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'Up From the Depths, TRIGGERED! In 3-D' and 'Mali; Magic Mud' at the 3D Center of Art and Photography
3D-News Posted: Monday, September 8, 2008 (6:03 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Two new exhibitions will take place at Portland's 3D center from September 11 through November 2, 2008:

'Up From the Depths, TRIGGERED! In 3-D' by Georgette Freeman

Georgette Freeman is well-known in the national stereoscopic community as a maker and seller of contemporary stereo cards, which she has been producing since 1995. Freeman's stereo card work is distinguished by the whimsical combination of narrative text with photographic stereo imagery, and sophisticated stereo card design and production.

Freeman describes her recent life and work, "(I'm) just an everyperson, who happened to have been dealing all her life with being outwardly normal and very creative on the inside - very creative. I even questioned gender, never bought other peoples' definitions, and settled on my own. And I worked this out, in the arts. In each and every one of us, there are things just waiting to be let out. For me, one was creativity, another was gender."

'Mali; Magic Mud' by J. Claire Dean

Mali is a quintessential West African country with a vibrant culture, incredible people and some of the largest, most spectacular earthen architecture in contemporary use. This show documents the places, people and spaces seen from Bamako to Dogon Country and back.

The 3D Center also houses a collection of antique and contemporary stereo cameras, viewers and other devices. Information panels and interactive displays explain the phenomenon of 3D vision. The Center's collection of stereocards are available for viewing and the reference library is open to visitors. There are daily 3D slide projections.

Open Thursday to Saturday from 11am to 5pm, Sunday from 1pm to 5pm. First Thursday 6-9pm. Admission $4 adult (over 12),
$7 families, Free all day First Thursdays. 1928 NW Lovejoy, Portland/Oregon, USA. Tel.: 1 (503) 227-6667, Web: http://www.3dcenter.us

3D Front Projection Screen Takes Center Stage in Da-Lite Theater at CEDIA EXPO 2008
3D-News Posted: Monday, September 8, 2008 (5:46 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Da-Lite Screen Company will introduce the ultimate in 3D projection screens with the launch of its' new 3D Virtual Grey front projection screen fabric. Designed exclusively for feature film studio 3D post-production and ultra high-end home theater systems, 3D Virtual Grey represents the state-of-the-art in 3D front projection screen technology.

"By virtually eliminating cross talk or "ghosting" 3D Virtual Grey has set a new standard in 3D polarization," commented Blake Brubaker, Da-Lite Vice President of Sales. "In the past, the biggest obstacle in passive 3D stereoscopic projection was the ability of the projection screen to retain or "hold" the polarization of the image on the screen. With the introduction of 3D Virtual Grey we are able to "hold" 99 percent of the polarized image for a fantastic viewing experience."

The proprietary 3D projection screen material was developed by Da-Lite's chemists and engineers in their Blue Ash, Ohio facility. The introduction of the 3D Virtual Grey material at CEDIA EXPO 2008, follows the world premiere of the companion 3D rear projection screen fabric, 3D Virtual Black at InfoComm 2008 in June.

"3D Virtual Grey provides the home theater owner with the technology to watch the latest 3D major studio releases when combined with the appropriate passive stereoscopic filters and digital projectors and glasses," continued Brubaker. "With more and more major films being produced in 3D, Da-Lite wanted to get ahead of this coming trend with a projection screen that provides superior results for home theater applications as well as for demanding 3D post-production studio facilities."

Other major benefits of 3D Virtual Grey include a gain of 1.3, viewing half-angles of 11 degrees and seamless 16-foot height. 3D Virtual Grey also features Da-Lite's exclusive black backing which minimizes image "bleed-through." 3D Virtual Grey is a high contrast material that outperforms any other 3D silver fabric.

While specifically designed for home theater and post-production front projection applications, both 3D Virtual Grey and 3D Virtual Black meet the needs of many consumer and commercial markets such as electronic gaming and sports programming as well as for oil and gas surveying, medical and pharmaceutical applications, robotic surgery, museums, 3D modeling and architectural design.

I.E. Effects Pumps Up 3D Muscles For Little Hercules
3D-News Posted: Monday, September 8, 2008 (5:44 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Full service visual effects studio I.E. Effects (I.E.) announced it will provide visual effects and stereoscopic 3D compositing for the upcoming feature film, "Little Hercules 3D."

Judd Nelson, John Heard, Elliot Gould and Hulk Hogan join 10-year-old body builder Richard Sandrak to star in the family film about a young boy of immeasurable strength who travels from Mt. Olympus to live in Los Angeles.

"We are very pleased to be involved with such a fantastic family-oriented project and look forward to providing what will be the first 3D experience to many of the film's younger moviegoers," says I.E. Executive Producer and Co-Founder David Kenneth.

More than ten 3D feature films will be released in 2009, and upwards of 12,500 theaters in the US alone are being outfitted with 3D playback systems in the next year.

Speaking on the rise in popularity of 3D of late, Kenneth adds, "The film business has been using 3D as early as the 1890s, but now technology allows us to create and showcase 3D films more effectively than ever before."

I.E. Effects is known for its strong ability to facilitate any visual effects project, big or small, from pre-to-post production, as evidenced in its regular work on The History Channel's hit series Cities of the Underworld and Modern Marvels and recent projects such as a Motorola advertising campaign featuring David Beckham, which is being preloaded on more than ten million mobile phones around the world.

PHOTOKINA 2008 - What's in it for 3D?
3D-News Posted: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 (3:50 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Imaging is more - photokina is more: Starting on September 23, 2008, photokina will once again be setting the standard as the global information and communication platform of the imaging sector, with the latest techniques, products, applications and services. It is the wide range of products on show, which cover the entire scope of the complex imaging market that makes photokina unique.

It's already clear that photokina will live up to its reputation as the global sector highlight once again this year. The trade fair distinguishes itself in the booming global imaging market by its unique competence in imaging - expertise built up over decades. It is highly regarded by consumers and professionals alike. The fair's popularity among renowned exhibitors is correspondingly high. Around 1,600 suppliers from 50 countries will be presenting at this year's "World of Imaging," with more than 60 percent of them coming from outside Germany. There will be over 100 first-time exhibitors.

As in the past years, we will report almost "life" from Photokina and tell you where the 3D treasures are hidden. At least for the first Photokina days, the Stereoscopy.com 3D-News will be updated twice-daily.

Spatial View Launches New Wazabee(TM) Gaming Solution Bringing 3D Realism to Hardcore Gamers
3D-News Posted: Friday, August 22, 2008 (12:54 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Spatial View Inc., a leading developer of 3D image processing and display technologies, announced the availability of its Wazabee 3D glasses-free Gaming solution through Media Markt, a key European electrical goods retailer.

The Wazabee bundle consists of two key components; a 19-inch multi-user display and a 3D gaming driver. Customers who purchase the bundle can now play and experience their favorite games in 3D without needing glasses. There are currently 20 game and platform titles supported by Wazabee including Need for Speed, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Second Life with the bundle retailing for 740 Euros (or US$1,149) before tax. Under the terms of the agreement, Media Markt will initially distribute the Wazabee bundle throughout Belgium and Luxembourg.

