Saturday, Mar 27, 2010    Text size: 

"For decades, shoppers have been forced to rely on nothing more than a simple picture and product description when it came to making purchasing decisions online," stated a company spokesperson. "E-Com Technology is changing all of that."

The company's shopping cart system was recently licensed to online adult distributor TEK Distribution, and includes a unique technology that renders a three-dimensional image of a product from any angle.

The system allows online customers to virtually turn products upside down, zoom in for closer inspection, or give them a spin. A virtual tape measure is also included, so that customers can see exactly how big a product is.

The 3-D feature does not require any special downloads or ActiveX controls. Users click an icon to select either JavaScript or Flash, and the 3-D model opens in a pop-up window with controls that allow the user to interact with the model.

To see how it works, check out this example from TEK Distribution's online store.

A handful of online adult stores are reportedly using the technology, including Sex.co.nz.

According to E-Com director Neville Toohey, developing a 3-D store has not been an easy or straightforward process and is one that has required a decade of planning during the wait for technology to catch up with his vision.

"I'm really glad the Internet has caught up with us," Toohey said, explaining that his 3-D imaging system involves "fancy photography, lasers and some very accurate homemade robotics."

Toohey says the system can cope with objects as small as a wedding ring and as large as a VCR. However, the system is so precise, using up to 80,000 stop positions in a 360-degree rotation, that Toohey had to dial it back a bit.

"In the case of adult products, I don't think users care to know about four decimal places within a millimeter," Toohey added. "But it's nice to know we have this kind of accuracy available."

Toohey lists the benefits of 3-D shopping as providing customers with a "variable zoom, close-up inspection for detail and understanding, as well as views from almost any angle which suits the user."