Here are a few screenshots of a project that we have been working on at Feeling Software. From aerial photographs, this proof-of-concept shows how we can automatically build a 3D city model using our Feeling Constructive computer vision technology.
This was produced only using data that we were able to obtain internally. Better imagery, along with GPS position information, can be used to create 3D city models of much greater quality.
In a second proof-of-concept, we use 5 ground-level photos taken with a standard digital camera to create a near photo-realistic 3D model of one of the buildings nearby to our office in Montreal. This is done in a semi-automatic way, such that no 3D modeling experience is necessary to create the high quality 3D model.
Below, you can see how the City of Montreal uses the Feeling Engine GIS Edition as a visualization and planning tool for the city’s GIS department. Our office is in the red building!
Today, local governements today are creating impressive 3D representations of their cities, both for internal planning purposes and as external marketing materials. As the need for tools to create 3D cities rises across the globe, Feeling Software is looking for partners to bring these cutting-edge computer vision technologies to market.
One of my favorite blogs on the web is PetitInvention by a Tokyo-based concept designer named Mac Funamizu. A few months ago, I posted how one of his concepts, the “Future of Mobile Search“, should be an inspiration to all computer vision scientists.
It seems like the folks at Google Earth find Mac’s work inspiring too. Now, I have no way of knowing for sure that this was the source of their inspiration or whether it is just a happy coincidence, but have a look at the screenshots below and be the judge.
(above) Google Earth 5, released February 2nd, 2009
Future of Mobile Search - Search Beyond Time, posted July 9, 2008
Both Mac’s concept and Google Earth’s new release demonstrate a slider to look at imagery of the same scene over time. It’s still a ways away from the location and orientation-matched mobile design, but nonetheless, it is impressive to see one of Mac’s more imaginative concepts already appearing in a real-world product. We need more designers like Mac inspiring us with their ideas. Does anyone else have a favorite design site that they use for inspiration?
Frequent readers of this blog are familiar with Presto3D, a 3D model marketplace that we built and launched a few months back. The main distinguishing feature of that site was that artists could upload 3D models in a standard Maya or 3dsmax format, and we would automatically convert it to a form of COLLADA so that we could show a 3D preview of it within the browser.
In our latest update, you can now embed the 3D viewer with a specific model anywhere on the web. A one time plug-in download is required, but it is definitely worth it. The 3D rendering and speed is impressive, as is the artwork by hundreds of talented artists. The artist is credited and their models are linked to in the embedded window, to provide extra promotion. And anyone can embed the models anywhere, provided the artist grants permission.
Right now, the plug-in works on Windows in Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers. For those interested, the plug-in is a web-enabled version of the Feeling Engine.
I’ve spent a good portion of the last few weeks getting up to speed on the latest developments in the 3D display and 3D broadcasting industries. Here are three of the articles I read this week that I’ve found the most interesting:
Anxious to see more theaters converted to digital 3-D screens before DreamWorks Animation’s “Monsters vs. Aliens” opens in March, Paramount is offering to pay print fees directly to exhibitors who have the means to finance the conversion.
So, the big question is what are 3D backers doing now to revive interest in a format that most people already shrug off as a joke, and how on Earth do they plan to improve it enough to not only make it viable again, but downright desirable?
“I hope the TV industry doesn’t get conned again the way we did with HD,” [Fox Sports TV Group chairman-CEO David] Hill said. “And we got conned. It cost us a fortune to go to HD, but do we get a penny more from the advertisers? Do we get an extra rating point? No. Everybody benefited but the broadcasters.”
Saw this over on TechCrunch and thought it was so visually impressive that I had to mention it here. Google has teamed with New York City tourism to launch NYCgo. The ultra-modern tourism office, powered by Microsoft Surface (UPDATED) technology similar to Microsoft Surface created by Canadian Gesturetek and New York-based VideoSonic, and the high quality 3D model of NYC in Google Earth, looks amazing; I’ll definitely check it out next time I’m in NYC. Jump about two-thirds of the way into the video to see it.
Montreal, can we get an office like this, pleeeeeease?
I’m not a World of Warcraft player (anymore), but I think that today might be an important day for the future of 3D displays. The latest patch of World of Warcraft, played worldwide by over 11.5 million people, now supports stereoscopic 3D if you have the requisite hardware. This hardware includes: a pair of 3D shutter glasses, a 120 Hz, 22″ monitor from Samsung, and a USB infrared emitter to sync. This will run you $598. Then, of course, you have to have a good NVIDIA graphics card and be running Windows Vista.
So, don’t expect hundreds of millions of people to have things jumping out of their monitors tomorrow. Still, if you are a WoW player who is looking to get a new system, this price is reasonable since a good 22″ monitor will already cost you $200-$300. I got to try out this setup at the NVIDIA booth at CES (not WoW, but some other RPG), and it was pretty impressive. If I was getting a new gaming computer, I’d definitely spring for the extra few hundred bucks to be able to play in 3D. Especially since this system doesn’t work exclusively with World of Warcraft; NVIDIA has a list of over 100 games which it says play well in 3D.
One other thing to note: there is apparently a control on the infrafred emitter for you to toggle the “depth effect” which should be helpful if you are particularly headache-prone when viewing stereoscopic 3D content.
I want one! But I will be holding off for now, hoping that I can somehow turn my XBOX 360 into a 3D gaming station at a reasonable price sometime soon.
Some of you may have heard about Intel Larrabee, a long-term strategic project by Intel to move into the GPU space. Apparently, even with minimal promotion to date, word is starting to get around about the possibilities that this new chip will open up.
Anne Sweeney, president of the Disney-ABC Television Group, went out of her way to mention Intel during her Industry Insider presentation at CES this past week. Discussing ways in which technology could push her business forward, she exclaimed her excitement over how technological advancement, such as new products from Intel, would bring her viewers closer to the content her company produces. According to her, Disney-ABC is highly receptive to technology that creates innovative ways for viewers to interact with and establish a more personal relationship with the shows that they watch.
While not referencing Larrabee directly, this is my best guess on the new technology from Intel that she was talking about. In my own opinion, Larrabee is the Intel product with the most market-disruption potential, so I will be closely following the new developments around it. No launch date has been set, but the target is loosely described as “2009 or 2010″. I’d bet more on the latter, and I’ll keep you up to date when I hear more.
Update: Actually, this is not a mention of Larrabee. Apparently this is a reference to the Intel CE3100 chip, a processor and multi-channel, multi-format decoder for TV’s or set-top boxes, which will help provide access to Yahoo’s Widget Engine and add more interactivity to TV. Good catch from Barnes in the comments! I guess I was just too eager for Larrabee news, but it should start to pour in soon enough.
