Hitachi Develops Holographic-like Display
3D-News Posted: Thursday, February 26, 2004 (14:31 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
Hitachi (Japan) announced that it has developed a holographic-like display called the Transpost, which allows 360 degree viewing of an object rendered in light without wearing any special glasses. The display looks like a kiosk, with a height of 2 meters and circumference of 40 centimeters. The display can take a scan and display a 3D holographic image in real time. The system uses a unique combination of mirrors and light to render the holographic image.

	3D Center of Art and Photography Opens in Northwest Portland/Oregon
3D-News Posted: Friday, February 20, 2004 (13:12 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
A unique museum/gallery opens on Northwest Lovejoy in Portland/Oregon on February 27. Located between the Nob Hill and Pearl districts, the 3D Center of Art and Photography houses a collection of antique and contemporary 3D cameras, viewers, projectors and other devices, as well as 3D imagery of all kinds. The space includes a small projection room where 3D slides will be projected and a gallery which will feature different 3D artists each month. The 3D Center includes a small reference library and gift shop. Children's books are included among more sophisticated literature on the development of 3D photography and art. The 3D Center's first featured artist is David Lee, a stereographer from Northern California. Mr. Lee's beautiful black and white images of Yosemite are reminiscent of earlier images by Ansel Adams, only Lee's images are viewed in 3 dimensions with the aid of a special viewer designed by Lee. A photographer since the early 1980s, Lee has taught photography and exhibited his work in Bay area galleries and at national conventions catering to those who enjoy 3D photography. Lee's images will be exhibited through March 21. The 3D Center is operated by the Cascade Stereoscopic Club, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting 3D art. Founded in 1993, CSC's long term dream has been to establish a Center where visitors could learn more about 3D and its application. The 3D Center is the only facility in the United States solely dedicated to contemporary and antique 3D art. The Center's opening is the result of hundreds of hours of volunteer work and financial support from the 3D and photographic communities at large. OMSI has donated display cases and loaned the 3D Center an exhibit about 3D vision. In the coming months, the Center will host workshops for those interested in creating their own 3D art and will be a resource to photographers and computer 3D enthusiasts. Rotating displays and exhibits will provide new visual experiences each month for those who are eager to see more. Open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays from 1 pm until 5 pm. Open First Thursday from 4pm until 9 pm. Admission by donation. 1928 NW Lovejoy, Portland/Oregon, USA. Tel.: 1 (503) 227-6667

	IMAX and Daytona USA to Open IMAX(R) 3D-Theatre at NASCAR'S Premiere Venue
3D-News Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 (14:03 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
Daytona Revs Up Unique Motorsports Attraction with IMAX(R) 3D Theatre IMAX Corporation announced recently it has signed an agreement with Daytona USA, the official attraction of NASCAR, to open a new IMAX 3D theatre alongside one of the world's most popular racetracks, Daytona International Speedway. The theatre, set to open in April 2004, will expose millions of race fans to The IMAX Experience(R) beginning with Warner Bros. Pictures first IMAX 3D film NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience. "We are thrilled to partner with Daytona USA, one of America's most popular motorsports attractions," said Larry O'Reilly, Senior Vice President of Theatre Development and Film Distribution. "The IMAX Experience has been the anchor attraction for many popular destinations around the world, and we are proud to add Daytona USA to the IMAX family. The upcoming opening of this new Daytona IMAX theatre demonstrates that the Company's commercial strategy is taking hold as IMAX continues to expand throughout the U.S." "After seeing initial footage of NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience, we knew that The IMAX Experience would be the best way for us to give millions of race fans a chance to feel like they are in the drivers seat," said DAYTONA USA General Manager Mike Manning. "We're excited to now offer Warner Bros. Pictures' NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience in addition to the many unique motorsports experiences that entertain our guests. The IMAX theatre is also capable of showing other IMAX and IMAX 3D films, as well as some of the best Hollywood event films in IMAX's format." DAYTONA USA's 247-seat Pepsi IMAX Theater will be fully equipped with an IMAX theatre system including a giant screen and a 12,000 watt six channel digital surround sound system. Narrated by Golden Globe Award-winning actor Kiefer Sutherland, NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience will feature rare behind-the-scenes glimpses of the sport as well as gripping action on the track. The film is scheduled to open on March 12, 2004. About Daytona USA Daytona USA is a one-of-kind interactive motorsports attraction, which features a variety of hands-on activities utilizing advanced technology. The Ultimate Motorsports Experience is a high-energy experience designed to appeal to everyone, regardless of his or her level of racing knowledge or enthusiasm and includes three different simulators, an award-winning movie and "A Pit Stop Challenge." DAYTONA USA, the official motorsports attraction is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and holds extended hours during race events. Call 1 (386) 947-6800 for more information or visit www.DAYTONAUSA.com.

