Virtual Reality News: 11th November 2002Virtual Reality News: 11th November 2002
| About VREfresh news Each edition of virtual reality news is now published on a separate page, ensuring that links (particularly from VREfresh) continue to remain current. To view news from previous issues, please use the navigation buttons below. |
VREfresh Email alerter of news items and associated URLs, send an email with your name, organisation, country (and for the US a zip code) to the Editor via the link above. |
 |
Forward to next week
|
Back to previous week
|
 |
| El.pub News |
A free email alerter of the latest news items and associated URLs. |
Looking forward to Comdex 2002 (November 18-22, Las Vegas) with an anticipated 200,000+ delegates: VirtualDesign Network will unveil a release of Virtual-WorkSpaces, a real-time, browser-based collaboration and video conferencing solution including synchronization with Microsoft Outlook and a 3D viewer.
Users, Applications
& Projects
01 Boeing Partners with CAE
02 Chest Trauma Training Simulator System
03 Vienna Museum Partners with Barco
04 Reduced Time-to-Market for Indian Motorcycles
05 Formula 1 Team Goes Faster
06 Michelin to Standardize on 3D CAD
07 Experience of Low-cost Glove
08 Children Safer on the Internet
Products &
Services
09 E&S Harmony
10 Game Engine for Mobile Devices
11 Share, Sell or Find 3D Models
12 Softimage 5/8XSI Version 3
Companies &
Markets
13 MPEG-4 in Japan
14 ATI for HP/Compaq
15 Raindrop Geomagic & 3D Systems Corp
16 Viewpoint Revenues Rise
17 Avid Acquisition
People
18 Avid
19 Autodesk
20 Solidworks
21 ART VPS
22 SGI
Worth Watching
23 Video Games with Full 3D
24 The Tablet
Events & Calls
for Papers
25 HP (& others) Sponsor SGI Company Event..........NEW
26 CyberTherapy 2003
27 Solid Edge Global Summit
28 IEEE VR2003
29 Symposium on Interactive 3D Graphics
30 Casa'2003 - Call for Papers and Tutorials
31 Vision, Video and Graphics 2003...................NEW
32 SIGGRAPH 2003 - Call for Participation
33 More Events
The Boeing Co and CAE have formed a partnership to develop solutions in ballistic missile defense. Through this agreement, the two companies will collaboratively evaluate and develop opportunities in missile defense drawing on their existing skills and capabilities. Boeing plans to use CAE's suite of modeling and simulation software tools such as STRIVE to evaluate and develop systems related to air and missile threats, sensors, interceptors, and battle management/command, control and communications systems.
"We're proud to partner with Boeing at the early stage of developing missile defense technology that will ultimately benefit the people of many nations around the world," said Donald W. Campbell, group president, Military Simulation and Training, CAE. "This agreement is also representative of our strategy to use CAE's modeling and simulation expertise throughout the development cycle of large defense programs." CAE's STRIVE is a modeling and simulation framework that gives software developers the ability to easily design complex, interoperable systems.
URL: http://www.boeing.com
URL: http://www.cae.com
The sensor size and tracking accuracy provided by Ascension Technology Corporation's miniBIRD motion trackers allow the VIRGIL Chest Trauma Training Simulator System to present a realistic scenario for teaching Army medics how to treat collapsed lungs and blood or air in the chest cavity. Developed by The Simulation Group of the Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology (CIMIT), VIRGIL trains medic recruits how to alleviate three conditions: tension pneumothorax, hemothorax and hemopneumothorax.
Following a web-based tutorial covering basic first aid, the three chest trauma conditions, procedures and complications, medics go hands-on with the simulator. VIRGIL's mannequin incorporates realistic skin, bone and muscle with an accurate model of the internal organs. A touch screen computer interface leads trainees through a self-directed or instructor-led combat treatment scenario. Movement and placement of chest darts and chest tubes is monitored in real time, giving immediate feedback to the trainees and instructors. The miniBIRD's sensor size also fulfilled a key requirement. The 5mm sensor fit inside the narrow internal diameter of the specific type of chest tube the Army uses to treat its soldiers. Sensors are also located on the instruments the simulator uses to prepare the insertion site and to treat a tension pneumothorax. The miniBIRDs track the position and orientation of instruments in real time with six degrees of freedom.
