Virtual Reality News: 31 May 2002

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If "VRSoccer World Cup Tournament" appeals to you... it's on the web.
URL: http://www.vrtainment.de

Users, Applications & Projects
01 Boeing Awards $29.9m Contract for Trainers
02 UCSD Students Model in 3D
03 Rushes to Use PURE

Products & Services
04 Clarification: Tools for Architects
05 Version 2 of Walkinside
06 Version 20 of CADKEY Workshop
07 Asset & Production Management for Smaller Teams

Companies & Markets
08 Spatial Role at Dassault
09 First SpatialCAA V5 Adopter
10 Support for ArchVision
11 Stitcher 3.5 Now Shipping
12 Discreet in India?
13 Jigsaw to Sell REALVIZ

Standards, Patents & Benchmarks
14 Latest HSF Specification

People
15 Ubi Soft
16 Not at Work

Events & Calls for Papers
17 2002 European Simulation Interoperability Workshop
18 SIGGRAPH 2002
19 VR World Congress V
20 PRESENCE 2002
21 Collaborative Virtual Environments 2002
22 Symposium on Interactive 3D Graphics
23 More Events

194.01 Boeing Awards $29.9m Contract for Trainers

The Link Simulation and Training division of L-3 Communications has been awarded a $29.9 million contract from Boeing to build full mission trainers, weapons tactics trainers and seat and canopy trainers to support F-22 Raptor pilot and maintenance training. This award marks the second F-22 training device production award Link has received. Future F-22 training device production contract awards could increase the value of the program to over $200 million. The Raptor's entire flight envelope will be simulated by Link's F-22 full mission trainers, enabling pilots to practice tasks including formation flight, air refueling, takeoff and landing, emergency procedures and weapons delivery during air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions. F-22 full mission trainers will deliver a highly realistic training environment, one in which pilots are able to view out-the-window terrain and sky computer generated imagery across a Link-built SimuSphere visual system display that provides a 360° field-of-view.

A head-tracking system is used to follow pilot head movement to ensure that high-resolution computer generated imagery is displayed wherever the pilot turns his head. F-22 weapons tactics trainers will provide pilots with extensive procedural training to enhance aircraft systems operation. Supported by a high fidelity tactical environment, the trainer will enable pilots to interact with simulated controls and displays representing the primary F-22 aircraft instrument panel. In addition to enabling pilots to practice individual and team weapon systems employment, weapons tactics trainers can be used as an instructional system or mission generation system. Maintenance technicians will be able to inspect, remove, check and replace components in F-22 seat and canopy trainers, which are high fidelity air vehicle replicas of a portion of the F-22's forward fuselage. Hands-on maintenance training will enable technicians to focus on the aircraft's ejection seat and canopy systems.

URL: http://www.link.com

194.02 UCSD Students Model in 3D

The Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) has incorporated Autodesk Inventor 3D mechanical design software into its academic curriculum, providing students with skills to land jobs and internships in the professional world. UCSD is focusing its curriculum on mechanical, aerospace, and biomedical engineering. In January 2002, Nathan Delson, director of UCSD's Mechanical Engineering Design Center, and William Bussard, lecturer, incorporated Autodesk Inventor for 3D modeling and animation. "We emphasize using the proper design tool for the task, whether it be hand sketching, 2D CAD, or 3D modeling," said Delson. Says William Bussard: "The students enjoy seeing their models in 3D and immediately recognize the power of parametrics."

URL: http://maelabs.ucsd.edu/mae3/index.htm
URL: http://www.autodesk.com

See also Discreet in India? in this issue.

194.03 Rushes to Use PURE

Rushes Post Production Ltd of London, UK, one of London's top post production and animation houses, has selected PURE from Advanced Rendering Technology (ART). Jonathan Privett, Head of 3D at Rushes, has purchased multiple PURE 3D rendering cards from ART to use with Alias|Wavefront's Maya application within an expanded 3D animation department. Mr Privett and his team are already working on projects for the BBC using PURE.

194.04 Clarification: Tools for Architects

We have been asked to make clear there is no connection between VantagePoint Perspective and Cubicspace as mentioned in VREfresh 193.09: Tools for Architects. Cubicspace technologies, techniques and applications will be demonstrated at VR World Congress V.

URL: http://www.vantagepointtechnologies.com
URL: http://www.cubicspace.com

194.05 Version 2 of Walkinside

VRcontext has introduced Walkinside 2.0. The application allows users to simulate complex industrial projects, and combines the conversion speed and usability of the first version with new features that allow a more intelligent use of the virtual model. "Walkinside is an easy-to-handle and fast view tool to walk inside the existing 3D models of our chemical plants," says Peter Verhoeven, CAD system manager, BASF Antwerpen N.V. in Belgium. "Because of its ease of use engineers do not need a person to guide them through a 3D model as they can navigate themselves without needing hours of training. Version 2.0 includes several important new functions which can help companies significantly improve the development process."

