Shanghai Tech WriterTechnical Writing, Technology, Web2.0, Google, Shanghai, China

Google came up with an awesome way to represent digital books online, using WebGL. WebGL Bookcase is an experimental interface for the Google Books API. The interface is a circular digital bookshelf. You pick a subject and scroll through the book titles. To view a book, just click it, and a 3D-looking book comes to the foreground, enabling you to flip through the pages and even click to buy or download. 

Check it out!

Chrome Expirment – WebGL Bookcase

(If you’re in China, you’ll need VPN to view the embedded video below)

Imagine bringing this technology to countries and places where books are not easily accessible or readily available. Schools can modify the API to create a bookcase of all purchased/licensed books available to loan out to students via computers, laptops, tablets, etc. Public and community libraries can set this this up as reading stations as well as collect requests and wishlists.

There are so many ways you can apply this WebGL Bookcase technology to facilitate learning and the acquiring of knowledge. And of course, for fun. Google is amazing!