http://www.stereoscopy.com/news Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:52:10 GMT The latest news from Stereoscopy.com - The World of 3D-Imaging! - 3D News en-us Copyright Stereoscopy.com - The World of 3D-Imaging! Coranto using the Feed Builder Addon http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/3drss.jpghttp://www.stereoscopy.com/news14431 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:52:06 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyZuuZAkylcXWbaSv http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyZuuZAkylcXWbaSv
"We were really impressed with the knowledge and creativity of David's team at I.E. Effects," said Cecil Magpuri, President of Falcon's Treehouse. "Their experience with previous stereo 3D and venue projects was a great asset, and their understanding of the overall process is invaluable. They are a great team to work with!"

"Traveling in the Storm" begins with a dramatic beach landing while helicopters roar overhead unloading equipment. After surviving a near miss with one of the helicopters, and the falling mast of a wrecked ship, participants seek shelter in a seaside cave. The tide rises, forcing the adventurers through a vent in the roof. There they are pounded by hail and, just as they seem to have found shelter in an old fort, the team is caught in a tornado and carried into the air. For a moment time stands still as they levitate in the eye of the storm before a terrifying descent back to the surf where the journey began.

"For an experience like this, stereoscopy allows us to seamlessly extend the physical scenery into a CG world with proper depth cues and action within an environment that stretches as far as the eye can see," said Dennis Michel, VFX supervisor at I.E. Effects who oversaw the pipeline for this project. "This extension of a relatively small area opens the creative content up to almost infinite possibilities. The visuals can reach out past the screen, almost touching the audience, or be pushed far back towards the horizon, presenting a vast landscape or vista. We used both techniques extensively, assuring a truly immersive experience for the riders."

Corner-pinning the content was one of the technical achievements on this project for the team at I.E. Effects. Traditionally, corner-pinning involves skewing the image, for example to enhance perspective or to correct lens distortion. In this instance the corner-pinning had to incorporate two stereo channels and move them fluidly in relation to the movements of the physical ride vehicle to ensure that the stereoscopic imagery displays correctly from every position. The digital content needed to mesh with physical scene elements, and, adding to the complexity of the task, some of the footage is displayed on curved surfaces. "Corner-pinning gives us a great deal of control and allows us to provide a seamless viewing environment for the ride, but it certainly presented challenges on this project," explained Michel. "We used Maya and Lightwave. It took some hard work, but we solved it and we're all delighted with the results."

"Falcon's Treehouse has a well-deserved reputation for developing breakthrough attractions," said David Kenneth, executive producer and founder of I.E. Effects. "When you create an attraction like this, it has to last for years to come, so you need to think that far ahead. It's not just about what looks good today. It's about building things for tomorrow."

"I.E. Effects shares an understanding of not only our process, but our culture," said Cecil Magpuri, "This is incredibly important for us. Our creative vision and our storytelling are what set our attractions apart from the competition, and to work with a group that shares this passion is tremendous!"

"The thing we found most exciting about this project was being given the freedom to develop and create concepts ourselves," added Kenneth. "Our ideas were well received which made the creative process very enjoyable. I feel the creative respect between our two teams is what enabled us to take this project from an idea to a fully realized stereoscopic reality in under four months."

I.E. Effects is a full-service digital studio based in Culver City, California. The facility's stereoscopic 3D pipeline supports clients with all aspects of stereoscopic production from on-set supervision through distribution. For more information visit http://www.ieeffects.com ]]> Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:08:50 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyyAulVFpRgxPQldA http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyyAulVFpRgxPQldA http://www.interactelsevier.com) Series. Powered by CyberAnatomy, an Iowa-based company that creates interactive learning systems for students, the innovative 3D interactive anatomy series applies advanced gaming technology to reviewing, learning and teaching anatomy. InteractElsevier has two levels of offerings - Web interactive (online) and virtual reality (stereoscopic).

Developed for medical students and researchers and recently honored with the 'Best in Class' Award (http://www.interactivemediaawards.com/winners/ certificate.asp?param=71903&cat=1) from Interactive Media Awards (IMA), the 3D interactive anatomy tools have already been purchased by several schools through institutional subscriptions, which allow students and researchers to access InteractElsevier individually and at their own pace. Because plain text and atlases cannot accurately portray how three-dimensional structures are organized and related to each other, InteractElsevier provides much additional value.

