Nowadays, new product development cannot be imagined
without powerful three-dimensional (3D) modelling software helping to create products better and faster.
Virtual reality has become pervasive in the engineering,
design, simulation, and testing of new products. Producers,
taking this concept a step further, may use virtual
prototypes to integrate customers into new product
development via the Internet. Thereby, customers get their
hands on innovations long before the design has been
finalised, when changes according to their needs and wants
can be done quickly and at little cost. As virtual prototypes
are created during the technical development of new
products anyway, it is only a minor step to use these
products to virtually interact with customers