Open standards Acrobat

Adobe Systems has announced support for the Universal 3D (U3D) format in Acrobat 7.0 software and Adobe PDF. Developed by Intel and the 3D Industry Forum, the U3D specification marks a significant step toward turning 3D graphics into the next ubiquitous office media.

Adobe's support for U3D will allow users of Acrobat 7.0 Professional to place U3D objects -- such as 3D graphic product designs -- inside PDF files where they can be viewed and fully interacted with by anyone with free Adobe Reader 7.0 software. Adobe has distributed more than half a billion copies of Adobe Reader since its 1993 introduction.

The 3D Industry Forum is a cross-industry group of more than 30 developers and corporate users of 3D graphics technology, including Adobe, Bentley Systems, Boeing, HP, Intel, and 3Dsolve. The group is working with Ecma International, an international standards body, on proposing the U3D Format as an ISO standard.

www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/main.html