Poly (website)

Last updated

Poly
Poly (website) logo.png
Poly (website) screenshot.png
Screenshot of the Poly homepage on May 11, 2018.
Type of site
3D object library
Owner Google
URL poly.google.com
CommercialNo
RegistrationOptional (Google Account)
LaunchedNovember 1, 2017;6 years ago (2017-11-01)
Current statusDiscontinued

Poly was a website created by Google for users to browse, distribute, and download 3D objects. It was launched in 2017 and intended to allow creators to easily share and access 3D objects. It featured a free library containing thousands of 3D objects for use in virtual reality and augmented reality applications. On December 2, 2020, it was announced that Poly would be shutting down on June 30, 2021, with the ability to upload 3D models to be suspended on April 30, 2021. [1]

Contents

Features

Users could search the Poly model library by specific keywords and upload or download models in the OBJ file format. [2] Most models could be "remixed" using Tilt Brush and Google Blocks application integration; the remixed object was automatically published on Poly with credit and links to the original creator. [3] 3D objects could be viewed using Google Cardboard or Daydream View. [4] Users could also create simple animated GIFs of the objects available for download.

API

On November 30, 2017, Google released the Poly API. [5] It allowed developers to easily integrate 3D objects into their projects, and provided users access to the object library, while the app itself is running. [6] The API also allowed uploading 3D objects directly to Poly with the Poly Upload API. [7] The API could be used for web, Android, and iOS apps, while the Poly Toolkit was required for Unity and Unreal developers. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adobe Flash</span> Deprecated multimedia platform used to add animation and interactivity to websites

Adobe Flash is, except in China, a discontinued multimedia software platform used for production of animations, rich internet applications, desktop applications, mobile apps, mobile games, and embedded web browser video players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Google Earth</span> 3D Internet global map program

Google Earth is a computer program that renders a 3D representation of Earth based primarily on satellite imagery. The program maps the Earth by superimposing satellite images, aerial photography, and GIS data onto a 3D globe, allowing users to see cities and landscapes from various angles. Users can explore the globe by entering addresses and coordinates, or by using a keyboard or mouse. The program can also be downloaded on a smartphone or tablet, using a touch screen or stylus to navigate. Users may use the program to add their own data using Keyhole Markup Language and upload them through various sources, such as forums or blogs. Google Earth is able to show various kinds of images overlaid on the surface of the Earth and is also a Web Map Service client. In 2019, Google revealed that Google Earth now covers more than 97 percent of the world, and has captured 10 million miles of Street View imagery.

SketchUp is a 3D modeling software that allows users to create and manipulate 3D models of buildings, landscapes, furniture, and other objects. It is commonly used in architecture and interior design.

Google Developers is Google's site for software development tools and platforms, application programming interfaces (APIs), and technical resources. The site contains documentation on using Google developer tools and APIs—including discussion groups and blogs for developers using Google's developer products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Photosynth</span> Discontinued app and service

Photosynth is a discontinued app and service from Microsoft Live Labs and the University of Washington that analyzes digital photographs and generates a three-dimensional model of the photos and a point cloud of a photographed object. Pattern recognition components compare portions of images to create points, which are then compared to convert the image into a model. Users are able to view and generate their own models using a software tool available for download at the Photosynth website.

Gears, formerly Google Gears, is a discontinued utility software offered by Google to create more powerful web apps by adding offline storage and other additional features to web browsers. Released under the BSD license, Gears is free and open-source. Gears was conceived at a time when a comparable alternative was not available. However, Gears was discontinued in favor of the standardized HTML5 methods that eventually became prevalent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ovi (Nokia)</span> Former Internet services by Nokia

Ovi by Nokia was the brand for Nokia's Internet services. The Ovi services could be used from a mobile device, computer or via the web. Nokia focused on five key service areas: Games, Maps, Media, Messaging and Music. Nokia's aim with Ovi was to include third party developers, such as operators and third-party services like Yahoo's Flickr photo site. With the announcement of Ovi Maps Player API, Nokia started to evolve their services into a platform, enabling third parties to make use of Nokia's Ovi services.

