A video found on YouTube shows a kiosk in the Shaumberg, IL mall’s Lego Store where you can hold up a lego box and magically see a preview of the constructed set overlaid on the box. It’s a clever use of Augmented Reality for marketing.
See the demonstration video after the break.
On the heels of our recent feature about NVidia, DirectX, and OpenGL, it seemed almost fitting to pick a book that would help all of you graphics programmers get up-to-speed on the new features in the latest iterations of OpenGL, OpenGL 3.0 and 3.1. This weeks pick is the classic red book, The OpenGL Programmer’s Guide v3.0 and 3.1 . From the description:
This seventh edition has been updated to include the newest features of OpenGL Versions 3.0 and 3.1, including
- Using framebuffer objects for off-screen rendering and texture updates
- Examples of the various new buffer object types, including uniform-buffer objects, transform feedback buffers, and vertex array objects
- Using texture arrays to increase performance when using numerous textures
- Efficient rendering using primitive restart and conditional rendering
- Discussion of OpenGL’s deprecation mechanism and how to verify your programs for future versions of OpenGL
This edition continues the discussion of the OpenGL Shading Language (GLSL) and explains the mechanics of using this language to create complex graphics effects and boost the computational power of OpenGL. The OpenGL Technical Library provides tutorial and reference books for OpenGL. The Library enables programmers to gain a practical understanding of OpenGL and shows them how to unlock its full potential. Originally developed by SGI, the Library continues to evolve under the auspices of the Khronos OpenGL ARB Working Group, an industry consortium responsible for guiding the evolution of OpenGL and related technologies.
Definately worth the price.
WebDesigner Depot has a great list of great Data Visualizations. It’s a bit dated (from June) but covers the range of music, social media, crime, and more.
But data visualizations can make all of that much easier, allowing you to see the concepts that you’re learning about in a more interesting, and often more useful manner.
Below are 50 of the best data visualizations and tools for creating your own visualizations out there, covering everything from Digg activity to network connectivity to what’s currently happening on Twitter.
via 50 Great Examples of Data Visualization | Webdesigner Depot.
In a move that might hurt both NVidia and Intel’s bottom line, NVidia’s lead corporate communications spokeman Robert Sherbin told PC Magazine that they have put all chipset development work on hold, pending resolution of a legal dispute with Intel. In addition to Intel chipsets, they’ve also halted development on AMD chipsets (even though they aren’t part of the legal proceedings).
“We have said that we will continue to innovate integrated solutions for Intel’s FSB architecture,” Sherbin told PC Magazine in an email. “We firmly believe that this market has a long healthy life ahead. But because of Intel’s improper claims to customers and the market that we aren’t licensed to the new DMI bus and its unfair business tactics, it is effectively impossible for us to market chipsets for future CPUs. So, until we resolve this matter in court next year, we’ll postpone further chipset investments.”
This won’t directly impact Graphics cards, but will impact some of NVidia’s bug chipsets like the NForce.
Update: Read NVidia’s official response.
Data dashboards are the prime focus in several areas today, from your Car to your Finance portfolio to your Computer usage. Most of these use simple line and bar graphs, but GOOD magazine asks is there better, more effective ways to visualize data?
Every form of visualization should tell a story. Unfortunately there is limited attention and time to process all the stories. So the gist of the story, or its immediate impact, should be visible right away. The term I like to use for this principle is “glanceability.” What does a visualization tell us before we take time to analyze it? I invite you to look at the following chart and image for 10 seconds each and compare. What did you see? What did you feel?
via How Might We Visualize Data in More Effective and Inspiring Ways? | GOOD.
Visual Technology Services has just announced a new version of SpaceXform, bringing 3DConnexion’s SpaceExplorer device support into AVS/Express on Windows and Linux.