"We partnered with Spatial View because they have a unique 3D technology that will take gaming, both standalone or online, to a completely new level of interaction," says Dik Pijl, Chief Purchasing Officer of Media Markt - Saturn Belgium - Luxemburg. "Our customers are looking for the latest and most innovative technologies and the Wazabee bundle answers the call. The simple turnkey solution lets anyone a 3D experience."

The new Wazabee bundle will be showcased at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany (August 20th through 24th at Hall 4, booth A04). For more information on Spatial View or the Wazabee bundle visit http://www.wazabee.net

Stereoscopic 3D Gaming History Made at SIGGRAPH 2008
3D-News Posted: Thursday, August 21, 2008 (15:19 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Packed to the brim with an estimated 800 audience members, true 3D gaming was demonstrated for the first time on professional Real D projection equipment using iZ3D LLC stereoscopic drivers at SIGGRAPH 2008 via a joint presentation by Neil Schneider, President & CEO of Meant to be Seen and Mark Rein, VP and Co-Founder of Epic Games.

Similar to the experience movie goers get in 3D theaters, consumer gamers use S-3D technology at home for superior game immersion, visual beauty and game enjoyment. In video games, stereoscopic 3D hardware makes explosions fly out of the screen and adds a depth that makes the screen look like a window rather than a flat projection. Sample hardware includes iZ3D 3D monitors, TDVision head mounted displays, and a growing selection of 3D HDTVs by Samsung, Mitsubishi, and SpectronIQ.

"Stereoscopic gaming is inevitable. It's not so much a question of added realism or emersion, terms that I find too nebulous to define. Stereoscopic 3D gaming is more fun - that's why it's here to stay," said Lenny Lipton, Chief Technology Officer of Real D, and the inventor of the original CrystalEyes Glasses that laid down the groundwork for many of the modern consumer 3D solutions available today.

Stereoscopic 3D displays are quickly becoming the equipment of choice for avid gamers, and the technology has already demonstrated as much as 3:1 revenue benefits over 2D theaters in the Hollywood cinema space.

"It is a fantastic experience when you see games like ours running with proper stereoscopic equipment," said Mark Rein, VP and Co-Founder of Epic Games.

After Mark Rein played Unreal Tournament 3 in front of the gaming audience, he accepted the Meant to be Seen Gold-A Certification Award for Unreal Tournament 3 – MTBS' recognition that it is fully compatible with the popular iZ3D LLC stereoscopic 3D drivers. This rating can be upgraded further when similar compatibility is achieved with additional MTBS recognized driver solutions.

The Game Creators also earned an MTBS Native Certification award for their popular Dark Basic Professional game engine. It natively supports iZ3D monitors and anaglyph solutions with further options on the way.

"3D was meant to be seen in 3D, and it's great to see an organization like MTBS plant a flag firmly in the ground and state with determination that they want the real thing, and you know what? I think they will get it too! The Game Creators are very pleased to have been awarded an MTBS certification for the implementation of S-3D technology in the latest update to Dark Basic Professional. We look forward to extending our native support for S-3D to our other brands, including DarkGDK and FPS Creator in the near future," said Lee Bamber, President & CEO of The Game Creators.

Meant to be Seen is the foremost authority group on consumer stereoscopic 3D technology. It has quickly become the largest S-3D community in existence by working jointly with its members and partners to grow the stereoscopic 3D gaming industry through advocacy and business relationships. Their site features industry interviews, S-3D game reviews, active forums, game certification, and a member driven massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) called MTBS Nations at War.

"The audience was thrilled with Unreal Tournament 3 in S-3D and we had the honor of concluding the second half of the show with the opening sequence of Bioshock by 2K Games in stereoscopic 3D. I was repeatedly told that it was such an enveloping experience, the audience was left wanting to see more when the show was finished,” said Neil Schneider, President & CEO of Meant to be Seen.

"To make this happen, we used the popular iZ3D S-3D drivers along with Real D technology. Real D is the same technology used in modern movie theaters for successful films like Beowulf 3D, U23D, and Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D. Special thanks go to Rob Engle of Sony Imageworks, SIGGRAPH, TDVision Corp., iZ3D, and NVIDIA and Real D for supplying the specialized equipment needed to make this possible,” Schneider said.

Mechdyne Installs Advanced Computer Visualization Systems to Support Collaborative Design Program of Leading Aerospace and Defense Supplier
3D-News Posted: Thursday, August 21, 2008 (15:15 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Mechdyne Corporation announced that it has completed a multi-room computer simulation and visualization center for Alliant Techsystems Inc., a premier advanced weapon and space systems company. The Simulation Center, installed at ATK's Mission Systems headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, features a 40-seat immersive visualization theater with an 8 megapixel (MP) projection system, two team collaboration rooms with stereoscopic display capability and a conference room with high definition (HD)-quality viewing.

ATK is using the simulation center for a range of projects, including real-time review of mission simulations and virtual engineering of manufacturing and production systems for defense technology. The center is linked via secure network connections to other ATK facilities, with efforts underway to also connect to U.S. Government sites, providing the capability for engineering teams from across the country to collaborate on design and engineering programs, and to participate in reviews of actual and simulated missions via shared presentation and videoconferencing.

"Computer simulation combined with large-scale visualization display enables us to view a wide range of data from multiple sources on a single screen, rendered either as a set of images, or integrated into a full-screen single image," said Ron Holshey, ATK Project Director, Virtual Engineering for Manufacturing, Production and Repair (VEMPR). "In initial work at the Simulation Center, we were able to demonstrate collaboration with engineering resources at one of our California sites in a real-time test of a missile guidance package for a defense client."

This demonstration was conducted in support of the on-going Navy ACT 1 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) System Development and Demonstration (SDD) Program. This test validated the collaborative, real-time product design, analysis, simulation and assessment features available to system design and production transition teams through the VEMPR capability. ATK plans to expand this capability through creation of a VEMPR hub at its Manufacturing Center of Excellence located at the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) Naval Industrial Reserve Ordnance Plant (NIROP) in Rocket Center, West Virginia. The hub network architecture will facilitate expansion of the system engineering collaboration and analysis capabilities to other ATK and Government locations, and will connect the VEMPR directly to the manufacturing areas at ABL. Enhancements will include integration of Design-for-Manufacture / Design-for-Assembly and Process Optimization software with the simulation and visualization capabilities of the VEMPR, and a direct link to the ATK Product Data Management System to afford 3D assessment of as-planned, as-designed, and as-built configurations.

Mechdyne provided an advanced computer graphics cluster; 3D visualization software; all of the large screen displays, audio/visual and control station systems; fiber optic connectivity; and complete system design and integration for the Simulation Center. This included the challenging installation of the theater's single-piece 20 ft x 8 ft flat glass screen, which was lifted by crane to the 11th floor location.

Mechdyne's Conduit software is used to enable multi-channel stereoscopic viewing and Virtual Reality interaction capabilities, such as six degree-of-freedom navigation and viewer motion tracking, in several applications used in the Simulation Center, including PTC's ProEngineer and AGI's Satellite Toolkit (STK). This ability to work with virtual prototypes as if they were real, allows faster, more intuitive analysis of 3D models compared to mouse and keyboard navigation.