"InteractElsevier's interactive 3D anatomy gives students and faculty more time and flexibility to teach and master anatomy, which typically includes hundreds of terms and structures and interrelationships between body functions. InteractElsevier is unique in its ability to strip away overlying structures, or make them transparent, further adding to the clarity that this tool adds to the complex structures of the body," said Jonathan Teich, M.D., Elsevier Chief Medical Informatics Officer and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School. "The launch of InteractElsevier, along with many other innovative learning tools, reflects Elsevier's commitment to use the latest technologies - gaming, virtual reality, and the Web - to foster scientific and medical learning and teaching."

Visually stimulating and the first truly interactive product of its kind, InteractElsevier can provide advanced high quality guidance and training to students on various educational and training levels, and can even be used by medical professionals in need of a 'refresher.' InteractElsevier also addresses several persistent problems at medical schools and the teaching of anatomy: limited medical school time for teaching, lack of faculty and an inadequate number of cadavers. Tools available on InteractElsevier include:

• Imaging - correlated imaging to interactive 3D models
  
• Anatomy Builder - construct the body by region and by body system
  
• Virtual Dissection - remove structures to understand complex relationships
  
• Labeling - fully interactive, dynamic labels for structures
  
• Netter Plates - compare the best loved Atlas to your 3D structure
  
• Layers/Peeling - features like transparency, peel and hide enable understanding of spatial relationships

Interact Elsevier's Interactive 3D anatomy software is available in two looks: Netter texture and computer graphic realism. Netter's 3D interactive anatomy is modeled from digitized paintings of Frank H. Netter, M.D., a physician, artist and medical illustrator who created 214,000 medical illustrations in his lifetime, 900 of which comprise Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy. InteractElsevier used Netter's art to form the surface of 3D models and then augmented the software with more than 100 Netter plates, which are correlated to the 3D models.

Elsevier's 3D Interactive Anatomy includes models with computer-generated textures. Correlated within this version are more than 100 plates from the 40th edition of Grays's Anatomy, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2008.

InteractElsevier's 3D interactive anatomy tools feature an intuitive, flexible interface, correlated CTs and MRIs, a searchable terminology database, exploratory exercises, quizzes, and real-time interactivity. Students and faculty can use the tools to create a body through the assembly of bones, muscles, arteries and nerves and then approach regions such as upper or lower limbs, or systems such as skeletal, muscular or circulatory. By using interactive buttons, they can rotate the body or peel, hide, label and make structures transparent.

Teachers and students can access InteractElsevier's 3D interactive anatomy tools in several formats, including online (web interactive) and in full stereoscopic 3D (virtual reality). Clinicians can engage students and peers with stereoscopic 3D in lectures, labs or at conferences and exhibits, while faculty, students and clinicians can conduct personal, self-directed explorations on anatomy via the Web.

For more information, please visit http://www.InteractElsevier.com ]]> Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:05:38 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyyAulFFlEmVezhSK http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyyAulFFlEmVezhSK
Rapidly growing in usage, 3D technology's next natural evolution from the big screen is to digital signage applications. 3D has already proven its ability to attract huge attention and advertisers across multiple industries are beginning to utilize 3D to stimulate brand growth.

LuxuryTec's Founder and President, Brian Reid stated, "Our strategic partnership brings a new dimension to advertising. Studies show that 3-D advertising leaves a lasting, memorable impression. Our captivating Mirror Image technology coupled with auto-stereoscopic 3-D will enable advertisers to literally reach out and engage every consumer...guaranteed."

Digital Out of Home Advertising puts the message in the path of consumers as the majority of consumers are spending more time away from home and less time in front of traditional advertising mediums such as broadcast and print.

LuxuryTec's SVP and Director of Business Development, Ken Kovasala, noted, "LuxuryTec's Mirror Image Digital Network is in fact the first advertising network that offers concrete metrics to world class brands. Partnering with N4D and implementing their innovative auto-stereoscopic 3-D technology into our network is a natural fit and provides LuxuryTec the ability to offer brands a wide array of engaging content options."

