3D Comm

For those readers who want to learn more about 3D in the educational marketplace, or simply wish to increase their knowledge about the possibilities and capabilities of 3D, a high-leverage opportunity is coming your way. 3D Comm Seminars are again being offered at this year’s InfoComm conference in Las Vegas on June 13 and 14.

These 90-minute sessions, taught by Insight Media analysts as well as other leaders in the 3D industry, will focus on “providing unbiased information on many aspects of the 3D ecosystem, and help you gain critical knowledge about technology, markets, applications and uses of 3D.” 

The 3D Comm schedule of offerings includes:

Wednesday, June 13
3D1	Introduction to Stereovision and 3D Human Factors	Chris Chinnock	Insight Media
3D2	Advanced Capabilities of 3D Projection	Victor Vettorello	Vista Systems Corp./ Christie Digital
3D3	System Integration for Stereoscopic Solutions	Norbert Hildebrand	Insight Media
3D4	Introduction to Stereovision and 3D Human Factors	Chris Chinnock	Insight Media
3D5	3D in Visualization/Simulation	Andrew Jamison	Scalable Display
3D7	Autostereoscopic 3D Displays for Digital Signage	Chris Chinnock	Insight Media
3D8	3D Applications - Where, What & Why	Norbert Hildebrand	Insight Media
Thursday, June 14
3D 9	Content Creation for Stereoscopic Displays	Chris Chinnock	Insight Media
3D11	Introduction to 3D Displays	Chris Chinnock	Insight Media
3D12	Remapping for 2012: 3D and the Education Market Space	Len Scrogan	University of Colorado-Denver
3D13	Deploying 3D Displays Using Touch, Gesture and Motion Tracking Technologies	Kurt Hoffmeister	Mechdyne

As you can tell, I am one of the presenters. I will be speaking about Remapping for 2012: 3D and the Education Marketspace. My focus will be on three key topics:

• “What does great eS3D look like?”
• “How can the industry best prepare for the 2012-2013 academic year in the educational marketplace?“
• “What changes and developments must be considered in order to reach and succeed in the educational market?“

Please join me if you can, and take time to shake hands and chat one-on-one. You can get more information about 3D Comm at this link.

3D Integrators

In my humble opinion, the role of integrators in creating 3D projects in a school is invaluable.

An integrator is a company that can help ‘integrate’ the disparate pieces involved in your classroom 3D project. An integrator can help identify the needed hardware components, offer sound technical advice, provide helpful technical support and problem solving over the long-haul, and even suggest appropriate 3D content.

In a word, an integrator can help simplify often confusing 3D technologies, making your road toward instructional success much easier and straighter. In my article, “3D Comes to School” (see January posting), I listed several such integrators. Since that time, I have updated my list of 3D integators:

Convergent Solution 

XpandD 

AV Rover  

(If any of my readers also represent an integrator firm with which I am currently unaware, please leave a comment below, listing your web site; and please contact me via email, so that I can update my list.)

3D Comes to School

Here's an unabridged version of my recently published article, "3D Comes to School." This article highlights some of the best approaches in exploring 3D, and it highlights the benefits of using various content providers and folks who can help you get started (integrators). The magazine-published version suffered through the excessively sharpened scalpel of seasoned editor, so this version will serve you with much better detail.

3D Teaching Basics

Movie theaters are not at all like the classroom, however. Let’s take a look at three practical questions about 3D in the classroom: What does it look like? What do we need to do this? What does it cost?

Our first question is: “What does 3D look like?”

Well, for now we’ll have to use the underwhelming and often insufficient nature of words to help you ‘see’ what 3D looks like in the classroom. At their worst, 3D images or videos have an appealing depth to them. They are quite interesting, certainly appealing to the attending function of the brain.    

At their best, however, 3d images or videos become altogether holographic, jutting out of the screen or reaching into the personal space directly in front of each viewer.

 

Another key question is: “What are the components needed to bring 3D into the classroom?” Basically, here’s what you need:

Our final question is “What does it cost?”

Until now, bringing 3d to the classroom was an expensive proposition. For example, seven years ago I visited a showcase community college classroom with this capability—40k was the price tag. Three years ago, another 3d school project came in at a mere 13k per classroom. Those prices certainly reflect complete impracticality within normal school settings.

But things are rapidly changing.  Prices are dropping significantly. The 3D technology now comes integrated without cost into most modern DLP projectors, requiring only a single projector; 3d-enabled computer graphic card costs have dropped from $800 to $120; 3D glasses are trending down (last year dropping to $150, sinking to less than $99 by last fall, and will likely level off at $35-50 per pair very soon; and more and more 3D content is becoming available.