Display components provided by Mechdyne include the stereoscopic theater system, which utilizes two Sony SXRD projectors and two lower resolution projectors for simultaneous videoconferencing and non-stereo computer image projection, Mechdyne SX Beacon projectors for stereo viewing in the team rooms, and a 56-in. LCD display in the conference room. The visualization systems are driven by an HP-based graphics computer cluster running 64-bit Windows XP on quad-core processors. Mechdyne also provided the A/V control system in the conference room and a RGB Spectrum MediaWall controller in the theater. The theater layout includes tables with fully connected (power, network and A/V feeds into the visualization systems) seating for 18 individuals and additional viewing seats for 22.

"With its multiple elements of the system design, hardware and software engineering, and finally logistics challenges, the ATK Simulation Center was one of the most exciting projects we have tackled for any client," said Chris Clover, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mechyne. "We are very pleased with its success and look forward to further collaboration to support ATK projects and programs."

Eurasia Cinemas B.V. Enter Exclusive 5-Year Deal with XPAND for 3D Digital Theatres Circuit
3D-News Posted: Thursday, August 21, 2008 (15:12 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


XPAND, an international leader in 3D Digital experiences and technology platforms, announced they've entered a five year exclusive deal with Eurasia Cinemas, 88 % shareholder of AFM Cinemas, Turkey's only publicly held entertainment company and cinema mogul, owning and operating approximately 176 screens in ten cities. Spanning two continents across Europe and Asian side of the Bosporus, the prestigious group is widely known for their innovative and progressive cinemas expansion.

The agreement, which calls for more than 15 screens initially, is in association with Eurasia Cinemas B.V., part of an alliance with A1 Group (subsidiary of Alfa Group Consortium), one of Russia's largest privately owned financial firms, which include all 13 Kronverk locations with 80 screens across the region. Combining the prosperity of Russia and Turkey, this powerful cinema circuit has plans for further development across several territories and their approach to cinema enterprise is just the beginning of several phases to strengthen and maintain their leading position in the industry.

XPAND has taken a commanding lead throughout Europe in the 3D technology race by delivering superior stereoscopic active technology, which envelopes a highly sophisticated infrared 3D system, and is the core of many developing 3D platforms under the brand of XPAND products. Delivering reliable Active Glasses technology, images on the screen achieve 3D intensity with flicker free realism. As the most adaptive and utilitarian system on the market, the Eurasia Cinema B.V. partnership further confirms the commitment to the guest experience.

"This is our most exciting new partnership and has validated our brand-worthy reputation with such an esteemed and cutting-edge circuit," says Maria Costeira, CEO of XPAND. "It's an extreme honor to be working with AFM, Eurasia and Kronverk Cinemas and we look forward to our long-term relationship in the 3D global movement. Our respective companies share the same philosophy as visionaries and accurately depicts our common goals."

AFM Cinemas has consistently been at the forefront of the cinema business in Turkey for over 40 years. "Eurasia Cinemas will continue its cutting-edge presence with exclusive partners like IMAX and THX to deliver only the best to our audiences, so we're honored to be associated with XPAND to develop our screens in digital 3D, which we've determined is the correct approach in providing high quality solutions," says Fatos Kiziltas, COO of Eurasia Cinemas. "We want to reinforce our leadership position in the region from Turkey to Russia with our selected partners and we're very pleased to start adding XPAND 3D auditoriums commencing with two of our cinemas in Moscow and St. Petersburg, believing this will drive incremental economic returns at these locations. We look forward to offering moviegoers in our cinemas across Turkey, Russia and all other countries the excellence of XPAND's 3D digital experience and are very excited about the beginning of a long-term cooperation with XPAND."

Eurasia Cinemas B.V. and XPAND will present the most optimal 3D experience to their audiences, supported by a host of newly produced Hollywood and independent studios content, becoming the latest trend in 3D movie-going entertainment. Further enhancing the XPAND experience, the company will introduce this Fall/Winter, their newly designed glasses that are both sleek and contemporary and will house additional technology devices that will provide every exhibitor a long-life and cost-effective 3D product.

Lightspeed Design Debuts DepthQ® HD 3D Projector at Siggraph 2008
3D-News Posted: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 (5:13 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Lightspeed Design, Inc., a worldwide leader in stereo 3D technology and services, and InFocus® Corporation, the industry pioneer in digital projection, announced the world's first portable XGA and WXGA stereoscopic 3D projectors that deliver amazing HD stereoscopic 3D at a truly unprecedented level of price/performance.

DepthQ® HD 3D projectors offer rock-solid, 120Hz stereo 3D at 1280x720 or 1024x768 resolution. These bright, professional-level 3D projectors can easily display 12 ft (3.7m) diagonal 3D high-definition images using the latest Texas Instruments DLP® and BrilliantColor™ technologies for stunning colors and a 2000:1 contrast ratio.

Building on the "first to market" success of the original standard-definition DepthQ 3D projector introduced in 2005, Lightspeed again worked with industry innovator InFocus Corporation to realize our vision of HD resolution in a portable 3D format. The new DepthQ HD 3D projectors incorporate Lightspeed's patent-pending technologies with InFocus' proven reliability, providing our most discerning clientele with high resolution stereo 3D at an affordable price.

Steve Stark, InFocus Vice President of Engineering said, "Coordinating the engineering teams from InFocus, Lightspeed and Texas Instruments was exciting. This effort brought together talented engineers from three industry innovators who really came together to make this new level of 3D projector possible."

Fortune 500 companies, governments, major universities from Beijing to Munich, Hollywood's top filmmakers, and R&D labs across the globe have all embraced DepthQ's unique combination of premium 3D visualization and affordable price.

"Our clients represent a wide variety of industries, all of whom place a huge importance on stereo 3D visualization. Without exception they've been amazed at the value the DepthQ 3D projector has offered for the price. The new HD 3D projector raises the bar even higher," said Chris Ward, Lightspeed's President.

  • Affordable - Less than $6,000 - A fraction of the cost of other single-lens 3D projectors
  • Quality - Flicker-free, 120 Hz HD 3D with DLP BrilliantColor technology
  • Portable - At 6.9 pounds it fits under your arm and takes less than 5 minutes to set up
  • Versatile - Work live in 3D-enabled applications; quality control 3D film or video game development; bring 3D movies and games into your home
It is expected that shipping will begin mid-September. Lightspeed Design is the exclusive worldwide distributor of DepthQ HD 3D projectors, with over 200 qualified 3D resellers.

Enter the 3D Experience with iZ3D at NVISION 08
3D-News Posted: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 (5:09 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


iZ3D, LLC, designer, developer, and marketer of advanced 3D visualization systems, announced that it will be offering a hands -on test drive of it's 22-inch widescreen 3D monitors for gamers and graphics professionals alike in Booth #510 during NVISION 08. The show is located at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, CA on August 25-27, 2008.

"iZ3D will have several 3D stations available during the show so attendees can experience the compelling qualities of 3D game play firsthand. Due to our industry-leading 170-degree3D viewing angle, even attendees that are not directly in front of the computer can fully enjoy the 3D experience through our polarized 3D glasses," remarked Thomas Striegler, CEO of iZ3D, LLC.

A 10 % discount will be offered on the popular iZ3D 22-inch widescreen 3D monitors for NVISION attendees who obtain their discount code at the booth to order online.

The company invests significant resources into the development of new hardware and software for a variety of stereoscopic 3D applications. A 26-inch widescreen 3D monitor prototype will be showcased in the iZ3D booth during NVISION 08.

iZ3D monitors feature significant advantages over other 2D and 3D display systems. Graphic artists have embraced the monitor as an essential tool for 3D design. It is difficult for artists to create images in 3D while viewing the design in 2D. The company developed this unique technology to create an adjustable 3D display environment without causing eyestrain, spatial disorientation, or headaches. In 3D mode, viewers can see clear, bright, sharp 3D images and videos simply by wearing any of a variety of iZ3D passive polarized glasses.

