Experiments in HTML5: Digital Racing Tracks

Many enterprises were skeptical about the success of HTML5 in the initial years. But within a shorter span of time, the markup language is being used widely to presenting and structuring a variety of content for the web. A number of recent reports have highlighted how a constant increase is noted in the number of mobile apps being implemented by using the updated version of HTML. Many organizations are also carrying out experiments in HTML5 synchronize devices running of different mobile platforms.

Before a few months, a multi-device and multi-player Chrome experiment called Racer created a buzz by allowing the use to play the game simultaneously with five distinct players. The slot car game enabled users to create digital racing tracks by lining up five smartphones or tables. Thus, multiple users can compete with each other side-by-side on the digital racing track at a time. As the game runs completely on Chrome, it becomes easier for users to synchronize multiple mobile devices and build digital racing tracks.

Innovative Technologies Used in Building the Digital Racing Tracks

HTML5 Canvas Elements

The car slot game is developed using HTML5. So it can run on both Android and iOS devices that allow users to install the Chrome browser. After installing mobile Chrome on his device, a user can simply point the mobile web browser to “chrome.com/racer” to setup and play the game. Instead of conventional ASCII-animation, the game uses HTML canvas elements to deliver pixel-perfect and speed animation.

Paper.js

As an open source vector graphics scripting framework, Paper.js runs on top of the HTML5 canvas. It further makes it easier for developers to build vector graphics and bezier curves by using an effective programming interface. The JavaScript vector library provided by Paper.js is used by Racer to create custom tracks, and facilitate the fluid movement of cars. At the same time, Paper.js is also effective in preventing the path math across multiple mobile devices from getting lapped.

Web Audio API

The Web Audio API is used by many applications to process and synthesize audio. The powerful JavaScript API is used by Racer to make the soundtrack react according to the movement of each user. However, the API will work only on the devices that where it is supported. If the device supports the API, users can enjoy dynamic soundtrack while accelerating, colliding, coasting or careening. The dynamic mixing of Giorgio Moroder’s symphony further makes the gaming experience both exciting and realistic.

WebSockets

Many applications, nowadays, use WebSockets to maintain persistent communication between the client and server. The specification further defines an API that can be used to establish and maintain socket connection between a web browser and server. Racer used WebSockets to facilitate uninterrupted communication between different devices. The efficient and persistent communication also results in movement of drivers. Also, the specification further helps in synchronizing the race by facilitating a rapid and multi-way conversation through sharing of data from the server.

Google Cloud Platform

Racer also avails the combined benefits of Google’s App Engine, Cloud Storage, and Compute Engine. Many enterprises use Cloud platform to build, deploy and test a variety of applications on the reliable and highly-scalable infrastructure provided by Google. The scalable Cloud architecture from Google provides a solid base to the slot car game to run on. Along with reliable hosting, the quality infrastructure further enables Racer for speedy computation and quick load balancing.

Despite being a simpler experiment in HTML5, Racer will encourage more enterprises to build mobile applications that deliver multi-user or multi-player experience. The slot game can be further updated to create larger digital racing tracks that spread across more mobile screens. The early experience further highlights how HTML5 and related technologies can be used to build innovative mobile applications. You can get in touch with a custom HTML5 development company who can help you build html5 web apps within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide HTML5 web development services. If you would like to speak to one of our expert HTML5 developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Google Web Designer Beta Now Available – Build Beautiful Html 5 Creative With Ease

Content websites have come a long way since their inception a decade or so back. Today web designs, animations and advertisements are all inseparable parts of modern content websites. The state of the art technology that is required to create all these creative elements is generally based on HTML 5. Perhaps this is the reason why HTML 5 is regarded as a universal language that is indispensable for creating or engaging contents compatible with desktops, smart phones, tablets, iPhones and the likes.

Over the last few years, Google has come a long way and has made web based technologies really user-friendly besides making them powerful as well. At present, this search engine giant has come up with layouts of Double Click studios or Ready Creatives. These studios help the users to create HTML 5 in no time. Let us discuss some of the salient features of this tool.

• The beta version of this web designing tool, christened Good Web Designer, is the latest in the series. Let us discuss the ways in which this Beta version Google Web Designer Tool is distinctive from the others in business. Unlike the other tools that are available in the market, Google designs tools that are expert in catering to both the extremes – seasoned as well as experienced professional designers and the amateurs or the ones who are just into web designing. The features of this tool are meant more to design ad banners than anything else though it ideally comes up in the market as a web designing or motion graphics tool.

• Technically speaking, the new Beta Web designer tool has been designed to give the advertising professionals or other users a wide range of powerful as well as user friendly options of creating interactive and vibrant contents for web sites. The application also provides these professionals new tools which help them to take the help of HTML 5. It also prepares contents of web pages in an accurate way. Moreover, it helps them to display the contents on a variety of screens as well as formats depending upon the type of the device used. As per the experts, the application will lure the designers to prefer HTML 5 environment, which is bound to be more adorable as well as popular than Flash in days to come.

• The new Google Web Designer Beta version will also enable the designers or users in creating animated creative contents through HTML5 that are compatible with every device. It would also allow the users to view as well as edit all the code at the background of their designs. They can also have a look at the changes that they have made instantaneously. They will also have the option of building ad contents with 'AdMob' along with 'DoubleClick'.

• The application comes up with two modes – Quick Mode and Advanced Mode. While the quick mode helps the users in building animations in a scene-by-scene sequence by utilizing automation, the later one would help them to animate various individual elements with the use of layers. They can also follow it up by changing the locations of these elements within the respective stacks.

• Besides, users can manipulate as well as create 3D contents by utilizing a wide range of tools along with CSS3 while rotating objects and 2D designs along the plain of any axis. It also helps to visualize the 3D transformations as well as translations while creating contents.

• Users can also switch between Code View and Design View. This helps them to see the changes they have made almost immediately. They also have the option of importing components from other creative platforms and suites. They can also use built-in illustration applications or the tools in creating vector style artworks. This will allow them to avert duplication of works that have already been created.

Now all these are extremely pertinent and effective features that the users will really enjoy. There are many other features, the efficacy of which will come into forefront as more and more people start using it. Experts are of the opinion that very soon Google Web Designer Beta will surpass all the other applications in terms of usability or popularity and will soon set new bench marks for the future applications to catch up with and overcome. You can hire HTML5 developers from top Web development companies who can help you build html5 web apps within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide HTML5 development services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our certified HTML5 developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.