New CG Simulations! (PS - I'm back)

Stimulating Simulating

Rumours have been circulating that this blog was dead... but just like a 'glitch' in 'The Matrix' I'm back ;-)

If there's one thing I like it's a good old fashioned / 'state of the art CG simulation'.
So here are four to entertain your eyes...

Tearing cloth (my favourite):
http://vimeo.com/80062633

Disney's snow (skip 1 minute in to see the snow in action):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H1gRQ6S7gg

Painting 2d 'ageing' using  -3d particles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmEawPCAtEQ

Rock simulation:
http://vimeo.com/80383326

Although each simulation covers it own important discipline within CG, I've mentioned before about the complexity of creating believable Avatars [See my last blog entry on 'How to make a Virtual Character'].  I've chosen the cloth simulation as my favourite as clothing is an important part of nearly all characters and being able to recreate it is as important as a good skin shader [Here's another example which I mentioned back in my 2nd post : Realistic wool] This is particularly true when we consider the layering and complex interactions with clothing, which we take for granted in our 'real' day to day lives... until we have to recreate them virtually that is. ;-)

Dave

Kinect on your wrist!

Microsoft have just made a mini Kinect that fits on your wrist to scan and record your hand/finger positions Pretty nifty if you ask me... To see their tech in action take a look at this video on the  'Microsofresearch' youtube channel

For me, Kinect is very cool tech'. Not only did it take a whole motion capture studio and placed it inside a box, but it's also cheap enough to be bundled with a games console... Sure, I know some will argue that it's not that accurate, but you know what - there are always those wanting to spread doubt.

This new device is why I find Kinect cool - not because of what it can do, but because of what it will do. Remember Kinect is still the first version (2nd if you count the PC version). There are other companies making similar devices - in fact, this tech is not new at all... but it's packaging and delivery to the mass market is a game changer on many levels.

In a couple of years it's likely that Kinect 2 will be out with improved accuracy, finger and face recognition. From this there will be all sorts of applications (and some social questions too - not least Health and Safety) - A revolution of sensor/positioning/gesture/scanning tech is about to happen imo and even more importantly this revolution will combine these multi-disciplines in to one single product.

From mapping our world through LIDER (Light Detection And Ranging) as I mentioned in my 'Mapping the Future blogpost on the 25th September 2012' to Disney's new Augmented Reality Cake patent (!) This can of worm's has only just been pierced. Some-one hand me a can opener! ;-)

3D Printing - Who pays the postage?

For those of you who don't know '3D printing' is a magic process that makes something from nothing.

Ok ok, maybe there's a little more to it than that... Most stereolithography (to give 3D printing its proper name) builds a real tangible object, by solidifying a gel one thin layer upon another. If an object (real or virtual) can be sliced up, then 3D printing can put it back together... But, don't limit your thinking - check my links below and you'll see the sky is much higher.

I've noticed quite a surge of news about the topic recently so thought I'd put together a few news articles too. Before I list them though - I can remember a 'think tank' (hmm - I wonder if we could map/print thoughts one day?) saying that in 40 years printing objects will be as common as sending emails... well I don't know about that, but I do think if we said 40 years ago that we would communicate through emails and text we'd be seen as crazy. So you never know...

03-10-12 Printing Guns... Warning: Red Alert.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19813382

03-10-12 Printing toys and LEDs - Disney Attacks!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19818815

20-09-12 New York opens 3D printing store
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19665625
 

13-08-12 Don't want to wait for you model to be delivered - build your own printer!

http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/news/printing/build-your-own-3d-printer-with-pwdr/

02-08-12 Virtual Characters come alive - Print your own virtual avatar!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19085980

02-07-12 Feeling Low? Print with Sugar to make a new Liver (Onions still need to be bought)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18677627

06-04-12 Feeling Hungry - Print with Chocolate!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17623424 

So, what will this new printing age mean to us? Will we really be as keen at 3D Printing as we are with emailing? Perhaps cost will be a factor, or maybe acceptance? I find it curious that last week the BBC ran two stories on the subject and chose to use toys and guns? One thing is for sure. The costs are tumbling and there are even machines now that can print themselves - maybe the phrase 'parts and labour' will be replaced with 'Printing and Labour' - although I suspect the use of these machines will be more related to the materials they use rather than cost (what good is a washing machine part made of cheese - other than a tasty sandwich).

Imagine a car showroom where you design your dream car and as you sip a coffee it gets printed next door... 'sounds like science-fiction? We'll see...