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3D Rotating User Interface

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Thought I would post up another sample I made a while back - a 3D rotating user interface, similar to that in the Healthcare demo.

In this simple sample, there are two levels of navigation. Moving from level 1 to level 2 will rotate the main user interface away into the background, while the secondary UI appears in the foreground. See below...

As you can see, there was no expense spared in creating a compelling user interface! But this is a very simplified example on how to do this.

Although you should be able to see the technique used in the attached source code, here is basically what is happening... There is a 3D viewport in the background containing a plane mesh. The mesh has a Visual Brush as a diffuse material. When the user navigates to the secondary level of the UI, the main UI's visual is copied onto the meshe's material, the mesh is then rotated into the background. I then move the real main UI, 2000 pixles to the left to get it out of the way. Simple.

Have a play and let me know your thoughts.

Martin

3DRotate.zip

Comments

  • Anonymous
    February 24, 2007
    Looks really nice.  Well done!!! I also would like to see some tuts about making navigation buttons...

  • Anonymous
    March 09, 2007
    What I've always actually wanted to work out was, provided one could actually get any amount of detail into a 3D engine on the desktop, what would you drive with it?  What if everyone had a GeForce 8800GTS-class video board and a QX6700 CPU.  What then?  What do you throw at such a machine to make work faster and better?

  • Anonymous
    March 13, 2007
    Thanks Houman - I agree a matching set of useful buttons would be a great - and usable - extention to this! Jettero - love the question. Dont have an answer, but great question. Although, I am imagining a world where are working, gaming, entertainment and social environments all merge into one - using similar paradigms across all genres. Some might say the the new PS3 Home environment is an early incarnation of such a thing, may be... but I really want to see the 'user interface' as we know it really step up to the capabilities of the hardware we have to render it. Now is the most exciting time for technology, and Microsoft is embracing the user experience like never before - the very near future is set to be very exciting! Martin

  • Anonymous
    September 24, 2007
    Wow, this is really great, thanks for sharing.

  • Anonymous
    November 24, 2009
    Its really great. I want to use this to build a small 4 screen applications. I have 4 icons on clicking Icon1 then Screen1 appears, If I click on Icon2 then Screen2 Should appear, something like Iphone. And more importantly these Screens need to be a data entry screens. appreciate your help/

  • Anonymous
    December 18, 2009
    Hi! This is very interesting! Could you do a tutorial in order to understand each step? Rgds Eduardo