Featuring new drivers with 64-Bit compatibility, iZ3D has also included CrossFireX and Open GL Quad Buffer support. Armed with red and cyan anaglyph glasses, users can also "Test Drive" 3D effects on a 2D monitor. The S-3D drivers are compatible with popular dual output cards and are optimized to take advantage of Intel's® latest Core™ 2 Duo and Intel® Core™ 2 Quad processor technologies.

Any current PC equipped with a dual-output video card can easily power the unit. Specifications include: 1680 x 1050 resolution; up to 170-degree 3D viewing angle; 5ms response time; 700:1 contrast ratio; and 16.7-million colors.

Miele uses Barco visualization for collaboration, presentation and product design
3D-News Posted: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 (5:05 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Barco, a technology leader in Virtual Reality, has recently installed a three-sided, eight-channel 3D stereo display wall at Miele's Gütersloh headquarters. German household appliance premium manufacturer Miele wanted to have a visualization system that could fulfill roles as a collaboration center, a presentation display and an immersive virtual reality environment. Towards this end, Barco worked together with integrator Erben to develop a unique 3D stereo system with multi-windowing and tracking capabilities.

Miele is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household equipment. Founded in 1899 and still a family enterprise, Miele is represented in over 42 countries and has some 16,000 employees. Among others, it won among many others an award in 2007 as the most successful company in Germany, and as the best domestic appliance brand in the United Kingdom.

"To boost design processes and optimize collaboration, Miele knew it wanted to have the best visualization available," explains Guido Erben, general manager of integrator Erben, "We took them to an existing Barco display wall, and they were very much impressed with the system's image quality and functionalities."

To accommodate to Miele's specific needs, Barco developed a three-sided MegaCADWall solution. Containing a total of eight three-chip DLP 3D stereo projectors and the award-winning XDS-1000 display management system, the MegaCADWall is capable of rendering both 2D and 3D sources simultaneously in multiple windows. Its familiar Windows interface and easy mouse and keyboard operation allow direct access to and control of all local and networked sources.

In immersive mode, Barco's three-sided MegaCADWall can be used to convincingly simulate a kitchen environment to test the look and feel of a complete kitchen design at Miele's Design Center. Alternatively, the main screen can be used for detailed, 1:1 or enlarged product rendering while the side screens contain other vital information such as spreadsheets, diagrams and remote sources.

Excellent image quality is guaranteed through several optimizations in Barco's projectors that drive the system. These include a combination of optical and electronic edge blending, to create one seamless image, and DynaColor and linked constant light output that match color and brightness levels across the entire display. This results in a flawless image free of disturbances. For the 3D stereo part, Barco's projectors use active Infitec. Active Infitec is a cost-effective stereoscopic technology that requires no investment in expensive glasses, and is unique to Barco's three-chip DLP projectors.

"Barco's MegaCADWall caused a major paradigm shift in the way we look at design and can imagine what a future appliance will look like," states Andreas Enslin, head of the Miele Design Center, "The system has not only met but exceeded our expectations. The speed that we have gained will result in a significant increase of our accomplishments and working range. Basically, we hold true to the standard that the Miele design has to express the premium character of our products. Our good reputation is essentially determined by our design. This has always been the case, and will always remain this way."

Quantel and 3ality Digital to drive forward Stereoscopic adoption
3D-News Posted: Thursday, August 14, 2008 (14:52 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Twelve months ago Stereoscopic 3D wasn't on most people's radar, now it is one of the hottest topics in the industry, not only at the movies, but also in broadcasting.

3ality Digital and Quantel are two of the key companies driving the Stereo 3D medium forward. 3ality is a pioneer of modern stereoscopic production, with ground-breaking projects to its credit such as the critically-acclaimed digital 3D movie "U2 3D". Quantel has pioneered practical stereoscopic post production through its award-winning Pablo and iQ systems. Now the two companies have signed a strategic partnership to drive forward stereoscopic production and post production throughout the industry.

Sandy Climan, President and CEO of 3ality Digital, LLC states, "We are thrilled to partner with Quantel, a leader in pioneering technology. In addition to collaborating with Quantel on perfecting production and post-production solutions for 3D filmmaking, this alliance will provide technology which will hasten the introduction of full digital 3D television broadcast to the home."

Steve Schklair, founder and CEO of 3ality Digital Systems states, "3ality has developed technologies that enable the creation of amazing realistic and completely comfortable images through tools that simplify the process and are production ready. We have long relied on Quantel systems for Post and they are one of the most respected names in the business. By combining the power of the technologies from both companies, we have created something that is greater than the sum of the parts: a dependable, comprehensive toolset and a predictable pipeline that makes sense to both filmmakers and broadcasters."

Quantel strategic marketing manager Mark Horton explained Quantel's thinking behind the partnership: "3ality has world-class expertise and technology in Stereo. There is a phenomenal interest in Stereo right now and the market is starting to look for practical answers to move it from a niche application to a mainstream business. This is especially true in Broadcasting. By joining forces, we can help deliver practical stereo workflows across a range of Film, Post and Broadcast requirements. Stereo is a great opportunity for our industry, so it's important that as an industry we get the adoption phase right. 3ality and Quantel are working together to bring practical solutions to market that will deliver high quality results on time and on budget."

More details of the partnership will be announced in September at IBC in Amsterdam.

TDVision Systems Empowers 3D IPTV and Virtual Worlds Collide at SIGGRAPH 2008
3D-News Posted: Thursday, August 14, 2008 (14:50 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


TDVision Systems, Inc., the leader in design and development of 3D digital infrastructures and visualization systems, announced the unveiling of the new version of AlterSpace 3.0 at SIGGRAPH 2008 in Los Angeles, CA. This true 3D virtual world enabled with TDVision's DejaView 3D video playback is the world's only web 3.0 virtual world that combines social networking, stereoscopic gaming and 3D movies in a software package that is fully compatible with TDVision's high resolution head mounted display, the TDVisor or any other existing 3D display.

"Imagine watching a 3D movie. Now imagine watching it at home on our immersive eyewear that makes you feel like part of the action, that's unforgettable," said Ethan Schur, Director of Marketing for TDVision Systems, Inc. "You get a message from your buddy so you pause your 3D movie, step out of the screen, and find yourself in a true stereoscopic virtual environment of your own creation, complete with avatars, chat functionality, mini games, and the ability to upload and purchase amazing 3D content," he continued.

Schur spoke on Tuesday, August 12th at the SIGGRAPH conference on the future of digital stereoscopic 3D use with the emphasis on bringing true 3D to the home and the mass adoption of 3D technology. The SIGGRAPH conference estimates to bring 30,000 computer graphics and interactive technology professionals for the industry's most respected technical and creative programs focusing on research, science, art, animation, gaming, interactivity, education, and the web.

"Stereoscopic 3D video and Virtual Reality environments now coexist at home in one single application running on off the shelf computers and with a simple download at http://www.alterspace.us . 3D power has been unleashed to the public and possibilities are now infinite, there's no limit to imagination," said Jack Yamamoto of the Japan based 3D Consortium.