They receive no line-of-sight interference whether they are used inside or outside the body. VIRGIL will soon be moving to Ascension's pciBIRD platform whereby the trackers will be powered by the host computer through a standard PCI Bus. The miniBIRD Model 500is used for accurate tracking in computer-aided surgery, medical training simulators and biomechanical studies. Lower costs due to streamlining the sensor production process allow Ascension to now offer the Model 500 for the same price as the Model 800: $3995.
URL: http://www.ascension-tech.com
URL: http://www.cimit.org
The "Technisches Museum Wien" (TMW) (Vienna Museum of Technology), housed in a beautiful building just opposite the Schönbrunn palace, shows both technological innovations and the mechanisms of their development. Visitors are provided with an atmosphere that inspires discussion and motivates them to actively take part. The next area to be created within TMW is called "medien.welten" (Information and Communication). This exhibit will tell visitors the story of evolution of media technology from ancient times to present days.
With new discoveries every day, TMW wants to give its visitors the chance to participate actively and to offer immersion in virtual worlds, opening up many opportunities for experimentation. In their search for partners to reach their goals, TMW found the "Barco Innovation Partner" (BIP) program. This program fosters innovative technology in Science Museums and Planetariums. medien.welten will be a permanent exhibition occupying an area of about 2,500 square meters on the second floor of the building of the TMW. The opening is scheduled for the February 2003.
Indian Motorcycle was able to reduce time to market of the new Indian Chief by 10-25% by using MSC.visualNastran for Windows during the design phase of the motorcycle's development. MSC.visualNastran helps engineers generate computer models and visualize results. After an illustrious history of making heavy motorcycles used by police, allied armed forces in both World Wars, and many individual people for day-to-day transportation, Indian Motorcycle closed its doors in 1953 to be revived in 1999 by a $30 million multi-party merger.
By 2000, the company was the second largest producer of heavy cruisers in North America. Then came the challenge of designing the first all-new model of its flagship product, the Indian Chief 2002, and getting it on the market within a year from concept. Being able to meet that deadline was important for the on-going evolution of Indian Motorcycles, as well as for the new Indian Chief. The company is in the process of changing from being a custom bike builder to one capable of making thousands of motorcycles of equal performance every year, as it did between 1900 and 1953.
URL: http:/www.mscsoftware.com/products/
URL: http://www.engineering-e.com/
URL: http://www.indianmotorcycle.com
Sauber Petronas, the Swiss Formula 1 Team are enhancing their collaboration with SGI who are enabling the Swiss racing team, to access complex aerodynamic simulations at four times the speed achieved previously. When drivers Nick Heidfeld and Felipe Massa are battling for mere thousandths-of-a-second timing on the track, it is not only the skill of the drivers that determines their position on the rostrum and points, but also the technical advances and their implementation. The Sauber Petronas engineering team recently expanded its SGI Onyx 3400 visualization system with 16 CPUs to an SGI Onyx 3800 system powered by 64 CPUs and a 64GB mainframe memory. This increased computing performance allows the Formula 1 team to calculate additional and more complex aerodynamic simulations. The memory enables a more exact evaluation and thereby achieves more reliable results.
"All essential phases in aerodynamic simulation can be processed on the single SGI system and accomplished four times faster," declared Team Boss Peter Sauber. "And now all this is even possible between individual races." One application for which Sauber Petronas will use the SGI high-performance computer is the intricate simulation of white-hot exhaust gases and their effect on the rear end of the car and its aerodynamic flow. Moreover, the behavior and characteristics of the fuel during corner maneuvers and refueling will also be simulated and analyzed. Data capacity of up to 10GB is required for the optimization of the car's adjustment.
