VizWorld.com

Luxology just announced a new custom COLLADA plugin for the upcoming modo401 that will introduce several new import and export features capable of preserving the most complex 3D pipelines.

Luxology will be demonstrating its new COLLADA plug-in at the GDC 2009 Chalk Talk session called “New COLLADA I/O Plug-in for modo 401.” Presented by Luxology’s David Vasquez, the session will take place at the Intel Visual Adrenaline Lounge from 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 26.

It also supports layers transform stacks and a special “modo profile” technique that allows you to export every attribute as Text properties that can be properly imported back later, allowing you to manipulate the data with other packages.

via CGSociety – COLLADA for modo 401.

Graphics collada, gdc, luxology, modo

So, because of all the problems I’ve had with the Podcast recently, I’ve made some changes.  There are still 2 podcasts, however instead of a Large & Small format, there’s now a Video & Audio format.  Right now the audio is simply stripped from the video, but in the future I might add in extra audio-only podcasts.

Also, the podcasts are now hosted by Blip.TV.  YouTube refuses to host Episode 3 because it exceed their 10 minute limit, but Blip takes it just fine.  The existing feeds will continue to work just fine (Yay Feedburner!), but you might need to unsubscribe/resubscribe in order to get a working version of Episode 3.

Sorry for all the convoluted stuff going on folks, but we’re learning as we go.  So go ahead and get your iTunes setup, and get ready for Episode 4 next weekend!

Podcast Podcast

The DoE is rushing to spend the few billion dollars allocated for the new US “Smart Grid”, a more technologically advanced power grid that’s more automatic and full of intelligent devices in the field that can be controlled and monitored remotely.  But what’s someone to do with that massive stream of incoming data?

Oak Ridge National Laboratory persuaded 30 utilities to share some of their most precious real-time data in exchange for a grid visualization tool that helps everyone. The lab signs a nondisclosure agreement with each utility, then feeds the raw information into a monitoring system called Verde (Visualizing Energy Resources Dynamically on Earth) that tracks grid assets nationwide, as shown in the illustration above.

There’s a PDF Fact Sheet of Verde available online.

via Monitor the Electrons in Real Time.

Science

CGChannel has a great article by the folks at Intelligent Creatures on the technology they used and developed to create Rorschach’s mask in Watchmen.

We had successfully developed a technique to break up solid edges of any shape using noise generation. Although this project focused on the development of the Rorschach mask for the movie Watchmen (2009), this technique could be used on any solid-edge images, which ultimately increased our company’s knowledge base. Through extensive experiments with 2D particle simulations and Navier-Stokes simulation, we discovered the computational requirements were too expensive for us. Furthermore, these simulations were producing unpredictable and irreproducible results regardless of the high quality.

Welcome to CG Channel.

Graphics

If you happen to be at GDC, you might want to check out room 3002 tomorrow wher ethe Kronos Group will be holding an all day tutorial session on OpenGL 3.1, OpenCL 1.0, and OpenSL ES 1.0.

The Khronos Tutorial will be an all day tutorial held on Tuesday, March 24 at 10 AM to 7:30PM in partnership with the GDC 2009. Admittance to the session is available to all registered Mobile GDC and regular GDC conference attendees.

via GDC San Francisco 2009 – Khronos Group Events, Seminars and Presentations.

Science gdc, kronos

Standford has put several videos online of presentations from some of their researchers about the Future of Human Health.  If you’re into Medical Imaging and modern medical visualization techniques, you might want to check em out.

YouTube – Broadcast Yourself..

Science

TomsHardware has the scoop on 5 new HDMI-enabled video cards coming out of MSI based on ATI chipsets.

With native HDMI support consumers can connect directly to PCs with high-definition TVs monitors and projectors with the R4600 HDMI series. Additionally each card can spit out resolutions of up to 1920×1080 and will even process full 1080p from Blu-ray disks without a hitch. And with Unified Video Decoder UVD 2.0 support the cards remove a good deal of the processing from the CPU thus reduces the amount of electricity used and even prevents lag. In a sense the cards could be considered “green” in the way they cut down overall energy use thus playing a part in protecting the environment.

In addition to the lower power usage, they all fit in a single PCI-E space, and use the latest solid state chokes to prevent buzzing and extend the life of the card.  They all support native HDMI, 7.1 digital audio, Hi-c capacitors, and hardware-acceleration for 1080p Blu-ray playback.

via MSI Unveils 5 HDMI Cards – Tom’s Hardware.

Hardware ati, msi

The local Kansas City paper has a great interview with Bruce Branit, who recently received internet fame with his fantastic World Builder video.

Branit VFX, the four-person visual effects firm he started in 2004, has been creating a lot of PR for itself with its work on a wide range of network shows, from “Lost” to “Brothers and Sisters,” “Pushing Daisies” to “Californication” and, of late, a certain top-secret network pilot.

via Hollywood effects wizard calls the Crossroads home – Kansas City Star.

Graphics

Bracer Jack has a tutorial on CGArena showing a great 3D modeling of the Ironman Helmet.

Model the Ironman Helmet – CGArena.

Graphics

Eric Hackathorn has an article in Federal Computer Week about NOAA’s venture into Second Life, using it to host data & visualizations of various phenomena.

Second Life provides the interface, the building tools and the world. It is like an [Internet service provider] hosting a Web site and providing basic tools to design Web pages. The number of regions NOAA utilizes is a function of how much money we invest. Most of the design work is done in Second Life, but more and more, we take advantage of 3-D animation programs like Maya, Blender or SketchUp.

Currently the project is maintained by 3 FTE’s and half a dozen subcontrators, with a budget in the mid to low 6-figures.

via Living NOAA’s Second Life — Federal Computer Week.

Science noaa, secondlife