Since 2004 TDVision Systems has developed breakthrough stereoscopic 3D technologies to take high quality digital 3D to the home user, military applications and medical training applications. Named as one of the most compelling technologies of the year by the Chicago Tribune and CNET, TDVision is committed to bringing their 3D technology into every home and propel a media revolution.

Autodesk Launches Toxik 2009 Visual Effects Software
3D-News Posted: Thursday, August 14, 2008 (14:46 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Autodesk, Inc. announced Autodesk Toxik 2009 procedural compositing software. Toxik 2009 offers high-performance compositing and visual effects capabilities, particularly for large-format digital film and television projects. When combined with the new Autodesk Maya 2009 modeling software, the two products provide an accelerated and iterative 3D-to-2D workflow. Both products are being showcased at SIGGRAPH 2008 in Los Angeles, California, August 12-14 at Autodesk booth #501.

"A growing number of post-production facilities are embracing Autodesk Toxik as a companion to Autodesk Maya," said Stig Gruman, Digital Entertainment Group vice president, Autodesk Media & Entertainment. "As the entertainment industry grapples with the challenges of stereoscopic production, Toxik 2009 bridges 3D and 2D workflows, facilitating the production of stereoscopic films and virtual set extensions."

Fernando Zorilla, visual effects executive producer at Bling Imaging, said, "We're already working with Autodesk Maya and Autodesk Flame, so Toxik was a natural choice for our pipeline. It gives us the power of a node-based compositor - necessary for professional, high-end post-production work, along with a look and feel that's completely comfortable." Hollywood-based Bling Imaging creates photo-realistic visual effects, motion graphics and animation for broadcast and motion pictures.

Joerg Bruemmer, head of compositing at PICTORION das werk, noted, "The Toxik software's tight integration with Maya and intuitive color correction tools have improved the way I composite. Toxik lets me focus on finishing shots faster, as I no longer have to worry about data management." PICTORION das werk in Germany offers digital post-production services for film, TV, advertising and music video projects.

Digital Ordnance announces live stereo 3D presentation for SIGGRAPH
3D-News Posted: Thursday, August 14, 2008 (14:42 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Digital Ordnance has confirmed that its SIGGRAPH plans include a live booth stereo 3D presentation. Exhibits run August 12th–14th, at the L.A. Convention Center.

Daryll Strauss Digital Ordnance Founder and CEO comments, "We will present live stereoscopic 3D on our booth at SIGGRAPH using a ReadyStor on set capture and playback system working in uncompressed HD and 2K. We'll also be showing the Frame Thrower 3D the latest of our Frame Thrower line of network review and approval systems. These two innovative solutions keep us at the forefront of the stereo 3D market space and on target to be one of the premier suppliers of stereo 3D solutions for Production and Post applications."

Frame Thrower has seen expansive growth over the past year; having been adopted by LAIKA for its 2007 facility upgrade it also became even more integral to Visual Effects and Restoration projects at Technicolor DCS and was instrumental in the 25th Anniversary restoration of the 1980's cult classic Blade Runner. More recently Frame Thrower's speedy network approach to dailies eased the review and approval process to facilitate on time delivery of Disney/Walden's Prince Caspian.

Vuzix™ Announces World's First Interactive 3D Music Visualizer
3D-News Posted: Thursday, August 14, 2008 (14:19 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Vuzix Corporation debuts the Vuzix 3D Visualizer to the growing list of VR920 compatible applications. The Vuzix 3D Visualizer synchronizes user selected audio tracks with any of the 26 spectacular 3D scenes included with the Visualizer. Using an iWear® VR920 video display, the user can view stunning 3D stereoscopic scenes and shift viewpoints with natural head movements. For the first time, music enthusiasts can interact with their favorite music.

The Vuzix 3D Visualizer is 32-bit Windows XP and Vista compatible and supports the following audio formats:

  • Playlist - .m3u, .pls
  • MPEG Audio - .mp3 .mp2 .mp1
  • OGG Files - .ogg
  • Music Modules - .mo3, .it, .xm, .s3m, .mod, .mtm, . umx
  • Sound - .wav
  • CD Audio - .cda
Additionally, users can create their own Scene Groups and view them playing within a window or in full screen mode for a 3D video experience that is a generation beyond traditional 2D music visualizer imagery.

"There is no way to adequately describe the 3D stereoscopic effect without seeing it in person through a Vuzix VR920. The 3D imagery is so real you feel like reaching out to touch it." said Paul Travers, President of Vuzix Corporation. "The iWear® VR920 has been warmly embraced by the gaming and virtually reality community and through mainstream consumer software applications such as this we are thrilled to demonstrate its versatility." added Travers.

The Vuzix 3D Visualizer software is shipping in new iWear® VR920 orders and is available as a free download from http://www.vuzix.com for all existing iWear® VR920 customers.

Cinema City International Goes Digital and 3D
3D-News Posted: Thursday, August 14, 2008 (13:57 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Cinema City International are equipping their theatres with D-Cinema technology suitable for 3D projection. The major multiplex operator has ordered 50 Kinoton DCP 30 Digital Cinema Projectors with integrated Dolby 3D system, several of which have already been installed in Israel, Poland and Hungary. Further installations are scheduled for the Cinema City multiplexes in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania and Israel.

Cinema City International’s decision to offer their audience the digital 3D cinema experience might have a signal effect on the cinema industry, as the Cinema City Group is the largest multiplex theatre operator in Central and Eastern Europe, and in Israel. As of July 2008, Cinema City operates 62 multiplexes with 563 screens and 113 000 seats.

Kinoton has already installed 15 of the 50 D-Cinema projectors ordered, the others are to follow in fast succession. Now the first digital shows in 2D and 3D are running at multiplexes in Israel and Hungary, and the audience is thrilled by the brilliant pictures and the novel 3D experience in D-Cinema quality: At the Yes Planet theatre in Ramat-Gan (Israel), 3 of the 15 auditoriums now are suitable for stereoscopic digital projection. The Yes Planet in Haifa, with 23 screens the biggest multiplex in Israel, was equipped with 4 D-Cinema projectors. Both multiplexes have exhibited the digital version of the Disney/Pixar production Wall-E already, and successfully started 3D projection with Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D by the end of July.

The 23-screen megaplex Cinema City Arena in Budapest (Hungary) is the largest cinema in Central Europe, with 23 screens and seating for 3,800 moviegoers. Now it offers 4 digital screens which have shortly premiered with Wall-E. The digital installations at the Cinema City Arkadia in Warsaw (Poland) are currently in progress; soon 3 of its 15 auditoriums will offer 3D D-Cinema.

For Moshe "Mooky" Greidinger, CEO of Cinema City International, the decision on the supplier of the D-Cinema technology was an easy one: "We have been working with Kinoton for many years already and together we have reached over 500 screens in 6 territories. Our experience all these years showed us that first, we can be sure that when buying "a Kinoton" we get a product that we can trust and use for many years and 2nd, that behind the products there is a professional team that will always be there if we need them. When operating this amount of screens, this is very important. For us it was also very important that Kinoton has been a leading company in the cinema market for many years. "Going Digital" is a long process and we wanted to do that with the team that we know and trust."