URL: http://www.sgi.com
Michelin, one of the global leaders in tire manufacturing, has agreed to purchase up to 1,000 licenses of SolidWorks 3D CAD software to design the massive machines that turn out millions of tires a year. Michelin expects SolidWorks to reduce its tire manufacturing machine design time significantly throughout its global operations. It will also use SolidWorks to convert existing 2D designs to 3D and effectively communicate designs with customers, suppliers, and different departments in the company. Based in France, Michelin is a $14.6 billion Fortune Global 500 enterprise that will standardize on SolidWorks software to design every new tire manufacturing machine it develops.
These machines produce tires in nearly 80 factories in 18 countries. Michelin makes more than 21,000 different types of tires for a variety of vehicles, ranging from bikes, to passenger cars, to enormous heavy equipment used in mining and forestry operations that requires five-ton, two-story tires. To achieve the company's production goals, the tire manufacturing machines, which can reach the length of a football field and nearly match the complexity of an airplane's design, must meet exact specifications. A fraction of an inch difference could slow or halt production and affect revenue. Michelin relies on SolidWorks reseller Groupe Axemble for ongoing software implementation, training, and support.
URL: http://www.michelin.com
URL: http://www.axemble.com
URL: http://www.solidworks.com
Maarten Francq, EDP for Coordinator Primo-Somade in Belgium writes: "I am in no way related to Essential Reality, but I just wanted to let the community know there is a low-end glove available on the market. At this time it is shipping from the states to my front door in Brussels. There is also a SDK available, so own development should be possible and is already starting at universities across the world. I would like to share my experiences with all the most interesting people I was able to meet in Paris (at VR World Congress V). I know this thing is able to make a difference for all of us, because it is being sold for only 150$".
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is using Ascension Technology's MotionStar Wireless tracker to animate the NetSmartz Workshop characters. The NetSmartz Workshop is an interactive educational resource for children aged 5 to 17, parents, and educators that uses age-appropriate, 3D activities to teach children how to stay safer on the Internet. MotionStar Wireless is a motion-capture system that transfers the movements of real performers onto animated 3D characters, adding more realism to the characters while shortening the animation process. The original cast of 3D animated characters was focus-tested with Boys & Girls Clubs of America members in six sites across the country, and their comments and suggestions helped to shape the characters' appearances and hone the program's educational content. Animators with Viewpoint created and brought the NetSmartz characters to life. A donation from the Compaq Computer Corporation helped to establish an on-site studio at NCMEC with 3D animators, artists, and web developers.
URL: http://www.ascension-tech.com
URL: http://www.NetSmartz.org
URL: http://www.missingkids.com
Evans & Sutherland has launched Harmony 2, the flagship product in the company's new line of PC-based visual systems for military simulation. Harmony 2 uses commercial off-the-shelf PC technology combined with simulation-specific rendering hardware and an enhanced software system. Already delivered to the UK for the Royal Air Force's Nimrod MRA4 Aircrew Synthetic Training Aids Program, the Harmony 2 is also under contract for several key international military training programs for deliveries in Q1 2003.
URL: http://www.es.com
Fathammer has announced the commercial launch and availability of the X-Forge 3D Game Engine, their development product for mobile devices. Fathammer's X-Forge 3D Game Engine provides game developers with the ability to deliver 3D games with low memory footprint on a wide variety of wireless PDAs, Smartphones and handheld game devices.
Cadalog has opened a new CAD Web site, 3Dmodelsharing.com. The site is a clearinghouse for CAD users who want to share, sell or find 3D models, parts, components or libraries. 3Dmodelsharing.com was created in response to those using CADalog.com's online parts library who requested a service for sharing and visualizing 3D models online. 3Dmodelsharing.com accepts all types of 3D CAD formats. When using the Spinfire 3D viewing feature, models need to be converted to DWG, Inventor, IGES, STEP, SAT, SolidWorks, VRML or STL. Site visitors must subscribe in order to upload 3D models for sharing or selling, but membership is free and includes full membership in CADalog.com.
