What is WebGL?
WebGL is a powerful technology that allows for fully interactive 2D and 3D graphics to be displayed in a web browser on desktop, or mobile devices running at 60fps without the need for a special plug-in. Cool huh? Yes, it is! WebGL makes it possible for content creators like Groove Jones to develop games, interactive stories, 3D product demonstrations, and mixed media experiences across all devices that often look and feel like an App.
WebGL lets your browser leverage your device’s GPU, so everything runs smoothly and looks great with true physically based shaders and HDR imagery. This is great for marketers who want to create dramatic sites to engage with their audience. For training and sales enablement, it allows us to create product demonstrations using realistic 3D objects.
WebGL allows us to create worlds to explore as we did for Salesforce.
See how we used WebGL for ExxonMobil to demonstrate the complex concept and importance of CCS (Carbon Capture Storage). Case study – https://www.groovejones.com/exxonmobil_css_ar/
Benefits of WebGL
Realistic Visuals and Immersive Experiences
WebGL allows developers to harness the capabilities of a user’s devices to render complex 3D graphics directly within the browser. This capability opens up possibilities for creating lifelike and immersive visual experiences. From breathtaking 3D animations to interactive product demonstrations, WebGL empowers web developers to craft content that engages users on a whole new level.
Cross-platform Compatibility
One of the key advantages of WebGL websites is their cross-platform compatibility. As long as users have a modern web browser that supports WebGL, they can access and enjoy the rich 3D content, regardless of their device or operating system. This inclusivity ensures that businesses and creators can reach a wider audience, irrespective of whether users are on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, or smartphones.
Performance and Speed
Traditionally, complex 3D graphics were rendered through specialized plugins, often leading to performance issues and security concerns. WebGL eliminates the need for such plugins, allowing graphics to be rendered natively by the browser. By tapping into the GPU’s hardware acceleration, WebGL websites deliver smooth, high-performance experiences, significantly boosting loading times and reducing latency.
Interactivity and User Engagement
WebGL empowers developers to create interactive elements that respond to user actions in real time. Whether it’s an interactive 3D model that users can rotate and inspect or a captivating virtual tour of a place or product, the level of interactivity provided by WebGL increases user engagement, encouraging them to spend more time on the website.
Enhanced Data Visualization
Beyond visual appeal, WebGL enables advanced data visualization that simplifies complex information and makes it more accessible to users. From interactive charts and graphs to geographical maps and scientific simulations, WebGL websites can present data dynamically and interactively, helping users grasp insights and patterns more effectively.
Boosting Brand Identity and Marketing
WebGL presents a unique opportunity for businesses to stand out from competitors and leave a lasting impression on customers. Creative and interactive WebGL-based marketing campaigns can capture users’ attention and foster a stronger emotional connection with the brand.
Some of Our Client Work
Client: Toyota
Through cutting-edge technology, Groove Jones set Toyota apart by producing a website that allows Toyota Dealers to take customers on a virtual tour of the 2023 Toyota Crown. Case study – https://www.groovejones.com/toyota-crown-webgl-interactive-experience/
Client: IBM
For Think 2021, Groove Jones was asked to create interactive WebGL and AR digital experiences that the IBM executives and speakers could use during the event to highlight their world-changing technologies and bring them to life. Case study – https://www.groovejones.com/ibm-using-ar-webgl-power10-marketing/
Client: IBM
IBM partnered with Groove Jones to develop an Augmented Reality and WebGL experience introducing the IBM Power E1080 server, the first in a family of servers based on the IBM Power10 processor. The IBM Power E1080 server is designed to support a hybrid cloud infrastructure, built with a 7nm processing chip at its core to keep data secure, process AI algorithms with efficiency, and ensure workloads and applications can run across cloud and on-premises environments seamlessly, with the reliability and scalability IBM Power is known for. Case study – https://www.groovejones.com/ibm-leverages-ar-at-think-event/
Client: ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil Corporation (“ExxonMobil”) worked with Groove Jones to build an AR and WebGl experience for the most recent World Petroleum Congress held in Houston, Texas. The AR experience was used with a printed wall mural that was part of their booth at the event and for their online marketing efforts. Case study – https://www.groovejones.com/exxonmobil_css_ar/
Client: FuelCell Energy
Groove Jones worked with FuelCell Energy to design and develop a WebGL interactive experience telling the FuelCell Energy story and to highlight their work at the Toyota Long Beach Port facility – an epic way of being transported to the Port of Long Beach to learn and discover. Case study – https://www.groovejones.com/fuelcell-energy-webgl-fuel-cell-educational-site/
Client: Salesforce
The Salesforce team wanted to encapsulate that magic and bring a spark of joy right to users’ homes or offices by creating a direct mail kit that appeals to the senses and emulates their event and brand feel, including an online and virtual reality experience. Check out the case study here – https://www.groovejones.com/salesforce-webgl-threejs-online-experience/