Alain Hubrecht, CTO of VRcontext, is a speaker at VR World Congress V in Paris, France on 9th and 10th September 2002 and a profile of VRcontext may be found in the VREfresh Directory of Suppliers.

URL: http://www.walkinside.com
URL: http://www.vrcontext.com

194.06 Version 20 of CADKEY Workshop

The new CADKEY Workshop Version 20 has been re-designed using a unified graphics system based on the HOOPS 3D Application Framework. The new architecture product, previously known as "CADKEY 20", is an enhanced version of CADKEY containing new assembly and entity management functions specifically designed for manufacturing professionals. HOOPS provides optimized graphics display and interaction critical to large assemblies as well as output of next-generation compressed graphical files (OpenHSF) for sharing of data over the web.

URL: http://www.cadkey.com/webstore
URL: http://www.openhsf.org
URL: http://www.hoops3d.com

194.07 Asset & Production Management for Smaller Teams

NXN Software has announced an offering for smaller development teams: the NXN alienbrain Starter Pack. This package is intended to meet the demand of smaller teams for professional asset and production management at a price point of $9,990. The NXN alienbrain Starter Pack is integrated with Discreet's 3ds max, Maya from Alias|Wavefront and Softimage XSI. The pre-configured software package includes a Team Productivity Server, one NXN alienbrain PowerClient, five NXN alienbrain BaseClients, four NXN alienbrain CodeClients and one year of maintenance. Designed for ten users, the package can be extended to 20 users as the team grows in size. It is limited to one installation per company.

URL: http://www.nxn-software.com

194.08 Spatial Role at Dassault

Confirming Spatial's role in Dassault Systemes' 3D Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) strategy, Spatial, is to be the primary channel for sales and marketing of V5 Component Application Architecture (CAA) to software developers. Dassault Systemes acquired Spatial in November 2000. CAA V5 is middleware which enables software developers to develop V5 applications, integrated within multiple enterprise environments and complementing Dassault Systemes' 3D PLM solutions. CAA V5 is used by more than 1,800 engineers in 18 countries.

URL: http://www.dsweb.com

194.09 First SpatialCAA V5 Adopter

Proficiency, an innovator in engineering supply chain collaboration, will be the first company to become a SpatialCAA V5 (Component Application Architecture) Adopter. The agreement is designed to provide Proficiency with the tools necessary to broaden its solution targeted at the interoperability and collaboration problems faced by the majority of the CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM market. Spatial's mission since the acquisition by Dassault Systemes has been to develop, market and sell development technologies that address the exponential requirements of 3D in business-to-business and e-commerce applications.

URL: http://www.dsweb.com
URL: http://www.spatial.com

194.10 Support for ArchVision

Informatix's latest release of Piranesi now supports ArchVision's RPC (Rich Photorealistic Content) libraries. Customers of both companies can immediately benefit from the additional content and faster rendering times. RPCs are supplied as a sequence of images, each taken from a different angle. If the content is subsequently "tweaked" so that it is seen from a different angle in the scene, a new image will automatically be selected. If the content casts shadows, the shadows will be cast using an image chosen to be at an angle facing the light direction. Native and Plug-in RPC support now exists in 3ds max, Autodesk Viz, Bentley MicroStation, Accurender from Robert McNeel & Associates, Revit, Piranesi from Informatix, Adobe Photoshop, and SGI Performer.

URL: http://www.RPCnet.com
URL: http://www.informatix.co.uk

194.11 Stitcher 3.5 Now Shipping

REALVIZ Stitcher 3.5 is shipping with its new features including "Forced" Stitch, Lens Distortion Correction, Render Area Tool, Enhanced Horizon Definition, Hotspot Tool and Artifact Removal Tool. REALVIZ Stitcher 3.5 is a significant upgrade for existing 3.1 owners. Luc Robert, Chief Technology Officer of REALVIZ is among the speakers at VR World Congress V.

URL: http://www.realviz.com

194.12 Discreet in India?

According to a report in the Financial Times, Discreet, a division of Autodesk, is "investigating the possibility" of setting up an R&D centre in India. Discreet's general manager and executive VP of Autodesk Inc, Paul Lypaczewski, said "We have great respect for the quality of technical work that is being done out of India. The opportunity may exist in the future for us to work with an India development partner. In Bangalore for example, there are a number of media companies working but there are other centers of excellence such as Delhi. Should we choose to set up a development centre in India, it would clearly be an important part of our product agenda. It will either focus on product development or on an important subset of a larger product," he said.

