The longest comment thread in the history of domaining is the post that Michael wrote four years ago about 3D, it has 5,371 comments. So for those interested in the topic of 3D there is a new search engine launching on a .es domain is all about 3D content, the engine will be using the domain hack 3Dshap.es. Jennifer Hicks of Forbes covered the launch and went over what the future growth rates for 3D content look like. Jennifer also gave some background into the funding and who is behind this new 3D search engine.
From the article:
In 1990, the first web browser was created. Then came semantic and predictive search. And now, in 2014, there’s 3D search.
With Europe expected to be the second-fastest growing market for 3D, with a growth rate of 15.7% from 2013 to 2018, a UK company called 3DI is on the right track.
Funded by the Technology Strategy Board in the UK and a handful of private angel investors, 3DI has launched a new search engine called 3Dshap.es that navigates 3D content on the web by shape.
3Dshap.es uses drag-and-drop functionality to let users upload 3D models of shapes similar to those they are searching for to 3D print.
The company was founded in 2013 and already has a list of 3D clients and partners including Shapeways.com ($48.5 million in funding in 2014), 3DLT.com, Proto3000.com, CADENAS which is the largest industrial 3D catalogue firm.
Read the full article here
Louise says
Thanx, @ Raymond! Read the Forbes article you linked, as I have been following this topic. Jennifer Hicks, the Forbes author, asserts:
“3D content has grown dramatically. The market is expected to continue to grow by 23% from 2013 to 2020, reaching $8.41 billion in 2020 . . . With this fast growth rate, 3D search will become one of the only ways to manage and navigate the 3D content landscape on the web.”
That is why – likely!
Google acquires Finnish 3D graphics firm drawElements
http://www.zdnet.com/google-acquires-finnish-3d-graphics-firm-drawelements-7000031918
Mainstream press says it was for design standardization.
Louise says
The mainstream press says it is for, “design standardization,” but Google has something up its sleeve re 3d search, in my opinion! 3Dshap.es is not the only 3d search engine seeking to capitalize in the burgeoning 3d search industry:
Yeggi: The Next Google of 3D Printing?
http://www.inside3dp.com/yeggi-next-google-3d-printing
“German-based company Yeggi lets users search for and browse through thousands of 3D printable model files from a range of different websites.”
Archicgi says
Good thoughts!
Louise says
Not to harp on a thing . . . so what’s new? 1/3 the comments on the 3d thread are probably mine . . .
Yeggi is trying to be “the new google of 3d printing,” NOW:
3DShapes Aims to be the Google of 3D Printable Models via Comprehensive Image Search
http://3dprint.com/10236/3dshapes-3d-model-search
“The Google of 3D printing,” seems to be the new term for the industry.
Louise says
“More that ¾ of engineers now think downloadable CAD models of parts are ‘essential, very important or important’ when selecting a supplier. The survey also indicates that ~50% of product CAD downloads result in at least one.”
– 3DModelSpace.com adds 5 Standard Fastener Libraries to its free 3D CAD Catalog
http://www10.mcadcafe.com/nbc/articles/1/1292370/3DModelSpace.com-adds-5-Standard-Fastener-Libraries-its-free-3D-CAD-Catalog
That is another facet of 3D search, aside from print. I didn’t know. Companies want CAD models of parts they order.
Louise says
On the topic of, “the Google of 3D printable models,” don’t hold your breath that it’s over! Make way for:
Yobi3D Launches – The Google of 3D Printable Models?
http://3dprint.com/11466/yobi3d
First there was:
3DShapes Aims to be the Google of 3D Printable Models
then
Yeggi: The Next Google of 3D Printing?
Yobi3D.com is #3. Heidi Milkert states:
Louise says
You really hit the nail on the head, with your article, @Raymond Hackney!
– Heidi Milkert
Louise says
One from May:
Angling to be the Google of 3D printing, Autodesk announces its own open source printer and platform
http://pando.com/2014/05/14/angling-to-be-the-google-of-3d-printing-autodesk-announces-its-own-open-source-printer-and-platform
Finally caved in and listed at Sedo. So, there are four, “Google of 3D” search:
Autodesk
Yeggi
Yobi3D
Shap.es
so far . . . I have to put it in my description.