N4D's patented technology scientifically displays 3D in a way that invokes an emotional attachment with the message increasing comprehension and retention of the information thus creating incremental value for brand advertisers.

CEO of N4D, Clif Parker explained, "N4D's 20 years of perception research provides LuxuryTec with a definite edge in the industry. It also ensures that their customers and viewers of the 3D advertisements will enjoy the world's most comfortable 3D experience. We see this type of advertising approach becoming very popular with companies looking to reach consumers that have become desensitized to traditional media."]]> Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:03:43 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyyAulkkFHeLeiGMa http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyyAulkkFHeLeiGMa
DSE is the world's largest international tradeshow and conference dedicated to digital signage, interactive technology, and Out-of-Home networks. In 2009, 3,000 people in attendance had the opportunity to see a record-setting 188 exhibitors. The trade show floor was 19 percent larger than 2008, with over 58,000 net square feet of exhibitions according to DigitalSingageToday.com. The Company has set up over a dozen meetings with key distributors, re-sellers and 3D hardware manufacturers that are interested in integrating 3D Eye Solutions' cutting edge 3D technology into their products. 3D Eye Solutions will be exploring both potential new suppliers, as well as distributors of the Company's 3D technology.

"We are excited to attend DSE this year. This year's convention attendees will be able to see our 3D signage in actual use at the entrance to the Las Vegas Hilton Resort and at our cocktail party we are hosting at the MGM Grand Skylofts," stated Mike Gibilisco, CEO of 3D Eye Solutions, Inc. "DSE is a great chance for 3D Eye Solutions to generate a tremendous amount of exposure, as well as network with many distributors, re-sellers and 3D hardware manufacturers."

3D Eye Solutions, Inc. will be hosting a cocktail party at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The party will be displaying the Company's 3D technology on, February 24th from 8pm-10pm.]]> Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:39:06 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyyZkZEuyazVQJePs http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyyZkZEuyazVQJePs "Observing the Human Parade" by David Lee, in the GALLERY: March 4th - May 30th, 2010

"I have now been photographing for 30 years and my main interest during that time has been the natural landscape. However, somewhere along the way I developed an interest in photographing people in a candid way ... I think of myself as an anthropological researcher when I am making these photographs. I am interested in expressions, gestures, relationships (especially familial resemblances), and clothing styles. I want to make photographs that people might look at 100 years from now and say, 'These photos make me feel like I am in the year 2009.'" - David Lee


"ISU (International Stereoscopic Union) Code 2", in the STEREO THEATRE: continuing through March 28th, 2010

The second installment of the International Stereoscopic Union’s digital compilation presents works selected by stereo clubs world-wide. Acting as both a 3D travelogue and digital art gallery, over a hundred images are presented from: Australia, Austria, Denmark, Poland, Switzerland, UK, Boise, Washington, DC, Detroit, Minneapolis, and the Cascade Stereoscopic Club in Portland.

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 $5 adult (over 15), Free all day First Thursdays. 1928 NW Lovejoy, Portland/Oregon, USA. Tel.: 1 (503) 227-6667, Web: http://www.3dcenter.us ]]> Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:33:22 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyyyFylpkhMhFrBod http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyyyFylpkhMhFrBod
The original stageplay, in which a bored angel devises to break into Hell to party with his friends, was written by Corey Music and Nick Potter and will be performed in mid-March. The performances will be recorded live in Full HD 3D by Just in Time Films LLC's new 3D imprint, tripl3DVision, for delivery through physical, digital, and mobile media channels.

Additional information can be found online at http://www.justintimefilms.com ]]> Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:08:09 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyyypkllASpoRYzRF http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyyypkllASpoRYzRF
Ross brings more than 18 years experience in operational, managerial, production, creative, strategic planning and new business development positions across the film, television, cable and new media industries, both internationally and domestically. Prior to his most recent position with 20th Century Fox, Ross served as the Assistant General Sales Manager of Theatrical Distribution for Fox Searchlight Pictures, where he helped to distribute such critically acclaimed box-office hits as Little Miss Sunshine, Juno and Slumdog Millionaire.

