Experience a Football Horsecollar In 3D

3Dwalkthroughs.com came across an article on the Television Broadcast website about an invitation only event that will feature an NFL game filmed in 3D. This first of its kind event will be a good test to see if 3D technology will catch on as the premier way of watching sporting events.

The San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders will appear in a 3D simulcast for a select few in a first-of-its kind simulcast. The Dec. 4 gridiron match-up will appear in 3D-capable theaters in Boston, Hollywood and New York.

The National Football is working with 3ality Digital and RealD to produce the event. RealD makes the 3D cinema projection technology that dominates much of the market. It will provide access to enabled theaters and 3D-capable TV monitors so the anointed can see what football of the future will look like at home.

“The NFL has played an important role in the evolution of media and consumer acceptance of emerging technologies…” said Howard Katz, NFL senior vice president of broadcasting and media operations, in a press release. “This broadcast will be an exciting test of how 3D could affect fans’ experience in the future.”

Source: Television Broadcast Website

ICEvision - 3D Video Game Technology Used To Create Interactive 3D Walkthroughs

3Dwalkthroughs.com definitely has its interest piqued by a new product being launched by Canadian company Ice Edge Business Solutions. Their new product, ICEvision allows designers to explore their Revit or AutoCAD 3D models in a separate Dynamically Rendered 3D window.

Through their patented use of 3D video game technology, users can explore their model in a natural manner, simply by walking into their design and taking a look around.

Apparently ICEvision will be demo'd this coming week at an Autodesk trade show in Las Vegas. It will be interesting to hear the reaction of those attending the show.

Some of the features of ICEvision include:
- Dynamic 3D Renderings; not just static single view images
- Speed of design change is greatly enhanced due to separation of design and visualization functions
- Increased productivity; the ICEvision model does not halt or delay design operations
- Collaboration; send your ICEvision files to other users to view; even if they don't own Revit or AutoCAD

Source: Ice Edge Website

I am excited to sign up for a demo and test drive the ICEvision application. I would suggest taking a few minutes to look at the sample video on their website as it is quite fascinating.

3D Camera Soon To Become Mainstream?

3Dwalkthroughs.com read an interesting post on Gizmodo.com about a new camera soon to be released by Fujifilm. The camera, the FinePix Real 3D consumer was recently unveiled at the 3DX expo in Singapore.

The stereoscopic camera features two optical lenses, each with its own CCD, and a processor that syncs the two images to create a 3D image. On top of that, the screen on the camera is capable of showing 3D images without the stupid glasses, while a 3D printing solution will also be offered that allows you to view printed images in 3D from multiple angles.

Image and Content Source: Gizmodo.com

I am very curious to see the quality of the final product this new 3D camera produces. Assuming the price is somewhat reasonable, I can only imagine how this camera will be applied in the real estate industry. Seems like high resolution 3D photographs would be a much welcome complement to existing 3D assets and other property marketing tools.

New Upgrade To iPhone Allows For The Display of Google Street View

3Dwalkthroughs.com first heard about Thursdays upgrades to the iPhone on Wired.com. Two of the more exciting of these upgrades include remote podcast downloading and changes to the Google Maps application.

Remote podcast downloading enables users to download audio and video podcasts onto their iPhones with the iTunes app over a wireless connection. In the past, to get podcasts on iPhones, users had to download them onto iTunes on their computers and then connect the handset to sync the files.

The Google Maps app is now capable of displaying Google Street View, a mode that provides a 360-degree view of thousands of locations taken with cameras mounted on Google's cars. Also new to the Maps app are the abilities to look up walking and public transit directions, view addresses of dropped pins and share location via e-mail.

Source: Wired.com

Other Upgrades Include:
Enhancements to Maps
Google Street View
Public transit and walking directions
Display address of dropped pins
Share location via email
Decrease in call setup failures and dropped calls
Enhancements to Mail
Resolved isolated issues with scheduled fetching of email
Improved formatting of wide HTML email
Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular network)
Improved stability and performance of Safari
Improved sound quality of Visual Voicemail messages
Pressing Home button from any Home screen displays the first Home screen
Preference to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard Settings

Image and Content Source: Apple.com

3D Interactive Simulation Tool For Civil Engineers

3Dwalkthroughs.com came across an article on MarketWatch.com about an Israeli company that has developed a 3D simulation tool targeting civil engineers.

