News Stories

Google’s Schmidt gleeful at 3D-capable personal robots

2.29.2012

[SlashGear]

Google chairman Eric Schmidt has presented his vision of the future and technology, describing a world where people have their own personal robot that can represent them remotely and from which they can see a remote 3D visual stream. “We’re beginning to see science fiction become a reality” Schmidt said during his MWC 2012 keynote. ”Look at Star Trek or, my favorite, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.”

As Schmidt described it, people would have access to compact telepresence robots, small enough to carry in a bag and deploy at will. They would then be able to beam back a 3D picture to a portable 3D-capable screen, part of huge mesh networks of devices talking to each other. “We can look forward to a future of essentially unlimited speed and unlimited processing power … tiny, powerful sensors will be embedded in everything. By 2020, fiber networks will be deployed in every city.”

Still, Schmidt also pointed out that technology is not delivered to every potential user equally, and highlighted that it’s a “digital caste system.” Those at the top of the pile will get devices only limited by developers’ imaginations and the laws they operate within.  …

 

Sony to equip Mind Museum with latest technology, innovations

2.29.2012

[Malaya.com]

TECHNOLOGY and electronics giant Sony Philippines is equipping the country’s first world-class science museum with the latest in technology and innovation by providing P25 million worth of audio-visual equipment and gadgets to the soon-to-be opened Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. …

Sony Bravia TV screens, Sony 3D active glasses, and VAIO touch screen units will be present in this gallery to show videos on the use of nuclear energy and about nuclear physics.

Sony’s revolutionary 3D Projection System, a technology that Sony will only make available in the Mind Museum, will be the centerpiece of the Earth Gallery which will showcase 3D animated films about the Earth’s history.

The VAIO touch screens, Bravia TV screens, and S-frames, will provide the Universe Gallery with a unique and interactive exhibit that will attempt to explain the origin of the universe.

Other galleries in the museum include the Life and Technonology galleries, both of which will be equipped with Sony products as well.

Sony Philippines is the exclusive electronic partner of the Mind Museum. …

Read the full story here: http://www.malaya.com.ph/02292012/info1.html

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Specification for Naming VFX Image Sequences Released

ETC’s VFX Working Group has published a specification for best practices naming image sequences such as plates and comps. File naming is an essential tool for organizing the multitude of frames that are inputs and outputs from the VFX process. Prior to the publication of this specification, each organization had its own naming scheme, requiring custom processes for each partner, which often resulted in confusion and miscommunication.

The new ETC@USC specification focuses primarily on sequences of individual images. The initial use case was VFX plates, typically delivered as OpenEXR or DPX files. However, the team soon realized that the same naming conventions can apply to virtually any image sequence. Consequently, the specification was written to handle a wide array of assets and use cases.

To ensure all requirements are represented, the working group included over 2 dozen participants representing studios, VFX houses, tool creators, creatives and others.  The ETC@USC also worked closely with MovieLabs to ensure that the specification could be integrated as part of their 2030 Vision.

A key design criteria for this specification is compatibility with existing practices.  Chair of the VFX working group, Horst Sarubin of Universal Pictures, said: “Our studio is committed to being at the forefront of designing best industry practices to modernize and simplify workflows, and we believe this white paper succeeded in building a new foundation for tools to transfer files in the most efficient manner.”

This specification is compatible with other initiatives such as the Visual Effects Society (VES) Transfer Specifications. “We wanted to make it as seamless as possible for everyone to adopt this specification,” said working group co-chair and ETC@USC’s Erik Weaver. “To ensure all perspectives were represented we created a team of industry experts familiar with the handling of these materials and collaborated with a number of industry groups.”

“Collaboration between MovieLabs and important industry groups like the ETC is critical to implementing the 2030 Vision,” said Craig Seidel, SVP of MovieLabs. “This specification is a key step in defining the foundations for better software-defined workflows. We look forward to continued partnership with the ETC on implementing other critical elements of the 2030 Vision.”

The specification is available online for anyone to use.

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