In 1999, Ross founded ROQ Group, a boutique management consulting firm, which he ran for more than five years before joining Fox. With ROQ Group, Ross led engagements with such diverse clients as the New York Times Digital, MP3.com and Louis Vuitton, Moët-Hennessey (LVMH), among others. Ross has also previously held business development and strategy roles with BMG Entertainment and Showtime Networks.

As XpanD's President of Content & Distribution, Ross will be responsible for generating content from third-party producers and developers that will be compatible with XpanD's industry-leading line of 3D active-shutter glasses. Ross will also work closely with technology OEMs and integrators globally to ensure that a steady supply of entertainment and alternative content is made available to a vast range of products and services using XpanD's proprietary 3D solutions.

"3D is here to stay and XpanD's global domination of the 3D active-shutter glasses market speaks to the company's superior technology and commitment to innovation," Ross said. "My goal is to help transform XpanD into a household brand name and make it synonymous with 3D, like Google has become to search or Xerox is to the photocopy. I look forward to further consolidating XpanD's leadership position across markets where 3D is being utilized today and in the future, including theatrical, broadcast, home entertainment, consumer electronics, corporate, gaming, Internet and mobile, educational and many more."

"With the skyrocketing popularity of 3D technology, XpanD is challenged with establishing and maintaining relationships with the content creation community as more and more 3D content is being developed," said Maria Costeira, CEO of XpanD. "Jonathan Ross is an immensely accomplished and talented professional who will bring a wealth of experience to our company and will benefit us greatly as we continue to work closely with content developers around the world."

For more information on XpanD, see http://www.xpandcinema.com ]]> Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:03:24 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyyypkypuLLjrHBZX http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyyypkypuLLjrHBZX
"EYE-D"s are available in red, blue, green and yellow as well as traditional black, and are compatible with all 3D projection systems, including RealD, MasterImage and Technicolor. They will be on display at ShoWest booth 1720. Eye-D eyeware is available globally through local theatre equipment dealers.]]> Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:04:31 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyyFZAuZEXEpGtYpd http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyyFZAuZEXEpGtYpd
"The SENSIO® 3D format is widely known and respected for its image quality and for its broad compatibility with existing technologies and infrastructures," said Ken Lowe, vice president of strategic marketing for Sigma Designs. "In developing our new line of 3D-video capable chips, we are incorporating many different technologies and formats, so it makes sense that SENSIO would be one of the first considerations."

SENSIO® 3D is a distribution technology that enables the broadcast and storage of stereoscopic (3D) content for home viewing, transforming the conventional home theatre experience into a rich, immersive stereoscopic experience. Delivering true 1080p HD picture quality, the SENSIO® 3D format meets the exacting demands of high-performance 3D systems including the latest HDTVs, receivers, and set-top boxes.

"Sigma's licensing of the SENSIO® 3D format will make it widely available to the market in an integrated chip, in turn enabling any manufacturer to take advantage of our advanced video processing algorithms," said SENSIO's President and CEO Nicholas Routhier. "We're very proud to be working with a leader in SoC design and manufacture, and we look forward to the first deployment of the new Sigma Designs media processor."

More information about SENSIO® 3D is available online at http://www.sensio.tv ]]> Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:34:52 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyykkklAkeBVxakIF http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyykkklAkeBVxakIF
Paris, France, February 12, 2010 Avance Rapide will make the official announcement, during the Berlin Film Festival, of the creation of S3D Campus, "Mastering 3D from filming to broadcasting", a training course held in Paris (France) from May 24 to 28, 2010.

This one-of-a-kind European course aims at developing a network of qualified technicians, producers and creators who will master the new processes involved in creating 3D contents. "S3D Campus was designed to support those who have 3D projects in Europe. Stereoscopic 3D is now a reality in theaters and on television screens, and Europe should not lag behind in terms on content" explains Stéphan Faudeux, manager of the training course.
Based on alternating conferences, hands-on workshops for 3D shooting and post-production, and keynote addresses, S3D Campus will gather a dozen international trainers. This 5-day course, given in French and English, will host 35 trainees from all over the globe. Mostly geared towards technicians, directors, producers and teachers, Mastering 3D from filming to broadcasting will tackle issues such as Writing in 3D, notions of 3D Mastering and Screening, filming in 3D, color grading or CGI animation.

