Internet search services provider Google, Inc., US, is previewing an 'infinite digital bookcase' concept that seeks to organise vast libraries of digital titles. Instead of placing the books on a traditional bookcase, covers are placed on an infinite 3D helix. The books are organised into 28 different subjects.
To choose a subject, users should click the subject button near the top of the screen when viewing the bookcase. The camera then flies to that subject. Clicking on a book pulls it off the shelf and brings it to the front and centre of the screen. On clicking on the high-resolution cover, the book opens to a page with title and author information as well as a short synopsis, provided by the Google Books API. All of the visuals are rendered with WebGL, a technology in Google Chrome and other modern browsers that enable fast, hardware-accelerated 3D graphics right in the browser, without the need for a plug-in.
The infinite bookcase reportedly serves as a showcase for several Google products. These include the Google Books API and Chrome, along with the WebGL standard for web-based 3D graphics. The utility links directly to books.google.com, while also providing QR codes that can be scanned by smartphones.
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