Sivan Design, a leading provider of Civil Engineering CAD products and GIS-ERP integrated software solutions, announced December 1, 2008 as the official launch date for Civil Simulate, the powerful 3D interactive simulation tool providing an effective solution to the challenge of turning civil engineering design into 3D simulation.

The software is unique due to its ability to merge the design with an orthophoto and bring an accurate virtual reality 3D vision of complex structures like: junctions, roundabouts, parking lots, bridges, canals, etc. In addition, the designer can utilize the software to demonstrate aerial views while conducting interactive drive-through simulations in different settings, perform distance measurement and making visibility safety checks a breeze.

Image and Content Source: Sivan Design Website

I am sure members of our creative team will be amongst the first to test drive this new 3D application once it launches.

New Version of Google Sketchup To Help Do It Yourself 3D Modelers

3Dwalkthroughs.com just came across an announcement on Cnet News about Google's launch of an upgraded version of their 3D modeling software Sketchup. Like previous iterations of the software, SketchUp 7 will enable you to model just about anything you'd like as long as you start with a predesigned template.

The new version, released Monday, offers simple templates that help you gauge size through feet or meters, but it also includes architectural design, Google Earth, and a product design template to aid you in your modeling endeavors.

Source: CNET News

The new version of the software also integrates with Google Warehouse which provides 3D modelers with a large selction of pre-designed 3D models.

The pro version of the software definitely creates a final product that is more appropriate for professional presentations but the free version is good for hashing out concepts and giving beginners a good head start.

I will definitely be downloading the upgraded version of the software so we can determine how long before everybody is capable of designing high end 3D presentations...seems like the days are numbered:)

CyberExtruder - Generate a 3D Image of Yourself From a 2D Photograph

3Dwalkthroughs.com came across a press release from CyberExtruder announcing that they have just received patents from both the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The patents, entitled “Apparatus and Method for generating a three-dimensional representation from a two-dimensional image,” protect the company’s process for automatically creating a 3D model of a person’s head from just a single 2D image.

The technology covered by the patents is used in the biometric security and animation and entertainment industries. In biometric security applications CyberExtruder’s system enhances facial recognition matching scores (particularly in surveillance applications) and mitigates the effects of facial expressions, a key degrader of facial recognition systems. A pilot program administered by the US Army with an eye towards developing a better lie detector demonstrated that the company’s system can also be used in automating expression recognition.

In addition to providing this system to the biometric and entertainment industries, the company is also leverage innovations in rapid prototyping technology to create hard goods, like cameos, personalized action figures and even individualized candy molds, which will be marketed directly to consumers via the internet.

Source: Pr-canada.net

CyberExtruders automated system renders the unique 3D shape of any individual from just a single photograph. Their technology is currently being used to create photorealistic 3D avatars to be used in 3D virtual worlds such as Second Life and There.com.

Image Source: CyberExtruder Website

What Is The Right Marketing Strategy in These Tough Times

3Dwalkthroughs.com is constantly reading stories of new development projects coming to a halt due to the current economic situation. For those projects that are already underway, there is a growing divide regarding the right marketing strategy to employ in this market.

It is our belief that the right strategy is to find a company that is able to devise a solution based on understandably tighter marketing budgets.

There are many ways to skin a cat and creating a marketing strategy that includes 3D walkthroughs, 3D floor plans, and 3D renderings is no exception.

In many cases utilizing actual photography, or existing models from our 3D library can help to significantly reduce the price of our end product. In other cases, simply becoming a little more conscious about the length of a presentation can also help to keep a project fit into a tighter budget.

If you are in need of marketing materials with that WOW factor but are concerned that your budget will not make you a candidate for our serivces, give us a shout and lets chat...you might be very suprised.

Rabbitholes - 3D Motion Holograms

3Dwalkthroughs.com came across a story on wired.com about an interesting company from Canada with a technology called Rabbitholes.