"We were able to build an amazing training course by working closely with Dimension 3, the international forum on S-3D and new image technologies, that will take place in the Paris area from June 1st to 3rd, 2010. This event, organized by Avance Rapide Communication, let us build partnerships with leading manufacturers and contractors for the practical workshops," says Stéphan Faudeux.
This is how companies such as Quantel, Assimilate, Digimage, TSF, and Post logic have decided to get involved in S3D Campus in 2010.

This course also owes much to the EU's MEDIA program, making scholarships available to a number of participating trainees.

For more information, see http://www.s3dcampus.eu ]]> Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:30:30 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyykkkyFpdcRlBFBW http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyykkkyFpdcRlBFBW
The event will take place from 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm at the Museum Lecture Hall, Getty Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

For tickets, please call 1 (310) 440-7300.

See http://www.getty.edu/visit/calendar/days/04112010.html ]]> Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:09:02 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVlkEZukOZtTsgCW http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVlkEZukOZtTsgCW
The presentation will be held at the Deadwood City Hall, 102-108 Sherman Street, at noon to 1 p.m. in addition to the Preservation Thursday series hosted by the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission and the Adams Museum & House.

Visual history in the form of photographic images has been in existence since the 1850s. While scholars have researched and written about the development of Dakota Territory, little was known about the men and women who through their efforts recorded what today we would call historic people, places and events.

Through 20 years of research, Kolbe has amassed a directory of more than 1,700 photographers who lived and worked in North Dakota and South Dakota. Kolbe will explain why Dakota Territory has had an aura of the "Wild West" by exploring the photographs that recorded significant people, places and events.

Kolbe will also talk about the development of photography and its use on the American Frontier and discuss his new book that will chronicle the photographers who arrived in the Black Hills after William Henry Illingworth in 1874. Kolbe's new book, through the use of stereoscopic images, will provide its readers a three-dimensional experience of the Black Hills Gold Rush never before seen.

The presentation is free to the public and doors will open at 11:45 a.m. Please bring a bag lunch for this spectacular journey into South Dakota's photographic past. If you have any further questions in regards to the lecture, please contact the Deadwood Historic Preservation Office at (605) 578-2082 or e-mail at archives@cityofdeadwood.com]]> Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:28:34 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVlEAFEuJGwwjeMe http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVlEAFEuJGwwjeMe
Grown with the industry

Since its founding in 1994, FMX has reflected upon all forms of animation, effects, games, interactive visualization, mobile entertainment and their multiple effects in research and economy. Creative content transcends formats, spreading across the realms of games, animated TV series and mobile applications. FMX embraces this convergence of digital genres and contents, making it the binding theme of the event. More than 350 top notch speakers and partner organizations join FMX every year to better understand the razor edges of our industry.

Hot topics for 2010

FMX unites visitors and speakers on many levels: in expert discussions, as networking and recruiting platform and by supporting and promoting young talents. For the upcoming edition hot topics focus on collaborative multi-disciplined production and creation in 360° Media, Hybrid Imagery, most recently seen in James Cameron's "Avatar", Robert Zemeckis' "A Christmas Carol" and Roland Emmerich's "2012", and innovations in 3D Stereo which are conquering not only movie theatres, but even television and other aspects of our lives.

FMX is an event held in cooperation with VES Visual Effects Society, AIAS Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, ACM Siggraph and 5D Conference. It is hosting the Animation Production Day 2010 (APD), a joint venture with the Festival of Animated Film Stuttgart (ITFS). FMX is funded by the Ministry of State and the Ministry of Economics Baden-Wuerttemberg, MFG Baden-Wuerttemberg Public Film Fund & Public Innovation Agency for Information Technology and Media, and the FFA German Federal Film Board. It is an event by Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg, organized by the Institute of Animation, Visual Effects and Digital Postproduction.

FMX 2010 will be held from May 4th to 7th, 2010, in Stuttgart, Germany. For more information, see http://www.fmx.de ]]> Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:24:30 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVlEApZpjkPAGLmo http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVlEApZpjkPAGLmo
"Our aim is nothing less than to change the way the DCM process works," says David. "Because it is so new, distributors often have to deal with inflexible workflows, such as having to provide edited material in specific formats, dealing with more than one facility to handle different tasks or, more annoyingly, having to wait a considerable amount of time for the process to be carried out."