Softimage, a subsidiary of Avid Technology Inc, has announced the availability of version 3.0 of its Softimage 5/8XSI software, the 3D nonlinear production environment. The release expands upon the environment used in recent films such as 'Spy Kids II', 'Scooby Doo' and 'Spirited Away'; current television series including 'Galidor' and 'Napoleon'; games like 'Clone Wars', the upcoming 'NBA Live 2003' and 'FIFA Soccer 2003', as well as popular TV spots for Audi, Volkswagen and Mars/M&Ms. The v.3.0 environment, which supports Windows, Linux and IRIX operating systems, is available now with pricing starting at $6,750.
Daikin Industries Ltd, the computer graphics, video editing and digital media authoring software supplier, will distribute, support and service the sale of iVAST MPEG-4 software to the professional post-production and creator markets. The reseller relationship should accelerate the entertainment industry adoption of the software tools for fully-integrated MPEG-4 content production, from encoding and authoring to publishing and delivery. With the iVAST suite of products, content creators can take advantage of the advanced compression and object-oriented authoring capabilities of MPEG-4. From enhanced DVDs and HDTV to interactive advertisements and on-demand services, iVAST MPEG-4 solutions allow content creators to seamlessly weave together multiple media elements - from audio and video to 2D and 3D graphics, animation and interactivity.
URL: http://www.ivast.com
URL: http://www.comtec.daikin.co.jp
The first integrated graphics processor for Intel's Pentium 4 Processor-M platform, ATI's RADEON IGP 340M, has been chosen by HP to power their Compaq Evo N1020v commercial notebook PC.
URL: http://www.ati.com
3D Systems Corp has signed an agreement to resell Raindrop Geomagic software worldwide. The agreement will give manufacturers easier access to 3D Systems integrated solutions for Advanced Digital Manufacturing (ADM). Raindrop Geomagic and 3D Systems have already collaborated on processes to improve the efficiency of ADM in areas such as orthodontics, hearing instruments, medical modeling, racecar engine optimization, and recreating legacy parts.
Viewpoint Corporation has announced its financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2002. The company reported revenue of $5.3 million for the quarter as compared to $4.0 million during the third quarter of the 2001. It finished the quarter with $11.1 million in cash and marketable securities, as compared to $12.1 million at the end of the previous quarter.
Avid Technology Inc has acquired substantially all the assets of privately held software company iKnowledge, Inc., a Lexington, Massachusetts-based developer of enterprise content aggregation, distribution and syndication solutions. Avid will immediately begin selling a new digital asset management and distribution offering based on the technology acquired from iKnowledge. Said David Krall, Avid's president and CEO: "Our customers, who are the world's leading producers of rich media, can take advantage of this new solution immediately, especially the many broadcasters currently using Avid Unity for News. And, because it integrates seamlessly into our end-to-end digital workflow, our customers can benefit from the efficiency and revenue potential of creating media once and delivering it everywhere."
URL: http://www.avid.com
John V Guttag, a faculty member and researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has been elected to the board of directors of Avid Technology. Dr Guttag has been on the faculty at MIT for more than 23 years, and today he serves as the head of the largest department within the school, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). EECS has more than 115 faculty members and nearly 2000 students. In addition, he co-heads the Networks and Mobile Systems Group within the Laboratory for Computer Science at MIT. In addition to his academic work, Dr Guttag has served as consultant to a number of industrial-research and advanced-development organizations, including IBM Research, Xerox PARC, General Electric's Corporate R&D, and Digital Equipment Corporation's Systems Research Center (now Hewlett-Packard SRC Classic).
URL: http://www.avid.com
Ken Bado has been appointed vice president of worldwide sales for the Autodesk Design Solutions Division. Bado joins Autodesk with experience from Innoveda, Inc., Centric Software, Inc., Mentor Graphics Corporation, Accgraph Corporation, and Intergraph Corporation.
Chris Garcia is to lead SolidWorks Corporation's product development operations as vice president of research and development. Mr Garcia will lead a team of 130 engineers. He replaces Dave Corcoran, who will still play an active role in SolidWorks' research, development, and business strategies. Chris Garcia joins SolidWorks from Xygent, Inc., where he was president, CEO, and founder.
