氣候的網絡社區的笑柄。

????不過，現在你可不要再笑了，或者至少要笑得低調點。因為現在3D網頁似乎正在開始變成現實。雖說可能有點蠢，但它畢竟是一件大事。最近圖形芯片制造商英偉達（Nvidia）宣布，谷歌（Google）的YouTube和火狐（Firefox）將會為它的3D影像平臺提供視頻支持（目前這個平臺的使用者主要是游戲玩家）。

????關于這個平臺流傳著不少警告的話。首先它只在火狐4瀏覽器上運行。其次，一套3D視效軟/硬件包售價大約150美元，而且必須安裝在能兼容的個人電腦上。當然，用戶還得戴上3D眼鏡，這個也包含在軟/硬件包里。

????也就是說，這個平臺只適合非常非常想體驗3D網頁的人，而且并不面向蘋果的Mac電腦。不過這并不意味著它就難以成功。事實上，正因如此，英偉達很可能得以在未來一段時間里，將這個平臺的零售價保持在較高水平。

????根據英偉達的預測，到2015年，安裝3D視效系統的個人電腦將會達到4000萬臺。

????近年來各大電影公司紛紛推出3D電影，并且取得了一定的成功。不過3D熱現在似乎正在漸漸消退。但英偉達公司表示，家庭自制的3D視頻和圖像正在促進人們對3D網頁的需求。3D相機和便攜式攝像機的銷量正在上漲。

????現在YouTube上只有幾千個3D視頻。不過《問訊報》（The Inquirer）的勞倫斯?拉蒂夫斷言道，隨著業余導演們紛紛試水這項技術，這個數目“一定會出現井噴”。

????譯者：樸成奎

????There have been attempts to force 3D onto the Web since the Web was born. Remember Virtual Reality Modeling Language? VRML -- a standard for creating 3D graphics, mainly with gaming and "Web experiences" in mind -- was the laughingstock of certain parts of the then-smallish Web community in the mid-90s, mainly because hardware hadn't caught up.

????Well, stop laughing. Or anyway, keep it to a low chortle, because it seems like 3D on the Web is actually starting to become a thing. It might be a silly thing, but it's still a thing. In the latest move, graphics chipmaker Nvidia announced that Google's YouTube (GOOG) and Firefox would support its 3D Vision platform (now used mainly by gamers) for videos.

????Caveats abound. It works only on Firefox 4. Also, 3D Vision, a software/hardware package that costs about $150, must be installed on a compatible PC. And of course, users must wear 3D glasses, which come with the kit.

????So, it's only for people who really, really want it. And aren't on a Mac. That doesn't mean it won't succeed -- indeed, it most likely means that Nvidia (NVDA) will be able to keep its price points high for some time to come.

????The company forecasts that there will be 40 million PCs with 3D Vision installed by 2015.

????Movie studios in recent years have tried to push 3D films with some success. But that increasingly appears to be a fading fad. Nvidia though, says that what's driving demand online is homemade 3D video and pictures. Sales of 3D cameras and camcorders are up.

????There are only a few thousand 3D videos now on YouTube. But with amateur auteurs piling on to the technology, that number is "set to explode," declares The Inquirer's Lawrence Latif.