The facility's aim is to provide digital deliverables within 24 hours of receiving the finished masters. "This includes adding logos and subtitles in multiple languages and, if required, passing the material to our grading department to subtly change the look of the project to emulate specific film stocks," says David.

Mytherapy D-Cinelab can also handle stereoscopic 3D deliverables, working with directors to ensure subtitles are placed within the correct plane for the shot. This is an extremely important part of the 3D mastering process, as subtitles that appear too close or too far away in a given shot can add unnecessary strain to the viewers' eyes.

The workflow developed by Mytherapy also streamlines the creation of multiple delivery formats. "At the same time as creating the digital cinema print, we can also output Blu-ray and DVD masters, as well as HD/SD tape masters for broadcasters who require them," adds David

Says chief executive Dado Valentic, "we are very excited to have David on board. He brings a wealth of experience in both post production and digital media. Mytherapy's digital cinema manifesto is to improve the current process for digital cinema package (DCP) mastering and distribution, as well as key delivery message (KDM) generation, to achieve a more efficient workflow for distributors and exhibitors. David's appointment helps us achieve that goal."

David Wilson was born in Melbourne, Australia, but he has worked in London for several years, at facilities such as The Machine Room, Dubbs, Uncle (part of The Farm Group) and, more recently, at digital cinema mastering company, Arts Alliance Media.]]> Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:23:45 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVlEApkVqnBJUrwu http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVlEApkVqnBJUrwu

What are the implications of these developments and is this trend sustainable in the future? Is this type of gaming compelling to the consumer? What do gamers think of S-3D? What does it take to develop an S-3D game? Who are the decision makers and what would motivate them to invest in an S-3D game? What are the implications for the hardware makers? How many Monitors, TVs, Laptops and Projectors will be needed over the next 5 years to satisfy this growing market? Which 3D technologies are the most compelling and why?

The objective of the 2009 Stereoscopic 3D Gaming Report is to provide product planners and technologists involved with display devices (LCD, PDP, OLED and DLP), display related products (Monitors, TVs, Laptops and Projectors), and those involved in the video game industry, such as console makers, game publishers, game developers and gamers themselves, a detailed analysis of Stereoscopic 3D Gaming.

This 330-page report (containing 105 figures and 155 tables) provides details about the various S-3D display technologies, software requirements for game development, a comprehensive overview of S-3D games available today, the perspective of gamers having played hundreds of hours of S-3D games, a description of 3D technologies, and most importantly, a detailed forecast of the S-3D gaming market. The report was published in December 2009 and authored by Insight Media analysts Dale Maunu, Chris Chinnock, Norbert Hildebrand, and Arthur Berman.

For more information, see http://www.insightmedia.info/reports/2009s3ddetails.php ]]> Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:02:57 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVZFlVZZsmxsbQZl http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVZFlVZZsmxsbQZl
Developed in collaboration with Toronto-based company Spatial View, the Sheridan IC3D Game is an interactive real-time application where players use BlackBerry(R) smartphones as game controllers to assemble puzzles featuring some of Ontario's most popular tourist attractions.

Visitors to the Ontario House Pavilion will play the puzzle game featuring 20 of Ontario's landmark attractions, displayed as 'icicons'*, on 46" Spatial View auto-stereoscopic 3D screens. The pieces of each attraction, or 'icicon', appear scattered on a frozen 3D landscape. Up to five players work collaboratively to assemble the 'icicons', each using a BlackBerry smartphone. Once complete, a multimedia presentation of the attraction is displayed on each player's device.

"The cutting edge technology of Sheridan's 3D Game showcases our province's tourism icons like never before. The world will see in a unique and innovative way that there truly is no place like Ontario to live, visit and invest," said Michael Chan, Ontario's Minister of Tourism and Culture.

"The project is a great example of how Sheridan's expertise in applied research can seamlessly combine multiple disciplines as diverse as art and information technology. Sheridan's long experience in digital media made collaborating with Spatial View on a 3D gaming and visualization project an ideal partnership," said Jill Birch, Sheridan's Vice President of Business Development. "This unique and innovative collaboration not only demonstrates the Province's commitment to innovation in technology, but we think it is a model for how technology companies and educational institutions with expertise in applied research can partner to create technological breakthroughs."

