Zooming into the data – level of detail
One area where 3D shows off its capability is in the level of detail. This is a technique where as we get closer to an object, we see more details. As we pull away from the object, we simplify the scene by substituting the 3D mesh with one with fewer polygons. This is akin to the zoom in and zoom out feature of Google Maps when looking from entire continents down to a street map view. In 3D, level of detail ensures that we are not rendering excess polygons that are not more than a few pixels on the screen.
Level of detail can also be effective in presenting data. In the upcoming example, we are showing a year's worth of closing stock price. In a typical year, the stock market operates for 250 days. However, ...
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