Gary Rinck has joined the Board of ART VPS Ltd as a non-executive director. Gary Rinck is the Group General Counsel at Pearson, the FTSE 100 media and publishing conglomerate where he leads a group of forty-five in-house lawyers, based in the US and UK. ART VPS Ltd specialises in the development of rendering products for the computer generated 3D imaging and graphics market.
Larry McArthur has been appointed senior director of manufacturing industries marketing for SGI. Mr McArthur will be responsible for global marketing and business development initiatives significant to SGI's position in manufacturing sectors such as automotive, aerospace, consumer goods, industrial machinery and shipbuilding. Mr McArthur's career includes executive-level experience, most recently as CEO of GetSilicon.
URL: http://www.sgi.com
Telecommunications and IP broadband service providers worldwide can now deliver PC-style video games with full 3D graphics and stereo-sound using IPTV home gateways (set-top boxes) from Pace Micro Technology. The announcement follows a partnership between Pace, a leading supplier of IP-based gateways, G-cluster, the games system provider and Pace's long-standing IPTV partner Thirdspace, a broadband TV enablement company.
Through the partnership G-cluster's multi-player broadband video games provided via Thirdspace can be delivered as real-time MPEG streams over IP networks direct to Pace's DSL4000, IP500 and IP400 gateway family. Research by Screen Digest Report, Wireless, Interactive TV & On-line Gaming shows a rapid growth rate for on-demand games across Europe, with revenues for games rising more than 80 times from $1.6m in 2001 to an expected $134m in 2003, and a further 500% to $835m between 2003 and 2006. Games services can also be delivered alongside other core IPTV features including multichannel TV, true and near video-on-demand, email, enhanced Internet browser services and karaoke-on-demand.
HP says it "is changing the landscape of mobile computing with the introduction of the Compaq Tablet PC TC1000, a versatile, full-function mobile PC that adapts to the way users work." Wireless-enabled and highly portable, the tablet PC combines the power of digital inking technologies in the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system with a full-function PC. It allows users to work in ways that are comfortable, familiar and efficient without sacrificing the capabilities they have come to expect with conventional Windows(R) XP-based PCs.
"This Tablet PC is an exciting new option designed to empower mobile workers," said Accenture Partner Steve Mankoff. "Field service and other remote users can now take advantage of the standard, paper-sized screen and the selection of input alternatives, including pen, keyboard or voice."
Measuring 0.8-inch thin and weighing three pounds, the Compaq Tablet PC TC1000 delivers all the performance and features users expect to find in a full-function Windows XP Professional ultra-portable notebook. The tablet PC also includes: a Transmeta Crusoe TM5800 1.0-GHz processor that delivers an optimal combination of battery life and performance; a 10.4-inch TFT display featuring a wide viewing angle, hardened cover glass and NVIDIA GeForce2 Go 100 high resolution graphics; built-in 802.11b wireless LAN capabilities; up to 60 GB SMART hard drives; and USB 2.0 connectivity.
Additionally, the Compaq Tablet PC incorporates user-friendly features such as fully programmable launch buttons and a jog dial to enable users one-touch access to launch preset programs and navigate and scroll through applications. The Q menu allows for quick access to common functions such as display brightness, internal wireless control and video-to-projector controls.
Alias|Wavefront, an SGI company, has announced Alias SketchBook Pro, an intuitive software tool that transforms the Tablet PC into a digital sketchbook. Designed specifically for the Tablet PC, Alias SketchBook Pro introduces a new approach to visual collaboration and user interaction, centered on the pen. It extends the versatility of the Tablet PC by complementing the note-taking features of Microsoft Windows Journal. A free introductory version and further product information is now available.
