3D @ SXSW

Last Chance!

The voting deadline is approaching for our SXSW proposal. September 4th is the last day you can vote! Help us take 3D to SXSW! To vote, just click on the voting icon below.

http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/49162

(You will need to create an account and log in to vote, unfortunately. It would be so appreciated! 

See to Achieve: Where Virtual Reality, Vision, and Learning Meet

Reading. What does it take to be successful? Part of the answer is physiological. For the early learner, how well vision works is vital. Children’s eyes must be able to track, focus, and team (work together). Successful reading requires our eyes to track a line and focus on a word or letter—and our eyes must do those things together. Enter modern day virtual reality. 3D virtual reality experiences also require our eyes to track, focus, and team. Sound familiar? This presentation will show how virtual reality is fostering unanticipated benefits for vision health and learning; and how new mobile 3D technology is being used to screen for and improve early childhood vision. 

App for That!

Here are some rendered or stereo 3D apps that are turning heads:

• 3D Cell World. Enter the mysterious world of the cell. Travel through translucent blue cytoplasm and feel the hypnotic movement of the cell walls. Discover the details of each element of the cell by navigating in game-like fashion to the Nucleus, Mitochondria, Ribosomes, and more. Become immersed in this amazing microcosm of nature and click to explore how this stunning and miraculous powerhouse generates energy for the entire human body.  (This app runs on your computer as well as an android device) http://view-university.com/apps/cellworld/ and http://view-university.com/apps/cellworld/CellWorld_Web.html

• Molecular Magic. Molecules, a free app for the iPad and iPhone, lets students view rendered 3D models of molecules and manipulate them using their fingers. Students can rotate the molecules by moving their finger across the display, zoom in or out by using two-finger pinch gestures or pan the molecule by moving two fingers across the screen at once. Students can view the structures in both ball-and-stick and space-filling visualization modes. They can also download new molecules from the Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics’ (RCSB) Protein Data Bank or the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s (NCBI) PubChem. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/molecules/id284943090

• ZCOOLY 3D math apps. Offered at  http://www.zcooly.se/

• Structure Sensor. Essentially a 3D scanner for mobile devices, Sensor attaches to your mobile device and effectively works to create a 3D image of anything you can view through the device’s camera. See http://structure.io/

Take us to SXSW

Please consider voting for our SXSW proposal. To vote, just click on the voting icon below.

http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/49162

(You will need to create an account and log in to vote, unfortunately. It would be so appreciated! Voting must be completed by September 4^th.)

See to Achieve: Where Virtual Reality, Vision, and Learning Meet

Reading. What does it take to be successful? Part of the answer is physiological. For the early learner, how well vision works is vital. Children’s eyes must be able to track, focus, and team (work together). Successful reading requires our eyes to track a line and focus on a word or letter—and our eyes must do those things together. Enter modern day virtual reality. 3D virtual reality experiences also require our eyes to track, focus, and team. Sound familiar? This presentation will show how virtual reality is fostering unanticipated benefits for vision health and learning; and how new mobile 3D technology is being used to screen for and improve early childhood vision. 

3D in Austin

At a recent conference, one of the most impressive 3D displays greeted me –not at the convention center—but at the Austin airport. 

Near the famous standing guitars (at the baggage claim area), directly opposite the statue of Barbara Jordan, I discovered a striking autostereoscopic display (glasses-free 3D). If you follow Barbara Jordan’s frozen gaze upwards, one will find three large mounted autostereoscopic displays (probably lenticular), each conveying a part of the “Texas” experience. The single most striking display messaged the importance of technology in the Texas economy. 

While the other autostereoscopic displays ranged from lackluster to average, the 3D effect of the technology-themed display was riveting, leaping out of the screen. You’ve got to see this one for yourself, the next time you find yourself in Austin. Keep Austin weird.

Sprouting 3D

At a recent conference, the most interesting new showing in the exhibit hall was HP’s new Sprout. Sprout is a next-generation 3D scanning and design station for home and school markets. Here is an explanatory video that clarifies this HP solution:

And here is my own home-spun video of Sprout in action on the exhibit hall floor:

Sprout looks like a very promising workstation for schools, but sadly, HP had it hidden away in its booth, not at all in the featured position it deserves. (I am always astonished at how manufacturers are so good at hiding good news.)