Micoy Awarded Global Patent for Multi-Dimensional 3D Immersive Spherical Imaging Technology (Read more...)

This interesting press release tells how Micoy Corporation has patented a new and unique system for immersive spherical 3D environments. With this, the user gets immersed literally inside a movie or 3D creation. This is clearly the future of 3D experiences.

AMES, IOWA – Micoy Corporation, the world’s only provider of true omni-directional spherical 3D immersive imaging technology, today announced that it has been awarded Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) number WO 2206/107934 from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to promoting the protection of intellectual property around the world. The breakthrough technology enhances current 3D display offerings to become fully enclosed, truly immersive 3D environments for the most realistic viewing possible.

Promotional advertisers, tradeshow marketers, government agencies, movie theatres, videogame developers, entertainment venues and others can leverage the unique experience of Micoy’s truly immersive 3D image format to sell, educate and entertain.

“We are ultimately taking the way people interact with games and 3D entertainment to a whole new level,” said Don Pierce, founder and president of Micoy. “For example, showing a 3D film rendered with Micoy technology allows viewers to be literally enveloped and inside the movie in a 360-degree environment, making the experience incredibly realistic and highly memorable. Some have said that the future of 3D should be as clear as a giant picture window and we want to help you step through that window.”

HOW IT WORKS

Rather than compete with current 3D technology, Micoy’s image format is complementary and enhances the viewing experience regardless of which hardware is employed.

With content rendered in the Micoy image format, the 360-degree volumetric stereo separation is mapped in the image itself.  The Micoy rendered content can then be displayed in either a panoramic or dome theater to allow for the truly immersive visuals.  A flat screen is unable to display truly immersive 3D since it does not physically surround the viewer.

MICOY’S FULL SUITE OF PRODUCTS

Micoy leverages its patented 360°3D technology in three ways:

THE MICOY 360°3D TOOLSET is the world’s first panoramic 3D image format. This powerful software rendering toolset enables the user to create panoramic 3D computer animation from films produced using current 3D industry standard animation software programs such as Maya or 3D Studio Max. The Micoy 360°3D format creates a true 3D environment around the viewer. Through Micoy’s rendering product, any computer animated scene or simulation can be turned into a compelling panoramic 3D experience.

THE MICOY REAL-TIME 360°3D STEREO RENDERING ENGINE, highly anticipated and in current development, will make possible the first-ever real-time panoramic 360°3D stereo engine available commercially. This development will allow users in entertainment, virtual reality simulation, industrial/military training and computer gaming applications to truly experience this engaging format. Micoy is currently accepting key industry development partners to help bring this technology to market.

THE MICOY 360°3D CAMERA is the advanced panoramic 3D digital video camera system currently under development using Micoy’s optical designs. Micoy is also presently seeking development partners for this pioneering project. The ability to record or view an immersive experience in real time will open the door to significant applications previously thought impossible for entertainment, government/military applications and beyond.

SEEING IS BELIEVING

Micoy will showcase their ground-breaking 360-3D immersive technology within a dome environment at the next 3D Gaming Summit in April 2010 in Universal City , Calif. Additional screenings are scheduled upon request.

ABOUT MICOY

Micoy Corporation is the world’s only provider of true omni-directional spherical 3D immersive imagery. Based in Ames, Iowa, the company licenses its software to content producers and distributors from a variety of markets such as promotional advertising, tradeshow exhibition, military training, feature film, videogames and theme park destinations, to name a few. For more information, please visit www.micoy.com.

Dassault Systemes Introduces 3DVIA Composer V6R2010x (Read more...)

Paris, France – January 13^th, 2010 – Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced the availability of 3DVIA Composer V6R2010x. Significant enhancements in this release further support Dassault Systèmes’ V6 strategy to enable on-line 3D collaboration to all users within an enterprise, while introducing other features including an improved user experience and enhanced technical illustration capabilities.

