How-To: Holography [Video from Make Magazine]
I always assumed that the process of making a hologram was so complex that it was limited to only those with access to expensive lasers and other fancy optical equipment. But when I heard that the Maker Shed started carrying Litiholo’s Hologram Kit, I was surprised that such a thing existed and I was eager to give it a try.
Watch the video here
Princeton invention delivers 3D sound from ordinary laptop speakers (w/ video)
[Philip Lelyveld comment: very well-produced video. Among other things, he has developed a technique to filter crosstalk]
Edgar Choueiri, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Princeton University, has developed a way to play true three-dimensional sound recordings over regular loudspeakers, such as those found in televisions and computer laptops. The technique may one day be used to allow 3D televisions to produce lifelike sound and to help people with certain types of hearing impairments locate noises. Segments of the video above incorporate Choueri’s 3D filter to demonstrate the phenomenon. The filter is designed to work with loudspeakers – not headphones – and can be experienced through standard computer speakers. (Make sure the right and left speakers are on the correct sides.) Video by Michael E. Wood.
See the original post and the 6:45 minute video here
Legend3D Selected as Primary 3D Conversion Studio for Martin Scorsese’s Stereoscopic Debut: Hugo
Legend3D, the leading innovator in 2D-to-3D conversion technology, today announced its role as the primary conversion vendor on the highly-anticipated 3D holiday release of Hugo—a live-action fantasy film based on the popular children's novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. Hugo is renowned director Martin Scorsese's first stereoscopic 3D film, and opened on Nov. 23, 2011, in select RealD 3D and IMAX 3D theaters throughout the U.S.
While Hugo was shot using 3D camera rigs, Legend3D was tasked with restoring, colorizing and converting to 3D an assortment of vintage 2D material across three key sequences in the film. This included classic cinema from the early 1900s, such as Georges Melies' A Trip to the Moon and The Merry Frolics of Satan, as well as new footage of Ben Kingsley in his role as Melies. To accomplish this, the Legend3D team first prepared the source material in 2D, using restorative techniques to stabilize and accentuate the image quality while still retaining the vintage "look." This material was then converted to 3D to match the overall depth of Scorsese's native photography. ...
Read the full story here
How To Make Money with 3D Content (Part 1)
It continues to surprise me how many 3D producers have the wrong market expectations for their new 3D titles or upcoming projects. Many read about the demand for content but they fail to understand the market realities. At the end of the day it is not about how much demand there is for 3D content, but what prices the buyers are willing to pay. Most of my day is spent selling 3D content internationally and talking to producers, so I thought I would share some of my learnings in this nascent industry.
First, let’s be clear: The reality is that 3D content currently has LOWER commercial value than 2D content. ...
- There are new and rapidly growing alternative ways to distribute 3D content.
- We have 3D titles that have returned their production costs within 6months. There are clever strategies to reduce production costs or to get 3D projects off the ground.
- Many players in this industry are focussing their efforts on the core territories. I continue to be surprised how much interest there is from emerging markets. ...
Read the full article here
3D television and projector sales are on the rise
According to new data from NPD DisplayResearch released last week, shipments of 3D high definition televisions rose to 6.6 million units by the end of September 2011. This constitutes a 27 percent increase over the previous year. The research firm also expects that shipments will shoot up another 30 percent in the fourth quarter and 3D LCD TV market penetration will hit 10 percent of the U.S. market by the end of 2011. That will bring the total number of 3D televisions in U.S. homes to 21.5 million. NPD also predicts that regular high definition television sales will make up less than 80 percent of the market by the end of 2012. Television manufacturers are also producing fewer 2D models and attempting to drive the price down on 3D panels.
Sales of 3D-capable projectors shot up by 121 percent in the third quarter and now account for more than 16 percent of the home theater projector install base in the United States according to a report from Quixel Research. The company also expects that over half of all projectors released in the United States will be 3D-capable by the end of the next year.
See the full post here
MADE opens ‘History of 3D’ exhibit
The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment, The MADE, will open its first exhibit "The History of 3D" on Dec. 3.
The MADE, which moved to downtown Oakland in October, is dedicated to preserving video games and presenting them as art. Using the crowd funding site Kickstarter.com, the museum raised $20,000 to secure the new location.
See the full story here
Queen’s Speech From Sky May Be In 3D
Sky is putting finishing touches to its arrangements for the production of this year's Christmas Day Queen's Speech.
Sky News will produce this year's address and are also signed up for the 2012 speech.
It may even be in 3D too, for the first time in its history.
A Sky source said they would explore the opportunity to broadcast the speech in 3D but nothing had been agreed with the Palace.
A statement from the Press Secretary to the Queen said: "Starting this year, the Queen's Christmas broadcast will be produced and distributed by Sky News, the BBC and the ITV network on a two-year alternating cycle for both television and radio use.
"Sky News will produce and distribute the Christmas broadcast this year and again in 2012, establishing the new cycle."
It is rumoured that the slot will include so far unseen footage of Prince William and Kate Middleton's April wedding with renewed interest in this year's Queen speech as a result.
The Royal Wedding has caused a sudden surge of interest in the family, meaning more people are set to tune into the Sovereign's message.
See the original post here:
The future of 3D is debated in Berlin
Recently 3D Focus travelled to Berlin to attend the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute’s The Future of 3D Media day. The workshop was designed to showcase innovation in 3D media, consider future developments and opportunities, and exchange ideas on entrepreneurship and academia-industry partnership.
Prof. Peter Eisert of HHI and Dr George Whale, EMC^2 Industrial Liaison Research Officer from Queen Mary, University of London, were in charge of organising the day which included demos of some incredible cutting edge 3D innovations. Dr George Whale and his team will soon be launching an exciting new 3D project website of which we will announce when it launches.
Below are the highlights of the day. For George Whale’s full report click here.
Read the full article here
Move over Kinect — Displair from Russia is a gesture interface in thin air
Please look at this video and tell me it is not magic. Displair, a Russian company from Astrakhanhas come up with a technology to project images into the thin air, and use gestures to move them.
See the full post and watch the video here