DeepZoom

DeepZoom is an implementation of the SeaDragon technology for use in Microsoft Silverlight applications. It allows users to pan around and zoom in a large, high resolution image or a large collection of images. It reduces the time required for initial load by downloading only the region being viewed and/or only at the resolution it is displayed at. Subsequent regions are downloaded as the user pans to (or zooms into them); animations are used to hide any jerkiness in the transition.

Deep Zoom Examples

The most famous implementation of Deep Zoom was probably the first. It is the memorabilia collection at the [http://memorabilia.hardrock.com/ Hard Rock website] . It was developed by Vertigo and demonstrated for the first time in March 2008 at the Microsoft MIX convention in Las Vegas.

Another interesting example is the [http://www.codeplex.com/deepearth Deep Earth] project. It is described by [http://www.soulsolutions.com.au/Blog/tabid/73/EntryID/473/Default.aspx it's creators] as "a community project focused on creating a rich interactive mapping control using Silverlight2 Deep Zoom. Concentrating on Microsoft Virtual Earth imagery and data the project offers team members the opportunity to learn and share while creating something cool and useful."

Further reading

* [http://blogs.msdn.com/jaimer/archive/2008/03/31/a-deepzoom-primer-explained-and-coded.aspx A DeepZoom Primer]