If you are somewhat updated on the latest tech you might know that OS X Snow Leopard added support for a technology called OpenCL, a general purpose language comparable to OpenGL (graphics only). The same group that standardizes OpenGL, the Khronos Group, are also working on a separate project, WebGL.
What is WebGL?
WebGL is a language meant to bring full hardware accelerated 3D graphics to the browser. What this means is that when this is implemented, you can play full desktop-like 3D games directly in your browsers. And other 3D apps will be possible too.
Safari and chrome’s base technology, WebKit, is now in the process of getting support for this technology. What this means is that we might see support for this feature already within the next year, if not earlier. And since WebGL uses OpenGL ES 2.0, the iPhone might even get support for this feature.
WebGL Tech preview
What is the catch?
None! Or wait, there is one. This won’t get used to it’s full potential before ALL major browsers support it. And as usual, I fear that Microsoft with it’s Internet Explorer will drag it’s feet or not implement it at all. This doesn’t mean it is hopeless though, as more and more people are switching browsers, and more and more developers choses to drop IE if they can get more work done when not supporting it.
You can read more on the wolfire blog.
