Shopping in 3D

Is it more fun to shop online in 3D rather than 2D?  I experimented with this concept in the seminal virtual community Second Life, and found it less than satisfying.  The thought was to use virtual environments to experiment with real shopping spaces and track interactions.  An interesting article in e-Commerce Times  on new companies and developments in this space. ...

"  ... Shopping has traditionally involved an element of seeing, touching and feeling a product before buying. Shopping online, however, hasn't ever quite replicated that experience. That is, until now. With the advent of 3D technologies, online shopping is on the verge of a radical transformation. One new development is the 3D shopping mall. Companies like VirtualE are operating and licensing electronic malls to give online shoppers the sense of actually being there.

3D images and animation bring the online shopping experience alive. "It makes for a more dynamic experience," said Mark Stein, the CEO of VirtualE. "I compare it to the transition from black and white to color TV. Once color was possible, why would you want black and white?"
 

Shopping has traditionally involved an element of seeing, touching and feeling a product before buying. Shopping online, however, hasn't ever quite replicated that experience. That is, until now ... "