News Stories

NTU, Fraunhofer to set up new research centre to develop 3D technology

6.26.2011

[By Vimita Mohandas, Channel News Asia]

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Fraunhofer – one of Europe’s largest research organisations – have jointly set up a new research centre to develop 3D technology.

The S$14 million Fraunhofer Interactive Digital Media @NTU will focus on interactive and digital media research and look into commercialising applications. The research centre is funded by NTU, Fraunhofer and the Media Development Authority.

Developing cutting-edge 3D technology to solve real-world problems – that is the aim of the newly opened Fraunhofer Interactive Digital Media @ NTU.

Among prototypes it has developed so far, is a virtual augmented Chinese learning aid. The learning game will benefit non-Chinese learners. To find out the meaning of a particular Chinese character, all they have to do is point it towards a camera and its image will be flashed on a screen.

The centre also hopes to develop breakthrough projects for the benefit of sectors such as tourism, culture and transport.

With media technologies constantly changing, the research centre hopes to engage youths.

Professor Freddy Boey, Provost-Designate of NTU, said: “Today, our young people are very media savvy, very visual. Everybody has an iPhone, iPad and this is where we’re coming in. With good graphic improvements, it will engage young people, not only in Singapore but the whole of Asia.”

The centre will also work on research areas like computer graphics and computer vision. The facility will also offer joint PhD programmes in visual computing with two leading universities from Germany and Austria.

As a start, a total of 20 scholarships will be given to promising PhD students – 10 from NTU and another 10 from the universities in Germany and Austria.

Under this programme – graduate researchers can go to Austria or Germany for at least a year to do their thesis and research at the Fraunhofer institutes there and vice versa. It signed agreements for the two joint programmes with Graz University of Technology and Technische Universitat Darmsradt.

See the original story here: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1137203/1/.html

All signs point to better 3D tech (Digital Signage)

6.24.2011

[by Shanghai Daily]

NAKED-EYE 3D displays and smart vending machines have become highlights at a digital signage and display show in Shanghai.

Top chip makers, display equipment makers and content providers, including Intel, LG Display and Shanghai-based Crystal CG, all displayed 3D products or services during the Third Shanghai International Digital Signage & Touch Inquiry Technology Show, which ends today.

3D technology has developed to the point where users are no longer required to put on special glasses to watch digital signs, which includes outdoor advertising along with video introductions in hospitals and government bureaus.

In 2016, revenue in the global digital signage sector will hit US$4.5 billion, more than triple last year’s amount, said US-based research firm ABI.

Intel has developed the latest chips, which support naked-eye 3D displays, touch screens and smart vending machines. The world’s biggest computer chip maker said the chips feature power management and video analysis functions.

Crystal, which produced video content for many firms and organizations during World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, has also developed 3D content for clients, including several car makers, a Crystal official told Shanghai Daily.

Smart vending machines with touch screens and interactive functions were also displayed during the show.

See the original post here: http://english.eastday.com/e/110624/u1a5959504.html

< PREVIOUS ARTICLES NEXT ARTICLES >

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.

Oops, something went wrong.