Smart virtual prototypes for web-based development environments

The development of consumer electronics products is facing increasing demands to design new products with more complex functionality in shorter periods of time, and at reduced costs. Virtual reality prototyping is a novel approach that aims at meeting these challenges. Another trend in product development is the transition to networked development environments based on fast-developing Internet technologies. The main problem with current networked development environments is the lack of support for using functional and realistic virtual prototypes as a tool for communication and collaboration. To address this shortcoming, this paper presents a web-based framework in which Internet technologies, primarily Java and VRML, are used to implement virtual prototypes that are suitable for networked development environments. These web-enabled digital product prototypes, called smart virtual prototypes, are functional prototypes with realistic rendering and interaction capabilities. Furthermore, the underlying framework provides an advanced platform for a diverse range of prototyping applications, such as collaborative product development based on shared virtual prototypes in web-based development environments.