Kinoton is delighted about this sign of confidence. "We are feeling honored that Cinema City International, one of our most important long-term customers, has not only decided in favor of our D-Cinema projectors, but also relies on our expertise in digital technology and projection. This is the proof that we have successfully expanded our competence in cinema technology to the digital sector without making any compromises regarding our high quality standards," says Christoph Dobler, managing director of Kinoton GmbH.

iZ3D Sponsors Project Lore - A New Online World of Warcraft Show
3D-News Posted: Monday, August 4, 2008 (20:01 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


iZ3D, LLC, designer, developer, and marketer of advanced 3D visualization systems, announced that it will be a sponsor of Project Lore. Poised to be a popular web destination for gaming enthusiasts, Project Lore offers premium-quality multimedia World of Warcraft game guides, a daily video show and blog. As a part of the daily video show, viewers can look forward to seeing gaming and tech guru Alex Albrecht in action while he and four buddies share tips and information for the millions who have developed a cult-like obsession with the game World of Warcraft. Project Lore is partnered with ZAM Network for distribution across Thottbot, Wowhead, and Allakhazam. For more information, see http://www.projectlore.com

"We are happy to have iZ3D and its popular 3D monitors as a sponsor," said Kory Klem, Project Lore's General Manager "With the use of iZ3D monitor our viewers have the extra perk in exploring World of Warcraft in stereoscopic 3D with us."

"iZ3D is a pioneer in 3D gaming. We are pleased to be a sponsor of Project Lore, a pioneer in online game support. This innovative online show and blog is a coming trend for the video game community. Our 3D monitors add an extra dimension of immersion into the World of Warcraft game and provide users the opportunity to experience the rich 3D graphics that this popular off the shelf game has to offer," remarked Thomas Striegler, CEO of iZ3D, LLC.

iZ3D monitors feature significant competitive and technical advantages over other 3D display systems. Gamers that want to immerse themselves into spectacular game graphics will appreciate playing in stereoscopic 3D. Graphic artists have embraced the iZ3D monitor as an essential tool for 3D design. It is difficult to create images in 3D while viewing the design on a flat 2D screen. 3D movie buffs can now bring the thrill of watching a 3D movie home.

The company developed this unique technology to create an adjustable 3D environment without causing eyestrain, spatial disorientation, or headaches. In 3D mode, viewers can see bright, sharp 3D images and video simply by wearing any iZ3D passive polarized glasses. Existing PC's equipped with a dual-output video card easily powers the unit. Specifications include: 1680 x 1050 resolution; up to 170-degree 3D viewing angle; 5ms response time; 700:1 contrast ratio; and 16.7-million colors.

Alioscopy to Showcase Its Award-Winning 3DHD-40 Autostereoscopic Display with Industry-Leading Vendors at SIGGRAPH
3D-News Posted: Monday, August 4, 2008 (17:39 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Alioscopy(R) USA, a leader in 3D display technologies, announced it will introduce its new, state-of-the-art, 3DHD-40 autostereoscopic (no glasses required) 3D LCD display technology at SIGGRAPH 2008 - the leading international conference and exhibition on computer graphics and interactive techniques, taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center, August 11 to 14, 2008.

The 3DHD-40, developed and manufactured by Alioscopy, features a highly specialized Lenticular lens that boasts unmatched quality, clarity and depth. The system also supports real-time capabilities that enable viewers to interact with content for a truly immersive experience. Artists can easily create 3D content with leading 3D software applications such as Autodesk(R) 3ds Max(R), Autodesk(R) Maya(R), Softimage(R) XSI(R), MAXON CINEMA 4D and NewTek Lightwave 3D(R) and render it out for display on the 3DHD-40. Alioscopy's 3D display technology was recently honored at InfoComm 2008 with Insight Media's "Best Buzz" award - a top honor bestowed each year to those products or technologies that were new and exciting and generated the most "buzz" with analysts, press and conference attendees.

IBC to Deliver the first Transatlantic High Definition Stereoscopic 3D broadcast using technology enabled by 3Ality Digital
3D-News Posted: Monday, August 4, 2008 (17:37 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


On Sunday 14th September more than 1000 delegates will witness a historic interview conducted in Los Angeles with DreamWorks Animation SKG CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. Elizabeth Daley, Professor and Dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts will interview him. Thanks to 3Ality Digital, a company based in LA, the interview will be photographed on multi-camera Stereoscopic equipment and packaged for delivery by satellite service company Arqiva to Amsterdam, Holland.

3D movies have been taking the cinema world by storm and multiplying box office revenues in 3D equipped theatres but live transmissions have been more challenging. "Stereo 3D is still in it's infancy in many ways," says 3Ality's CEO Steven Schklair, "We have been making impressive 3D movies but live transmissions bring their own unique challenges. Like every live show there's less time to make corrections and no room for error. One of the big challenges has also been how to keep the parallel signals in perfect synchronisation. That's a special challenge over satellite links where atmospheric conditions can be problematic. To do this, we have developed a solution where we multiplex the 3D signals into a single 2D signal for transmission. At the receiving end we then un-wrap the 2D signal back into a 3D picture. We have done this before but not over such a long link and Internationally. We have also developed the twin camera systems that will be capturing the images. In this case we will be using two camera rigs to show that 3D pictures can be cut and mixed live."

Phil White, IBC's Director of Technology, said, "This is a natural progression from last year's Live HD interview with Robert Zemeckis. We are working with a group of technology partners who are at the cutting edge of 3D imaging and transmission."

Communication specialists Arqiva were called on to carry the precious signals across the Atlantic. George Eyles, head of Digital Media Networks for Arqiva Satellite Media Solutions said, "Arqiva is delighted to have been asked to provide the communications technology and expertise behind this important and high-profile 3D event. Our interest and experience in the Digital Cinema market means we are very happy to use our global assets to showcase the exciting opportunities that new technology is bringing to live event organisers and exhibitors."

Inside the Conference's RAI Auditorium the 3Ality decoder will pass the left and right eye signals to two more key technology providers: projection company Christie and 3D presentation specialists RealD. Christie's Dale Miller, Vice President of Europe, Middle East and Africa said, "As the manufacturer of the world's most widely-used Digital Cinema projectors, the CP2000 series, Christie has always recognized the importance of the IBC D-Cinema program and supported the event and screenings each year. The D-Cinema sessions look to enliven debate amongst those shaping our industry and the first ever-live transatlantic broadcast in stereo 3D is sure to do just that. We're delighted to be working with 3Ality Digital, Arqiva, Real D and the team at DreamWorks to help create another first for IBC."

RealD is the world's leading digital 3D experience provider and dedicated to delivering the highest standard in cinema and business environments. RealD currently has 1,500 3D systems installed worldwide, with another 4,000 committed in 27 countries.

Viewers will be asked to put on a pair of Real D's specially polarised over-glasses to view the stereoscopic image. "We manage the separate images with a special adapter that fits on the projector which then transmits the left and right eye images through the glasses to the viewer, said Real D's President Joshua Greer. "The vast majority of 3D equipped theatres around the world are using Real D because it's not only simple to install but easy to operate with our very low cost glasses that users can keep. It avoids a lot of staff intensive handling and the picture quality is truly awesome."

"This will be a challenging time for us," says White, "but setting the pace is what we do each year at IBC. The technology we are using is exciting enough but to have Jeffrey Katzenberg addressing our delegates in conversation with our good friend Elizabeth Daley is a real treat and unique privilege. This really is the genesis of a new age in immersive cinema and broadcasting. It will be a very special night for everyone!"

