Computer Graphics World

Cengage Education Supplement digital 3D content for not just standard display and Web media, but also for new and exciting 3D displays," explains Seow Chiang. "The course also covers the many techniques used to create interactivity in digital content, allowing viewers/users to manipulate various digital 3D objects using different displays, as well as immerse themselves in a 3D virtual environment." The school's goal is to enable students to go through a complete workflow—from conceptualization, modeling, and animation to building a physical prototype—as part of their training. To ensure that students are exposed to a real-life working environment, the course has facilities equipped with highend 3D graphics workstations, 3D stereoscopic (from Zalman) and auto-stereoscopic (from Alioscopy, TechXpert, and Phillips) displays, and 3D software tools, such as Maxon's Cinema 4D, Adobe's Master Collection, and EON Reality's Studio, which are Stuart Robertson—SCAD Visual Effects Department chair, professor, and Academy made available to all students working on projects and assignAward winner—employs projection technology to engage and instruct students. ments. All workstations are linked to a dedicated renderfarm comprising blade hardware and queuing software to support computationally intenStereoscopic 3D Three-dimensional imagery is the hottest trend in the CG industry today and one sive applications. In addition, 3D IMT students have access to camera and lighting equipment, a destined to continue to consume industry and consumer attention well into the foregreenscreen for audio/video editing and composition, and computer-aided engineerseeable future. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) was one of the first accredited col- ing (CAE) design and 3D prototyping facilities, as well as such game-engine tools as leges to introduce a course on stereoscopic image making, says Peter Weishar, dean Act-3D's Quest3D and Unity Technologies' Unity 3D to develop interactive applications of the college's School of Film, Digital Media, and Performing Arts. SCAD offers two using 3D digital assets created with Cinema 4D. "Students also gain real-life project experience working in collaboration with our different stereoscopic classes, for which the school acquired multiple 55-inch Samsung 3D LED TVs, 100 pairs of active glasses, and rigs, including a Genus Hurricane 3D industry partners, as well as the Interactive Digital Centre (IDC) Asia, our one-stop, Mirror rig. "This was our first year running a Stereoscopic in Film class, for which we high-tech interactive digital center," Seow Chiang continues. IDC Asia houses a Solubought a 3D rig, but we have been running stereo visual effects classes for years. The tion Centre with state-of-the-art 3D display equipment, a three-sided CAVE environholiday cards we sent out this year even had a stereoscopic image with the anaglyph ment, gesture-based interactive display, and HD-quality videoconferencing setup. IDC Asia is a strategic partnership founded by Temasek Polytechnic, IM Innovations red-and-green glasses," he quips. Stereoscopic 3D Production students at The Digital Animation and Visual Effects Pte Ltd., and EON Reality, and supported by the Infocomm Development Authority of (DAVE) School in Orlando, Florida, use Imagineer Systems' Mocha and The Foundry's Singapore (IDA). The facility's mission is to provide leadership in user-inspired research, Ocula and Nuke. "Many of our graduates are now working as stereo artists, and several application development, and systems integration to support 3D visualization technoloare working as stereoscopic supervisors on feature films," says Steve Warner, executive director. For the school's latest student production, titled "Nazi Robots," students worked in conjunction with Emmy Award-winning producer Doug Stanley using two Element Technica Neutron rigs; four SI-2K cameras; Linos, Schneider, and Zeiss prime lenses; the Cmotion lens control package; a Cinedeck; and 1 Beyond's Data Wrangler Dude and Wrangler Mini. "We teach a variety of tools and techniques that prepare students for the real world of production," adds Daniel Smith, stereoscopic 3D production instructor at The DAVE School, which promotes immersive, problem-solving teamwork focused on producing a group project with all the pressures and deadlines found in real-world production. "We leverage the cutting edge of stereoscopic 3D production, so you can learn about it in an immersive environment, producing a fully 3D film that captivates and taps into the emotional and physiological aspects of this new wave in cinema. Teaching the right ways to apply 3D and problem-solve though production ebb and Temasek Polytechnic students and instructors study the inner flow prepares students with the right tool set to work in this exploding market." workings of a jet engine in the school's CAVE. 3D and Interactivity Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore now offers a diploma in 3D Interactive Media Technology (3D IMT), for which Yan Seow Chiang is course manager. The three-year program is designed to equip students with a foundation in engineering knowledge, digital media design concepts, and interactive 3D visualization and simulation in the interactive digital media (IDM) market. "This course, as its name implies, focuses on teaching the skills needed for creating • Education Supplement • July 2011 gies; to help various industry sectors, such as health care, education, aerospace, architecture, and engineering, gain a competitive advantage by adopting IDM solutions; and to serve as a virtual and physical hub for connectivity, innovation, and collaboration in the IDM community, especially in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region. Nontraditional and Notable The 3D Animation and Interactive Media program at Boston University Center for SI E Co Fe di St Av

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