	Theater Review: Starlight Express
3D-News Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 (13:58 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
When the high-tech, roller-skating, train fantasy musical "Starlight Express" - with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe - opened in London's Apollo Victoria Theater in 1984, it had a run of more than 18 years and 7,406 performances, making it one of the most successful shows ever. The show closed in January 2002. In its current updated version at the Pantages Theater, "Starlight" has gone through a lot of changes - and the show is still an unabashed knockout: an artful blend of art technology, dazzling sets and costumes, and songs by Webber/Stilgoe, with additional lyrics by David Yazbek, composer and lyricist for "The Full Monty." For the Apollo Victoria run, award-winning scenic/costume designer John Napier created a set that encircled the audience with a series of onstage drawbridges. We watched as the skating trains raced around us. At the Pantages, the trains/skaters are morphed from live onstage action to 3-D film projected on a screen that lowers on the stage. Never fear: You are provided with 3-D glasses to watch the races, and the action comes right out into the audience. And the races still work albeit less on a human scale. Credit Julian Napier (son of John) for the train-race 3-D updates. The "Starlight" story is simple enough, a story line that parallels the classic children's book "The Little Engine That Could." As the show beings, we listen as a 9-year-old boy playing with his train set is sent to bed by his mother. As he dozes off, his imagination takes over, bringing life to an entire society of trains that couple (and uncouple) for the races -- much like human relationships. Webber/Stilgoe/Yazbek's score includes music of nearly every genre: pop, rock, rap, blues, even country and Western. Standouts (in a large cast of almost two dozen) are Franklyn Warfield (as Rusty, a steam train), Clarissa Grace (as Pearl, an observation car), Drue Williams (as Greaseball, a diesel locomotive), Dustin Dubreuil (as Electra, an electric train), Katie O'Toole (as Dinah, a dining car), Kait L. Holbrook (as Ashley, a smoking car) and Dennis LeGree (as Poppa, another steam train). Credit Arlene Phillips for the spirited and energetic direction/choreography. Yes, all on skates.

	Space Imaging Signs with Antrix to Continue Exclusive Access to India's IRS Earth Imaging Satellites Including RESOURCESAT-1
3D-News Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 (13:42 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
Space Imaging announced on January 27th that it has signed an agreement with Antrix Corp., a division of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), to extend its sales and marketing agreement through 2010. The agreement gives Space Imaging exclusive rights to market and sell data from ISRO's RESOURCESAT-1 (IRS-P6) satellite worldwide outside of India. The agreement also includes the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) 1-C and IRS 1-D, and CARTOSAT (P-5) satellites. K.R. Sridhara Murthi, executive director, Antrix, and Robert Dalal, CEO of Space Imaging, signed the agreement today in Bangalore, India, in the presence of G. Madhavan Nair, chairman, Space Commission and secretary, Department of Space, government of India and chairman, Antrix. Space Imaging also offers international ground station access to the IRS constellation that includes RESOURCESAT-1, the most advanced remote sensing satellite built by ISRO that was launched into its 817 km orbit on Oct. 17, 2003. RESOURCESAT-1 is intended to not only continue the remote sensing data services provided by the older IRS-1C and IRS-1D satellites, but also offer enhanced data quality. Imagery can be used for environmental monitoring, agriculture, land use planning, and disaster management and assessment. "ISRO, Antrix and Space Imaging have worked as partners to fulfill India's vision of a global commercial Earth-observation program," said G. Madhavan Nair. "The Indian Remote Sensing systems have emerged as one of the most high-profile programs in the commercial imaging industry." "In the past eight years, 19 ground stations have been installed to access IRS 1-C and IRS 1-D, so the success of these satellites is without question," said Dalal. "The continuation of our long-standing marketing relationship with Antrix is an important step in our business plan. Combined with its successful launch and Space Imaging's worldwide user base, we are certain to gain maximum exposure of RESOURCESAT-1 imagery across many global markets. Indian earth imaging satellites can be a complementary source of imagery for U.S. users of Landsat satellite imagery since there are no government funded programs to replace the current satellites and the newest Landsat satellite is experiencing technical problems." RESOURCESAT-1 carries three cameras: A high-resolution Linear Imaging Self Scanner (LISS-4) operating in three spectral bands in the visible and near-infrared region with 5.8-meter resolution and steerable up to 1 26 degrees across track to obtain stereoscopic imagery and achieve five-day revisit capability. A medium-resolution LISS-3 sensor operating in four spectral bands in visible, near-infrared and short wave infrared with 23-meter resolution. An Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS) operating in four spectral bands in visible, near-infrared and one short wave infrared with 56-meter resolution. In addition, RESOURCESAT-1 has a solid-state recorder with a capacity of 120 gigabits to store the images taken by its cameras.

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