URL: http://www.aliaswavefront.com/sketchbook
URL: http://www.compaq.com/tabletpc
212.25 HP (& others) Sponsor SGI Company Event
Alias|Wavefront, an SGI company, has announced its annual event, 3December, will be sponsored by HP, Intel and ATI. It will be held for the 4th consecutive year with seven cities participating in the computer graphics and industrial design community events. 3December draws 3D professionals and students, who gather to learn from others in their field and see first hand software and hardware companies. The seven host cities for this year's event on December 3rd are: New York and Los Angeles, Sydney, London, Paris, Seoul, and Tokyo. Each city will feature industry guest speakers, technology demonstrations, Maya Master Classes, a 3D Pub and more.
212.26 CyberTherapy 2003
This year's theme acknowledges the increasing use of advanced technologies, including VR, in mental health, disabilities and rehabilitation. San Diego, California, USA - 19-20 January 2003.
URL: http://www.e-therapy.info
212.27 Solid Edge Global Summit
The Fifth annual Solid Edge Global Summit is set for February 19-21, 2003 at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort near Orlando, Florida. Keynotes from EDS PLM Solutions executives, Voyager Program exhibition, Solid Edge user presentations, hands-on training, business management conference, developers' conference, social activities and more is on the agenda.
URL: http://www.solidedge.com/summit
212.28 IEEE VR2003
IEEE VR2003: Los Angeles, USA - March 22 to 26, 2003. The deadline for Tutorial and Workshop Submissions has been extended to October 1, 2002.
212.29 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
URL: http://siggraph.org/i3d212.30 Casa'2003 - Call for Papers and Tutorials
The 16th International Conference on Computer Animation and Social Agents (Casa'2003). Rutgers University - May 7-9, 2003.
URL: http://www.cbim.rutgers.edu/conferences/casa2003
212.31 Vision, Video and Graphics 2003
Vision, Video and Graphics 2003: July 10-11, 2003 - Bath, UK. The intersection of computer graphics and computer vision promises many new application areas and raises new fundamental questions. This conference is a response to this developing area, and its purpose is to promote cooperation between the graphic and vision communities. Original papers related to the following themes are invited Image based rendering (view synthesis from other images), Models from images and video, for graphics and visualization, applications, Augmented reality, Video augmented environments, Graphics models for vision applications and more. Submission deadline is March 7, 2003.
URL: http://www.cs.bath.ac.uk/vvg/
212.32 SIGGRAPH 2003 - Call for Participation
SIGGRAPH 2003, the 30th International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, which will be held 27 - 31 July, in San Diego, California, USA, has issued its Call for Participation looking for both first-time and veteran contributors in three areas: presentations, experiences, and services. The presentations are Courses, Educators Program, Papers, Sketches and Applications, and Web Graphics. The experiences are Art Gallery CG03: Computer Graphics 2003, Computer Animation Festival, and Emerging Technologies: Electronic Speedway. The call is also seeking volunteers and support for services, which are GraphicsNet, International Resources, Pathfinders, and Student Opportunities.
URL: http://www.siggraph.org/s2003/cfp
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
| About VREfresh news Each edition of virtual reality news is now published on a separate page, ensuring that links (particularly from VREfresh) continue to remain current. To view news from previous issues, please use the navigation buttons below. |
VREfresh Email alerter of news items and associated URLs, send an email with your name, organisation, country (and for the US a zip code) to the Editor via the link above. |
|
|
Forward to next week
|
Back to previous week
|
|
|
File
Downloads - Please note
|
| File downloads from the El.pub site are currently suspended - the links however have not been updated to reflect this. If you would like access to a particular download file - please email webmasters@elpub.org with a suitable request confirming a description of the file you wish to download. |
El.pub - Interactive
Electronic Publishing R & D News and Resources
We welcome feedback
and contributions to the information service, and proposals for subjects for
the news service (mail to: webmasters@elpub.org)
Edited by: Logical Events Limited - electronic marketing, search engine marketing, pay per click advertising, search engine optimisation, website optimisation consultants in London, UK. Visit our website at: www.logicalevents.org
Last up-dated: 16 February 2024
© 2024 Copyright and disclaimer El.pub and www.elpub.org are brand names owned by Logical Events Limited - no unauthorised use of them or the contents of this website is permitted without prior permission.