22" Widescreen 3D monitor
3D-News Posted: Friday, August 1, 2008 (5:28 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Stereoscopic 3D (S-3D) is easily one of the most talked about technologies in the gaming market and Meant to be Seen, CGArena, and iZ3D have teamed up to launch a special S-3D CG art contest at SIGGRAPH with the help of some exciting prizes put forward by leading industry members.

Stereoscopic 3D (S-3D) refers to the ability to display true volumetric 3D content through 2D media. Examples include explosions that pop out of the screen, and a sense of depth that makes players think they can reach inside the game. S-3D technology is quickly becoming the equipment of choice for avid gamers and has already shown as much as 3:1 revenue benefits over 2D theaters in the Hollywood cinema space with films like Beowulf 3D, Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D and U2 3D.

"We wanted a fun way to show how easy it is to turn ordinary CG art into something visually exciting through stereoscopic 3D technology. Working with Meant to be Seen and CGArena to make this happen at SIGGRAPH made perfect sense for us," said David Chechelashvili, VP of Marketing for iZ3D LLC, and makers of the leading stereoscopic 3D display and software driver solution.

Contestants are asked to submit stereoscopic 3D images of their CG artwork to a special page on www.CGArena.com. The left and right images must be in a minimum 1680X1050 resolution (16:10 aspect ratio) and in full color. To make this easier for artists, Meant to be Seen (mtbs3D.com) has written quick guides to help CG artists convert and/or capture their images in stereoscopic 3D.

Meant to be Seen is the foremost authority group on consumer stereoscopic 3D technology. It has quickly become the largest S-3D community in existence by working jointly with its members and partners to grow the stereoscopic 3D gaming industry through advocacy and business relationships. Their site features industry interviews, S-3D game reviews, active forums, game certification and a member driven massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) called MTBS Nations at War.

"It's a misnomer to think that stereoscopic 3D photography is difficult. We have two guides: one very basic, and the second more advanced depending on the artists' preference and goals. Even if submitted images don't come out quite right, we have the means to adjust and correct them in most cases," explained Neil Schneider, President & CEO of Meant to be Seen.

Similarly, CGArena.com is a leading graphics and animation portal where CG professionals and enthusiasts can read news and tutorials, download magazines, submit artistic work, find jobs and participate in contests like this. Members also enjoy exchanging ideas about animation, film, editing and more.

"We like a challenge and are really impressed by what stereoscopic 3D does for gaming and for the CG artistic form. We are excited to see what our members and contest participants come up with," said Ashish Rastogi, CEO of CGArena.com.

CGArena, iZ3D, and MTBS Launch S-3D CG Art Contest for SIGGRAPH 2008
3D-News Posted: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 (10:02 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Stereoscopic 3D (S-3D) is easily one of the most talked about technologies in the gaming market, and Meant to be Seen, CGArena, and iZ3D have teamed up to launch a special S-3D CG art contest at SIGGRAPH with the help of some exciting prizes put forward by leading industry members.

Stereoscopic 3D (S-3D) refers to the ability to display true volumetric 3D content through 2D media. Examples include explosions that pop out of the screen, and a sense of depth that makes players think they can reach inside the game. S-3D technology is quickly becoming the equipment of choice for avid gamers and has already shown as much as 3:1 revenue benefits over 2D theaters in the Hollywood cinema space with films like Beowulf 3D, Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D, and U23D.

"We wanted a fun way to show how easy it is to turn ordinary CG art into something visually exciting through stereoscopic 3D technology. Working with Meant to be Seen and CGArena to make this happen at SIGGRAPH made perfect sense for us," said David Chechelashvili, VP of Marketing for iZ3D LLC and makers of the leading stereoscopic 3D display and software driver solution.

Contestants are asked to submit stereoscopic 3D images of their CG artwork to a special page on www.CGArena.com. The left and right images must be in a minimum 1680X1050 resolution (16:10 aspect ratio) and in full color. To make this easier for artists, Meant to be Seen (mtbs3D.com) has written quick guides to help CG artists convert and/or capture their images in stereoscopic 3D.

Meant to be Seen is the foremost authority group on consumer stereoscopic 3D technology. It has quickly become the largest S-3D community in existence by working jointly with its members and partners to grow the stereoscopic 3D gaming industry through advocacy and business relationships. Their site features industry interviews, S-3D game reviews, active forums, game certification and a member driven massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) called MTBS Nations at War.

"It's a misnomer to think that stereoscopic 3D photography is difficult. We have two guides: one very basic, and the second more advanced depending on the artists' preference and goals. Even if submitted images don't come out quite right, we have the means to adjust and correct them in most cases," explained Neil Schneider, President & CEO of Meant to be Seen.

Similarly, www.CGArena.com is a leading graphics and animation portal where CG professionals and enthusiasts can read news and tutorials, download magazines, submit artistic work, find jobs and participate in contests like this. Members also enjoy exchanging ideas about animation, film, editing and more.

"We like a challenge and are really impressed by what stereoscopic 3D does for gaming and for the CG artistic form. We are excited to see what our members and contest participants come up with," said Ashish Rastogi, CEO of www.CGArena.com.

Sensio Signs Licensing Agreement With International Datacasting Corporation And Announces First Sale of Its Sensio 3D Cinema Decoding Technology
3D-News Posted: Sunday, July 27, 2008 (16:37 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


SENSIO Technologies Inc., inventor of the SENSIO®3D technology, announced the signing of a Licensing Agreement with International Datacasting Corporation ("IDC") for the integration of the SENSIO®3D cinema decoding technology into products for the digital cinema market. This agreement comes with the first sale of licenses for an initial deployment of 3D systems for 50 movie theatres to enable the broadcasting of live stereoscopic (3D) events.

"We are extremely pleased of this agreement with IDC and this initial order. It is a major milestone in our Live 3D development efforts and it secures our position as the industry leader in 3D content distribution," explains Nicholas Routhier, President and CEO of SENSIO. "IDC is a recognized world leader in the broadband delivery networks needed for this application and they have the manufacturing and international distribution we need to be successful. SENSIO has now reached a key phase in its development strategy, which not only allows us to generate more licensing revenues from our technology, but also improves our content offer for the consumer market."

"We are also delighted with this agreement" added Ron Clifton, President and CEO of IDC. "It builds on the excellent working relationship we have developed with SENSIO over the past year of working together strategically and significantly expands our product portfolio and addressable market potential. The SENSIO®3D technology is becoming the de facto standard in the digital cinema industry for the distribution and display of alternative content which is quickly becoming recognized as a new revenue source and business opportunity in the industry."

SENSIO and IDC have previously announced the launch of CineLive, an exclusive product developed specifically for market leader Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. in the United States. CineLive uses the SENSIO®3D cinema decoding technology integrated with IDC's SuperFlex DVB-S2 broadband satellite technology to enable the live broadcast of alternative 2D and 3D content, such as concerts and sporting events in addition to the service that AccessIT provides of delivering industry standard digital movie files to theatres. In a press release published on June 2, 2008, AccessIT announced the initial deployment of the CineLive solution to 50 theatres across the United States with plans to continue deploying in a total of 150 theaters by the end of 2008. "With this first implementation, we have secured our lead over the competition and increased our visibility, as we have agreement that the SENSIO brand will be shown during every presentation," added Mr. Routhier.