3DVIA Composer revolutionizes the product documentation process for enterprises of all sizes. With its easy-to-use desktop content-creation system, 3DVIA Composer leverages CAD data to automate the creation of assembly and disassembly procedures, technical illustrations, interactive 3D animations, training materials, marketing materials and sales tools. Further extending its ability to unlock potential for traditional 2D publications, the new features allow professionals and non-experts to generate advanced technical illustrations that do not require time-consuming, manual adjustments and revisions.

“Companies everywhere are trying to do more with less, and 3DVIA Composer is an innovative product that helps manufacturers of all sizes create efficiencies that are clear and tangible,” said Lynne Wilson, CEO of 3DVIA, Dassault Systèmes. “New functionalities in this release enhance the creation and distribution of lifelike product experiences across an organization, putting power in the hands of non-CAD users and extending the promise of PLM 2.0 on the V6 platform.”

3DVIA Composer V6R2010x enhancements include:

• Lifelike Experience
  • Enhanced technical illustration capabilities: The new “Paper Space” feature provides a What You See Is What You Get capability, transforming the 3DVIA Composer display into a preview of the final document layout. This will ensure the consistent layout and delivery of your content regardless of user display resolutions for 3D documentation or specified paper sizes for 2D published illustrations.

o Enhanced and simplified user experience: The intuitive and easy-to-learn Ribbon interface provides the option of organizing commonly used and advanced functions in a logical way that allows users of all experience levels to become more productive and proficient in 3DVIA Composer. Products, parts, geometries and internal nodes are now displayed with different icons to increase ease of use. Experiences can be published directly from Composer to 3DVIA.com.

 

• Support for CATIA FT&A cross-highlighting: For companies using 3D as the master source of information, enhanced support CATIA V5 Feature, Tolerancing and Annotation (FT&A) data now includes cross-highlighting capabilities. By providing interactive FT&A that highlight the related surfaces for an operation, 3DVIA Composer and 3DVIA Composer Player Pro will ensure that the engineering intent is effectively communicated and understood by downstream users.
  
  
• Online Creation and Collaboration
  • Direct publishing to 3DVIA.com: 3DVIA Composer content can be directly published to 3DVIA.com as standard 3D content or fully interactive 3D documents. This information can then be shared with the large community of 3DVIA.com users. In addition, 3DVIA Composer offers effective functionality to help prepare models for sharing on the 3DVIA Mobile app for iPhone and iPod Touch.
• Lower Cost of Ownership
  • Interoperability plug-in: The ability to expand the number of 3D formats supported by 3DVIA Composer through a new framework, that enables high-quality, externally developed importer products to be plugged directly into 3DVIA Composer and 3DVIA Sync. This enhancement automatically adds new native 3D import options directly into the user interface, providing a seamless and intuitive end-user experience.

o CATIA V5 Piping Design: Meta properties defined in piping design of CATIA V5 are now supported, allowing important information such as nominal size, to be associatively displayed into 3DVIA Composer labels and BOM tables.

“We are delighted to contribute new interoperability capabilities to this latest release of 3DVIA Composer.” said Trevor Leeson, Product Manager at Theorem Solutions. “The integration of Theorem’s JT CADverter technology makes the benefits of 3DVIA Composer V6R2010x available to a whole new community of users.”

For more information on the new features and functionality of 3DVIA Composer V6R2010x, visit: http://www.3dviacomposer.com/v6r2010x.

Frenzoo: A World Of 3D Chat & Creation Within Your Browser (Read more...)

Today Frenzoo has been launched their public beta. Join them and start populating this brand new world.

 

HONG KONG, January 11, 2010 -- Frenzoo Ltd today launches the first global 3d online world with user generated content on the web.  Now in public beta at www.frenzoo.com, the website allows adult and teen users to create an avatar, 3d chat in animated scenes, create and sell fashion & content, all within their Internet browser.

Unlike existing virtual worlds, the new destination does not require a large download or separate program to use.