Google I/O, or simply I/O, is an annual developer conference held by Google in Mountain View, California. The name "I/O" is taken from the number googol, with the "I" representing the "1" in googol and the "O" representing the first "0" in the number. The format of the event is similar to Google Developer Day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Parisi (software developer)</span>

Tony Parisi, one of the early pioneers in virtual reality and the metaverse, is an entrepreneur, inventor and developer of 3D computer software. The co-creator of Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML), he has written books and papers on the future of technology. He works on WebGL and WebVR and has written two books on the former, and an introductory book on virtual reality programming. He is the chief strategy officer at Lamina1. Parisi is also a musician, composer and producer currently working on multiple projects.

WebAR, previously known as the Augmented Web, is a web technology that allows for augmented reality functionality within a web browser. It is a combination of HTML5, Web Audio, WebGL, and WebRTC. From 2020s more known as web-based Augmented Reality or WebAR, which is about the use of augmented reality elements in browsers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sketchfab</span> 3D modeling platform website

Sketchfab is a 3D modeling platform website to publish, share, discover, buy and sell 3D, VR and AR content. It provides a viewer based on the WebGL and WebXR technologies that allows users to display 3D models on the web, to be viewed on any mobile browser, desktop browser or Virtual Reality headset.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tango (platform)</span> Mobile computer vision platform for Android developed by Google

Tango was an augmented reality computing platform, developed and authored by the Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP), a skunkworks division of Google. It used computer vision to enable mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to detect their position relative to the world around them without using GPS or other external signals. This allowed application developers to create user experiences that include indoor navigation, 3D mapping, physical space measurement, environmental recognition, augmented reality, and windows into a virtual world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kubity</span> Cloud-based 3D communication tool

Kubity is a cloud-based 3D communication tool that works on desktop computers, the web, smartphones, tablets, augmented reality gear, and virtual reality glasses. Kubity is powered by several proprietary 3D processing engines including "Paragone" and "Etna" that prepare the 3D file for transfer over mobile devices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progressive web app</span> Specific form of single page web application

A progressive web application (PWA), or progressive web app, is a type of application software delivered through the web, built using common web technologies including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WebAssembly. It is intended to work on any platform with a standards-compliant browser, including desktop and mobile devices.

Tilt Brush is a room-scale 3D-painting virtual-reality application available from Google, originally developed by Skillman & Hackett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paint 3D</span> 3D Graphics software developed by Microsoft

Paint 3D is a raster graphics and 3D computer graphics application which is a refresh of Microsoft Paint. It is one of several 3D modeling and printing applications introduced or improved with the Windows 10 Creators Update, including View 3D, Windows Mixed Reality, Holograms, along with the CAD programs 3D Builder and 2D Builder.

OpenXR is an open-source, royalty-free standard for access to virtual reality and augmented reality platforms and devices. It is developed by a working group managed by the Khronos Group consortium. OpenXR was announced by the Khronos Group on February 27, 2017, during GDC 2017. A provisional version of the standard was released on March 18, 2019, to enable developers and implementers to provide feedback on it. On July 29, 2019, OpenXR 1.0 was released to the public by Khronos Group at SIGGRAPH 2019.

GoMeta is an American software company headquartered in San Diego. The company was founded by Dmitry Shapiro, Sean Thielen, and Jonathan Miller in September 2016. GoMeta's Koji platform lets non-technical individuals create and publish mini apps, progressive web applications that run on all devices and operating systems, and embed inside of social networks and messengers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Verge3D</span> Real-time renderer and toolkit software

Verge3D is a real-time renderer and a toolkit used for creating interactive 3D experiences running on websites.

References

  1. "Poly will be shut down on June 30, 2021. - Poly Help". support.google.com. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  2. Zvinakis, Andrea (November 1, 2017). "Poly: Browse, discover and download 3D objects and scenes" . Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  3. Robertson, Adi (November 1, 2017). "Google's new platform helps you build VR and AR apps". The Verge. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  4. Moscaritolo, Angela (November 1, 2017). "Create in AR, VR With Google Poly Object Library". PCMag. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  5. Matney, Lucas (November 30, 2017). "Google expands its 3D objects pipeline for AR/VR with the Poly API". TechCrunch. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  6. "Poly | Google Developers". Google Developers. November 29, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  7. "Google AR & VR". Twitter. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  8. "Poly - Google Developer | Poly | Google Developers". Google Developers. Retrieved December 5, 2017.