The module and 3D mouse devices are supported through USB interfaces on Linux/Windows platforms. Support is currently for Visual Studio 2005 (VC++ 8) and AVS/Express 7.2, Visualization Edition, Developer Edition and RHEL3, Gcc 3.2, RHEL5 (32-bit), and RHEL5 (64-bit). The current VRPN version is 7.22 plus local patches and bug fixes in 3DConnexion driver.
It functions as an implementation of the Virtual Reality Peripheral Network (VRPN), so many other devices are available as well.
via SpaceXform Major Update enables 3D Mouse within 64-bit Visualization Projects.
motion504 got the gig to create the AICP Minnesota Show Reception Sponsor Reel and made an amazing sequence showing the fictional “Verne Bros. Kinetic Type Company”.
Set in a world with a turn-of-the-last-century aesthetic, the visually striking sequence opens at the storefront of the fictional Verne Bros. Kinetic Type Company. Inside, the elderly protagonist earnestly works away during the wee small hours at his closed shop. His undertakings are a mystery until, suddenly, peculiar kinetic gadgets appear and unexplainably come to life. His compelling conjurations abound in the dusty workshop, as each unique gadget unravels with science-defying wonder, creatively introducing the AICP reception sponsors, one by one.
First go watch the reel here, then wonder how they did it. First, the live action was show with the ever-popular RED Camera:
The studio arranged for a one-day live action shoot using the RED Camera. “Having a snorkel lens was crucial to get the close-ups that we needed to create the right feeling,” says motion504 Executive Producer Eric Mueller. “Our studio worked closely with the production team to ensure the gadgets would look like they belonged in the space. The end result is a visual tour-de-force. “
Then the 16 gadgets they show were modeled in Cinema4D and painted with ZBrush:
Wenner modeled the 16 3D gadgets in Cinema 4D, motion504′s primary 3D package for graphics. Each unique gadget features Victorian-influenced detail, flourishes and decoration, which Wenner hand-painted in ZBrush. Amy Schmitt, who worked closely alongside Scott from the project’s outset, including the live action shoot, handled a majority of the intensive tracking lighting and rendering required by the project.
Some great work indeed. Read the full announcement after the break.
AMD has updated their website with a list of 11 reasons why you should run out and buy a DirectX11 card today. The list has some of the obviously marketing hype, but also a nice basic list of some of the new features in DX11. The cliff notes version:
Read the full details on their site.
Micheal Ogawa at UC Davis has used Processing to build a fascinating visualization tool for source code repositories. His explanation is pretty good:
This visualization, called code_swarm, shows the history of commits in a software project. A commit happens when a developer makes changes to the code or documents and transfers them into the central project repository. Both developers and files are represented as moving elements. When a developer commits a file, it lights up and flies towards that developer. Files are colored according to their purpose, such as whether they are source code or a document. If files or developers have not been active for a while, they will fade away. A histogram at the bottom keeps a reminder of what has come before.
It uses organic information visualization methods, which results in an eerie movie of something akin to cell mitosis or bubbles as the various files coalesce and fly apart. Look after the break for a video of his algorithm applied to the development of Eclipse, but be sure to his his side for videos of various OSS projects like Python, PostgreSQL, and Apache on his side.
via code_swarm.
Someone has taken John Lee’s WiiDesktopVR system, which used the Wii Remote in reverse (remote stationary, IR LED’s on your head) to simulate head tracked 3D video, and adapted it to the iPhone using the accelerometers to track.
iDesktopVR is an adaptation for the iPhone / iPod Touch or Johnny Chung Lee’s WiiDesktopVR method of view-dependent rendering. In this version, the orientation of the screen relative to the viewer is tracked using the accelerometers on the device and the head distance is fixed value. In other words, instead of physically moving in front of a TV screen, in this version you are manipulating the screen itself.
Pretty neat trick. See the video after the break, and Jonny Lee’s original WiiDesktopVR.
VizWorld.com Got an idea for a story? Drop us a line at [email protected] or other means.
On the heels of our recent feature about 
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