"You can escape to Frenzoo to meet people and be creative, no matter what country you're from" said Simon Newstead, CEO & Co-Founder of Frenzoo.  "Whether designing stunning outfits for a fashion show, hosting a intergalactic danceparty or speed-dating in a tropical island hideout, we envision Frenzoo as the website to live your virtual dreams.  What's different is accessibility - we want to bring all the fun of 3D without the frustration"

Unique 3d fashion design tool
The site features the first 3d fashion design tool on the web.  The tool lets you make clothes, hair, skin, items and animations easily, without needing design skills or external software.  Frenzoo also supports mod sims and native import from 3D Max as well as Blender, Maya, Google Sketchup, Poser, Milkshape and others via Collada API. 

Global marketplace and virtual economy
Frenzoo features many language versions including English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, German, Portugese, Dutch among others.   The virtual economy features a dual currency system with both a free Silver Coins and paid & earned Gold Coins.  Gold Coins are able to be traded and sold on leading partner sites such as AnsheX, First Meta Exchange and Fgcxchange.com

Strategic partnership with Anshe Chung
Frenzoo has partnered with leading virtual content producer Anshe Chung Studios, who provide input in product design. They are also one of several content creators who have products for sale on the marketplace.  According to Ailin Graef (Anshe Chung), "Frenzoo has great potential as an accessible 3d world on the web, something missing up to now.  For those making their first jump into 3d avatar chat , Frenzoo is an ideal destination.  We are working closely with the team to realize this vision"

Backing from Ambient Sound Investments, Co-Founders of Skype
Frenzoo has been developed with support from Ambient Sound Investments, established in 2003 as an equal partnership by four founding engineers at Skype Technologies and serving as a seed investment vehicle for high potential startups.

Availability
The Frenzoo beta is now live at www.frenzoo.com and is available for anyone aged 13 and up to use.  Frenzoo runs on both Mac and PC platforms, with support for Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari and other browsers.

www.frenzoo.com), is the first 3d online world with user generated content on the web.  The destination allows users to create their avatar, meet people & 3d chat in animated virtual scenes, express their style and create fashion & content, all within their Internet browser.  Mod sims and 3d asset import from packages such as 3D Max and Blender are also supported.  The Frenzoo team is based in Hong Kong, and has been developed with seed investment from Ambient Sound Investments, established in 2003 as an equal partnership by four founding engineers at Skype Technologies.  Frenzoo has a partnership with leading virtual content producer Anshe Chung Studios (ACS).  Frenzoo leverages the power of the Unity 3d engine, used by leading entertainment companies such as Electronic Arts and Cartoon Networks.  The lightweight plugin installs in seconds without any reload of the browser, and enables Frenzoo to deliver rich 3D content rendered in hardware, enabling high quality graphics, avatars and animations.

Contest: Model A Plastic Tableware, Win $300 In 3D Printing (Read more...)

As stated, this is the contest: you model a plastic tableware for Maryland Plastics, and get $300 in 3D Printing at Shapeways.

Read the entry at Shapeways blog here. February 7th 2010 is the deadline. Hurry!

Shapeways Can Now Print 3D In Colors (Read more...)

As I said in the article "The Best For 2010 In 3D And Virtual Worlds", Shapeways is going to give us lots of good surprises for the near future.

They have just released 3D printing in colors. As you will read in their blog, the precision of the 3D printing is quite good, and the material has been improved to make it stronger than other similar 3d printing products.

Here's a video of the process of 3D printing in colors:

To model something to be created in colors, you need to follow some guidelines. You need to export your model to VRML or X3D, and apply a texture map, as explained here. (Another proof of the prevail of VRML)

There's also the possibility of creating things that can be customized when purchased, for example customers can add their own images to your product.

Read the blog entry at Shapeways, and you will find for example an iPod stand, a framed photo, and some fancy marbles that can be customized to show your own images.

This is the less expensive material currently available in Shapeways. If you like its natural color, you can also print models in Full Color Sandstone.