"We are excited to be working on such an innovative project with one of North America's premier Visual Design educational institutions," says Beat Raemy, CEO of Spatial View. "The combination of Spatial View's technology and Sheridan's creative software development skills has resulted in a truly amazing glasses-free 3D experience."

The Sheridan 3D Game was created by Sheridan's Visualization Design Institute (VDI), an applied research unit with established expertise in the field of computer visualization and specializing in deploying game technologies in 3D environments. A team of students from the college's Applied Computing and Engineering Sciences School worked with VDI staff to take this application from concept to finished product. ]]> Sun, 07 Feb 2010 09:19:06 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVVFuFuykgQKEVBQ http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVVFuFuykgQKEVBQ
SEA REX: JOURNEY TO A PREHISTORIC WORLD takes viewers on a wondrous adventure through the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods in the company of an imaginative young woman and a mysterious scientist from the past to discover a fascinating underwater world populated by incredible creatures such as the powerful Liopleurodon, the long-necked Elasmosaurus, the ferocious Mosasaurus and the largest marine reptile ever known, the 75-foot Shonisaurus. Moviegoers will magically travel 200 million years back in time and encounter contemporary experts as they unveil the latest scientific findings and shed light on the pioneers of the science of paleontology.

Directed and written by Pascal Vuong & Ronan Chapalain and produced by N3D LAND Productions, the film was four years in the making and required a USD 5 million investment. Live-action 3D photography using a state-of-the-art stereoscopic camera rig was recently completed in-studio and on location at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. This followed a three-week expedition in various remote locations off the coasts of New Zealand to capture visually stunning 3D aerial shots.

"By combining breathtaking CGI, special effects and live-action shots as never-before seen at IMAX® theatres, we have managed to recreate ultra-photorealistic sequences featuring spectacular underwater and above-the-surface scenes with no fewer than twenty-three prehistoric marine reptile species in action," explained the filmmakers Pascal Vuong and Ronan Chapalain, before adding, "Audiences of all ages will be immersed in this thrilling prehistoric experience while enjoying strong scientific content presented in a truly original and entertaining manner."

Under the leadership of Dr. Nathalie Bardet from the National Museum of Natural History of Paris and CNRS, a top-notch team of scientific advisors was assembled, including Dr. Olivier C. Rieppel, Rowe Family Curator at the Field Museum in Chicago (IL); Dr. Ryosuke Motani, Professor at the University of California, Davis (CA); Dr. Zulma Gasparini, Paleontologist at Argentina's La Plata Museum and CONICET; and Dr. Benjamin Kear, Paleontologist at Melbourne's La Trobe University (Australia).

"This group of paleontologists guided the filmmakers in their conception of the various marine reptiles and the environment they lived in throughout each period of the Mesozoic Era," explained Francois Mantello, Chairman and CEO of 3D Entertainment Distribution. "Having brought their expertise and knowledge to the writing process to ensure that all facts and on-screen representations are scientifically accurate, they will also be assisting in the design of our educational programs and activities, which will be available online and in print."

SEA REX: JOURNEY TO A PREHISTORIC WORLD is produced by Pascal Vuong, Catherine Vuong and Francois Mantello. The screenplay is by Pascal Vuong and Rick Dowlearn. Original score by Frank Marchal. The worldwide distribution rights were acquired by 3D Entertainment Distribution in September 2009 from N3D LAND Productions, which initiated the project in 2005. In parallel, a co-production agreement was sealed with Mantello Brothers Productions.

The official film website is http://www.SeaRex-theFilm.com ]]> Sun, 07 Feb 2010 04:35:49 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVVEZFuAUiMqyQRj http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVVEZFuAUiMqyQRj The Hollywood Theater in Portland, Oregon (4122 NE Sandy Boulevard, Portland) is hosting a special anaglyph (red/cyan) screening of "It Came From Outer Space" as a fundraiser for the 3D Center. Sure, "Avatar" excels in technical quality, but how often can one have the campy, nostalgic experience of seeing a 3D classic from the 50s in a real movie theater with the communal cheers and groans of a full audience adding to the fun factor?