With the rapid progress in the film and broadcasting sector here, the company sees good growth and business potential in India. The 3D animation sector here has a huge potential like other Asian countries, says Mr Lypaczewski. Comparing the Indian scenario with that of Korea, he says "When you look at the investments India is making in broadband access, like Korea did, you can expect a huge explosion in online gaming and 3D animation." The company plans to launch various products this fall. This year will also see release of the company's 3D animation and streaming products.

URL: http://www.autodesk.com

194.13 Jigsaw to Sell REALVIZ

Jigsaw Systems Ltd in the UK has become a reseller of REALVIZ's software product portfolio. Jigsaw Systems targets businesses within the creative market including publishing, print, design, music, animation, games development, digital video and architectural design.

URL: http://www.realviz.com
URL: http://www.jigsaw24.com

194.14 Latest HSF Specification

Tech Soft America (TSA) and Spatial Corp are continuing to further the collective efforts of the OpenHSF Initiative by releasing the latest HSF specification. Working groups for Animation and Product & Assembly Structure have been established to develop these extensions of the format. Yanick Fluhmann, Co-Founder of TSA and a speaker at VR World Congress V, says: "When TSA and Spatial first started this initiative we made a commitment to continually improve and publish the OpenHSF specification, ensuring that each evolution addressed more of the industry's needs. The latest release of the specification, combined with the addition of working groups dedicated to developing extensions, is a demonstration of our commitment."

URL: http://www.openhsf.org
URL: http://www.hoops3d.com

194.15 People: Ubi Soft

Ubi Soft Entertainment has hired Tony Kee, one time VP at Infogrames Entertainment, as Vice President of Marketing and Allen Adler as Vice President of Creative Services. Adler has more than 15 years experience managing creative services for companies like 3DO, Hasbro and Mattel. He was instrumental in packaging design for brands including Barbie and Star Wars. Ubi Soft recently announced sales figures for the 2001-2002 fiscal year up 42% to 326 million dollars.

URL: http://www.ubi.com

194.16 People: Not at Work

Sun, with 32,000 employees in the US, and HP, with a US staff of 74,000, have plans to shut down plants for the week including Independence Day, July 4th.

194.00 Events & Calls for Papers

194.17 2002 European Simulation Interoperability Workshop

The 2002 European Simulation Interoperability Workshop (Euro SIW) is sponsored by the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO) in cooperation with The Society for Computer Simulation - Europe International Training Equipment Conference (ITEC, Ltd.). The 2002 Euro SIW will be held June 24-26, 2002 at the University of Westminster, UK.

URL: http://www.sisostds.org/siw/02euro/index.htm

194.18 SIGGRAPH 2002

ACM SIGGRAPH is dedicated to the generation and dissemination of information on computer graphics and interactive techniques: San Antonio, Texas, USA - July 21-26, 2002 (exhibition 23-25).

URL: http://www.siggraph.org

194.19 VR World Congress V

VR World Congress V will be held in Paris, France on September 9th and 10th, 2002 and offers an exceptional opportunity to identify project partners to make proposals to the European Commission's Sixth Framework Programme (the budget for the 5th was $3.5bn). A copy of the current working draft agenda is available. The delegate fee for this not-for-profit event is just $150 and, as numbers are limited, early registration will be essential.

URL: http://www.VREfresh.com

194.20 PRESENCE 2002

Thanks to Wijnand IJsselsteijn of the Human-Technology Interaction Group at the Department of Technology Management, Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands for bringing to our attention PRESENCE 2002 in Portugal on October 9,10,11, 2002.

URL: http://www.presence-research.org

194.21 Collaborative Virtual Environments 2002

ACM Collaborative Virtual Environments 2002: Bonn, Germany - September 30-October 2, 2002. CVE 2002 is a conference dedicated to the design, development and use of collaborative virtual environments (CVEs). Submission deadlines for Papers, Posters, Panels, Workshops, and Tutorials is May 1st 2002.

URL: http://www.cve2002.org/

194.22 Symposium on Interactive 3D Graphics

2003 Symposium on Interactive 3D Graphics: California, USA - April 27 to 30, 2003. Papers Deadline: 15 September 2002.

URL: http://movesinstitute.org/I3D.html

194.23 RealSpace 3D

RealSpace 3D provide rendering, animation and 3D solutions to the architectural sector.

URL: http://www.realspace3d.com/

 

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For extensive information about events relevant to the European VR/i3D community, see the events pages on El.pub: for Europe: base05.htm, for the rest of the world: connone.htm

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