The Agreement provides exclusive rights to IDC for the worldwide digital cinema market, subject to meeting certain conditions agreed to between the two companies. Namely, SENSIO will get a fixed royalty per theater, as an intellectual property license, for the integration of its SENSIO®3D cinema decoding technology. The Agreement also allows IDC to use the SENSIO®3D technology in its own products and to sublicense the technology to qualified third party manufacturers. The SENSIO®3D technology has already been launched internationally by IDC as part of their SuperFlex Pro Cinema product line and is currently undergoing trials in Europe and Asia.

Ethan Schur of TDVision Systems, Inc. to Speak at the NAPTE LATV Festival On the Future of 3D
3D-News Posted: Sunday, July 27, 2008 (11:45 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


TDVision Systems, Inc., the leader in design and development of 3D digital infrastructures and visualization systems, announced that Ethan Schur, Director of Marketing for TDVision will be speaking at the NAPTE LATV Festival on Wednesday, July 30th. Expert on the state of the stereoscopic industry, Schur will be showcasing the future of digital stereoscopic 3D use in the home at this prestigious event which brings together content creators, agents, and studio, network, and new media executives together to celebrate the art and commerce of video content.
"NAPTE continues to remain on the cutting edge of technology by having TDVision Systems, the leader in digital home 3D speak at the LATV festival," said Rick Feldman, President and CEO of NAPTE.

"I am honored to be speaking at NAPTE this year," said Ethan Schur, Director of Marketing for TDVision Systems, Inc. "Stereoscopic 3D video and gaming is the holy grail of home entertainment and TDVision Systems is bringing it in full force with HD-3D offerings ranging from fully backwards compatible Blu-ray to broadcast," he continued.
Schur and TDVision focus on enabling mass adoption of 3D technology in the home. Schur will discuss how with compatible HD-3D the user can now decide how to watch broadcasts in 2D, 3D or on multiple 3D display devices. With 3D movies making money 3 to 1 in the box office he believes it is now time to take this immersive experience to the living room. Schur aggressively promotes a vision of digital S-3D convergence, where the applications of immersive video games, alternate reality, social networking, Web 3.0 and cinematic experiences merge in a compelling environment.

"The great immersive experience that digital 3D brings to the cinema can now be shared in your home theater. Stereoscope studios and TDVision Systems are both dedicated to the mass adoption of high quality 3D in the living room and on the go," said Jeff Pierce, CEO of Stereoscope, Hollywood's premiere 3D studio.

Since 2004 TDVision Systems has developed breakthrough stereoscopic 3D technologies to take high quality digital 3D to the home user, military applications and medical training applications. Named as one of the most compelling technologies of the year by the Chicago Tribune and CNET, TDVision is committed to bringing their 3D technology into every home and propel a media revolution.

SMPTE to Establish 3D Home Entertainment Task Force
3D-News Posted: Sunday, July 27, 2008 (11:28 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) is establishing a task force to define the parameters of a stereoscopic 3D mastering standard for content viewed in the home. Called 3D Home Display Formats Task Force, the project promises to propel the 3D home entertainment industry forward by setting the stage for a standard that will enable 3D feature films and other programming to be played on all fixed devices in the home, no matter the delivery channel. The inaugural meeting of the Task Force is open to entertainment technology professionals interested in participating in the effort, subject to available space (SMPTE membership not required). It takes place on August 19, 2008 and will be hosted by the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) at the University of Southern California, near downtown Los Angeles.

"Digital technologies have not only paved the way for high quality 3D in the theaters, they have also opened the door to 3D in the home," explained SMPTE Engineering Vice President Wendy Aylsworth. "In order to take advantage of this new opportunity, we need to guarantee consumers that they will be able to view the 3D content they purchase and provide them with 3D home solutions for all pocketbooks."

The 3D Home Display Formats Task Force will explore the standards that need to be set for 3D content distributed via broadcast, cable, satellite, packaged media and the Internet and played-out on televisions, computer screens and other tethered displays. After six months, the committee will produce a report that defines the issues and challenges, minimum standards, evaluation criteria and more, which will serve as a working document for SMPTE 3D standards efforts to follow.

The first 3D Home Display Formats Task Force gathering will feature demonstrations of 3D technologies. All technology professionals in content creation and distribution, consumer electronics and entertainment tools and services who are considering joining the group are welcome to attend. Non-members will be asked to pay a small fee for the meeting, and ongoing participation in the work requires membership in the SMPTE Standards Community. Register at http://www.smpte.org

Introduction to Photoshop for Stereographers
3D-News Posted: Sunday, July 27, 2008 (11:21 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Wednesdays July 23rd, 30rd and August 6th, 13th (7:00-9:30pm) at the 3D Center, Portland, OR, USA.

Most of the other classes offered by the 3D Center assume a basic working knowledge of Photoshop. If you have little or no prior experience using Photoshop but want to enter the exciting world of digital stereography, this is the class for you.

Not only will you learn techniques used in stereographic image creation, but you will also learn the fundamentals of the premier image manipulation software which can be used in all aspects of your creative endeavors.

You must either own or have access to Photoshop CS1 or higher, and there will be times available outside of the scheduled class sessions when students can come to the 3D Center and use its equipment and software.

For specific questions about your interest in this class, please contact the instructor Shab Levy directly by e-mail at shablevy@comcast.net

$50 General / $40 Friend of Center (level 2 or higher)

Register on-line at http://www.3dcenter.us/classes.html

3D Biz-Ex Releases Preliminary Agenda
3D-News Posted: Sunday, July 27, 2008 (11:13 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster


Stereoscopic 3D is a hot topic of debate in theatrical and consumer electronics circles these days. If you want to learn more about the technical and business trends in 3D, see lots of 3D demonstrations, network with all the leading players, learn from tutorial short courses and participate in special 3D evening events, then plan to attend the upcoming 3D Biz-Ex event scheduled for September 29 - October 1, at the Sheraton Universal Hotel, in Los Angeles, California, USA.

3D Biz-Ex is positioned as the largest and most important 3D event in North America, encompassing all aspects of 3D content creation, distribution and display for consumer as well as professional applications. This year's event is expected to draw over 300 people with up to 40 exhibitors running over three days. A fourth day will be devoted to the quarterly meeting for members of the 3D @ Home Consortium - so it's nearly a full week of focused 3D activities.The event opens on Monday with two tracks of short courses including a series on the Workflow Tools for creating 3D content. The other series will focus on the basics of 3D Display Technology and include both existing products and products in development, as well as human factors considerations when utilizing 3D technology.

Beginning on Tuesday, September 30, over 25 key industry players will deliver presentations on the recent developments in the businesses surrounding 3D. 3D Displays product development presentations will cover products currently in the marketplace and how they are being received, as well as products that are not yet on the market and how they may change the landscape of the 3D business. Also on the first day, Content Creation will be addressed by industry experts to provide a sense of the maturity of the process, the economics of 3D content creation and the opportunities that 3D will create. Wednesday kicks off with an overview of the financial markets for 3D business enterprises, followed by another highly popular session on File Formats and Standards, both critical factors for rapid expansion of 3D. The afternoon will see presentations from individuals working in the fields of 3D Visualization, Gaming and Human Factors, and conclude with a roundtable session on other 3D activities that are convening around the world.

Special events with 3D immersion opportunities and industry networking are offered to round out the event and provide additional netwo