A RabbitHole is a 3D Motion Hologram printed into a 2-dimensional film surface, which displays full-color 3D and action visible without special eyewear. More technically, a RabbitHole is a next-generation digital hologram that contains up to 1280 digital frames of CGI or video imagery.

Source: rabbitholes website

According to the article on wired.com, rabbithole is using its technology to create photo-realistic 3D holographic posters to promote movies. Last week, 10 U.S. theaters rolled out full-color 3D posters with motion and photorealistic detail to promote the movie How She Move.

To produce the imagery, RabbitHoles creates a 3D computer model of the object that will be turned into a hologram. A virtual camera takes snapshots at different angles, and a software algorithm developed by RabbitHoles calculates how light would bounce off each angle in the scene. The result is up to 1,280 different snapshots, or frames, that not only hold color, distance and angle info, but light patterns as well.

Source: wired.com

There are some very cool samples on the rabbitholes website. It is worth taking a look.

Winner of 3D Modeling Contest Announced

3Dwalkthroughs.com does not typically delve too deep into the world of 3D modeling for video games as it is a discipline all to itself. As part of our daily R&D, however, we came across an interesting contest that challenged both amateur and professional 3D modelers alike.

"The Battle of the Supermodelers" sponsored by GameRecruiter, is a 3D digital art contetst designed to support and promote students and professionals in the games community. The panel of judges reviewed completed 3D art from game artists around the U.S. who created original real-time character models of a monster, creature, robot or alien that might be found in a fantasy, sci-fi or horror game.

When you check out the winners gallery you will see how far graphics have come since the early days of Pong. The gallery can be viewed here>>

The Grand Prize Winner is Eric Claeys, Art Director for Suva Interactive, who offered “I've been drawn to fantasy and science fiction art as long as I can remember. My goal is dive into the industry as a creature/character modeler or concept artist - someday taking on more of a lead/directive role

Source: GameRecruiter

The Battle of the Super Modelers competition help illustrate how evolutions in technology coupled with a growing number of talented 3D modelers are taking video game graphics to unbelievable levels.

Sky News- Election Coverage in 3D

As everyone knows (hopefully), today is election day here in the United States. Regardless of the outcome, this years election will have historical ramifications.
UK based Sky News will be covering the election with specially designed 3D US election coverage content graphics.

Its ‘pool of polls’ content graphics employ textures, internal structures, architectural forms and space – a ‘convenient nod’ to the Sky corporate brand – while the Sky News brand features heavily and provides consistency, says Simon Buglione, Sky News creative director.

The background and ‘pool’ suggest Sky News’ Miami broadcast location, while 3D graphics rising up out of it indicate progress in the polls, swing states and movement on key electoral issues including the economy, energy and immigration.

The graphics will be used across television and the Web.

Source: Design Week

3Dwalkthroughs.com is intrigued by Sky News concept and will be checking their site periodically throughout the day to witness their 3D efforts. We were not able to find the relevant 3D graphics at the time of this post.

Alaris30 - 3D Desktop Printer

If you cannot afford to buy toys for Christmas this year due to the economy maybe you can just print them using the Alaris30 3D Desktop Printer from Objet. OK, that idea might be a little far fetched today but the reality of this concept might not be too far in the future.

The Alaris30 Desktop 3D Printer delivers a unique combination of high-quality, finely detailed printed models available in a compact office-friendly system. Creating smooth surfaces, complex geometries, small moving elements, fine details, stand-out text and whatever else the design demands.

The Alaris30 can be setup on a network where multiple designers can send their files to the printer. When a 3D file is received, the printer will feed the appropriate amount of resin into the tray, and the two printheads get to work by "carving" out the structure of the product. Once that is done, the resin is cured so it can be used immediately once out of the printer.

Sources: Cnet News and Object Website

Even though the printer can fit on a desktop it apparently is not that light, weighing in at about 183 pounds. As this technology evolves I imagine the printer will get much lighter and also less expensive.

Can you imagine the possibilities offered by being able to print physical models of design concepts? Perhaps 3Dwalkthroughs.com would be able to print actual replicas of new property developments.