Admission is $10, with no advance ticket sales. Tickets are only available at the box office on the day of show.

In the theater before the screening, Ray Zone, a stereo artist and 3D historian based in L.A., will give
a short presentation on the “Evolution of 3D Movies.” Admission is included in the movie ticket.

Immediately following the screening, the winning ticket will be drawn in the raffle of a Fujifilm W1 3D digital camera. Tickets ($5 for one, $25 for six) will also be available on-line through Saturday, February 20th at http://www.3dcenter.us ]]> Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:52:44 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVuyuFyucgOxzqaI http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVuyuFyucgOxzqaI
"To bring high definition 3D content to a high profile location like Grand Central Station, we needed a partner with the experience and resources to meet our clients' needs. Our partner N4D created a custom 3D solution that exceeded our expectations and their team overcame every challenge we presented to them. We look forward to a continued expansion of our 3D offering with N4D," said David Lane, Vice President Digital Media CBS Outdoor.

N4D estimates that over 1,000,000 viewers will see the 3D spots, which feature a voice-over performance by Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. To develop the famous Manhattan terminal's first 3D display, N4D partnered with digital projection experts Christie® and Lightspeed Design Inc's DepthQ. Christie is providing a true high definition 3D active stereo projector, the Christie Mirage HD6.

CEO of N4D, Clif Parker explained "N4D's goal is to change the way the world views information. N4D's 20 years of research offer a new paradigm - 3D for extended daily use. This 3D technology provides CBS Outdoor with a definite edge in the signage industry. It also ensures that their customers and viewers of the 3D advertisements will enjoy the world's most comfortable 3D experience."

N4D President Lance Hilton noted, "N4D is pleased to be able to offer this unique opportunity to CBS Outdoor. We see this type of advertising approach becoming very popular with companies looking to reach viewers that have become desensitized to traditional media."]]> Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:46:15 GMT http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVuyFAZVemfGhlFC http://www.stereoscopy.com/news/index.html#newsitemEkyVuyFAZVemfGhlFC
The clustered Isilon IQ6000x provides a high degree of redundancy and is easily scalable. "Adding capacity is as simple as plugging a new node into the system," said Ron Anantavara, Technical Supervisor at I.E. Effects. "As we add more workstations and render nodes to our pipeline, we needed a storage solution that could handle the bandwidth of all those additional systems simultaneously accessing our storage."

"The Isilon has a load balancing feature that distributes the bandwidth evenly across all the storage nodes. This keeps it running efficiently as you scale up," said Mike Braico, Executive Vice President of Sales at Integrated Media Technologies (IMT) who installed the system for I.E. Effects. Based in North Hollywood, IMT has been helping facilities build stereo 3D production infrastructures since the company started in 2006. This expertise made them a natural fit for I.E. Effects in selecting and configuring the new system. "The explosion in 3D capable digital cinema screens over the last 3 years, and consumers interest in paying for the 3D entertainment will increase the demand for stereo 3D post services," explained Braico. "I.E. Effects' experience in doing 3D productions like Michael Jackson's 'This is It,' gives them a leg up on the competition for producing quality stereoscopic content at competitive prices."

As the workload at I.E. Effects grows, the importance of absolutely reliable storage increases accordingly. "Since each node is like its own storage server, the data is redundant over all your nodes," said Anantavara. "If one or two nodes go down, your data is not lost. As we all know in this business, downtime is not an option, especially when you're approaching a delivery date!"

By using the Isilon SyncIQ replication architecture, the system also allows I.E. Effects to sync and deliver digital content seamlessly between Culver City and the newly-opened Michigan location. Having linked storage systems at separate sites also creates a super-redundancy. "If something were to happen to one our facilities we instantly have a backup of our entire system offsite at our sister facility," explained Anantavara.

"Working on several large S3D projects at the same time was one of the deciding factors in going with the Isilon System," said David Kenneth, founder and president of I.E. Effects. "With 3D doubling the amount of data, our storage servers can fill-up rapidly. As we do more and more S3D television projects, we needed a storage system that would be able to handle the grueling pace of broadcast projects."]]>