(Chicago, IL) - SIGGRAPH 2008 New Tech Demos (formerly Emerging Technologies) present creative, innovative technologies and applications in many fields including displays, robotics, input devices, and interaction techniques. These New Tech Demos will be unveiled this August during SIGGRAPH 2008 in Los Angeles, California, USA.Â
To broaden the scope and increase the quality of the attendees' interactive experiences at SIGGRAPH, a combination of curated demonstrations and juried interactive installations will be presented. Only the most innovative 35 of the more than 180 juried submissions were selected and will be on display and available for interaction with attendees. There will be an additional 9 curated pieces.Â
"Many of these cutting-edge technologies exemplify how our past informs our future and how it affects the upcoming opportunities and challenges of computer graphics and interactive techniques," stated Mk Haley, SIGGRAPH 2008 Conference Director of Encounters with Disney-ABC Digital Media. "The technologies and installations in New Tech Demos encourage people to engage with the future, as well as celebrate our past, as we invigorate, explore, and define our potential."Â
Following are highlights of this popular venue:Â
Rome
Reborn
Bernard Frischer,Dean Abernathy, University of Virginia; Gabriele
Guidi, Politecnico di Milano; Joel Meyers, Past Perfect
Productions; Cassie Thibodeau, Antonio Salvemini, mental images
GmbH; Pascal Müller, Procedural Inc.Â
The largest virtual historical reconstruction, cultural heritage, and digital archeology project undertaken to date. Approximately 7,000 reborn buildings recapture Rome at the peak of its glory, in 320 AD, at the time of Constantine the Great.Â
Potential Future Use:
Rome Reborn revolutionizes the way we explore, discover, research,
and publish in archeology. It offers new approaches for exhibiting
historical findings in museums. It opens new channels for
collaboration within a community of research scientists, and for
the public at large. And it could transform the way history is
taught in our schools.Â
MDS
(Mobile-Dexterous-Social) Robot for Human-Robot Teamwork
Cynthia Breazeal, Mikey Siegel, Matt Berlin, Jesse Gray,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Rod Grupen, Patrick Deegan,
University of Massachusetts Amherst;John McBean, Kailas Nerendran,
Xitome Design; Jeff Weber, Meka Robotics LLCÂ
Featuring an amazingly life-like humanoid robot with a novel combination of mobility, dexterity, human-centric communication, and interaction abilities.Â
Potential Future Use:
In the near future, personal robots will assist people as capable
partners in tasks that require cognitive, physical, and social
competence. By integrating mobile manipulation with human-centric
interaction abilities, this project aims to develop partner robots
that enhance health, education, and home environments.Â
Copycat
Arm
Kiyoshi Hoshino, Tomida Motomasa, University of TsukubaÂ
Copycat Arm is a robot system that imitates human motions without time delay, by visually estimating the human hand and arm postures at high accuracy with a processing time of 100 fps or more.Â
Potential Future Use:
A robot communicating with sign language can be developed by
teaching it different motions and their meanings. An information
input device in which the contents on the screen change depending
on the motions of the user's hand can be realized, eliminating the
use of a mouse and a keyboard. For inputting three-dimensional
models such as clay art, the user has to move his/her hand or arm
in the desired manner and form a particular shape. Further, the
virtual objects in computer games can be operated using different
hand and finger motions such as kneading, twisting, or
crushing.Â
 |
Copycat
Arm |
Matsumoto-jo:
A Virtual 16th Century Japanese Castle
Jonathan Amakawa, Studio AmakawaÂ
This new technology provides an interactive virtual exploration of feudal Japan via a reconstruction of a 16th Century Japanese castle. It utilizes video game media in new, novel ways in order to present the rich complexity of historical subject matter.Â
Potential Future Use:
At its essence Matsumoto-jo is a new media work of art that
utilizes interactive 3D and video game media to present a
convergence of art, architecture, artifacts, history and culture.
This medium represents an important development for museums and
cultural institutions in presenting complex and multidisciplinary
content.Â
 |
Matsumoto-jo: A Virtual 16th Century
Japanese Castle © Jonathan Amakawa, Studio Amakawa |
Latte Art
Machine
Oleksiy Pikalo, OnLatteÂ
Presents a new method of displaying images on the surface of premium espresso-based drinks. This stand-alone machine uses inkjet technology to compose stunning latte art designs by infusing the foam layer of the beverage with the tiny droplets of colorant.Â
Potential Future Use:
Our latte art machine explores the new medium by combining the
existing inkjet technology with the freedom of artistic
expression.Â
 |
Latte Art Machine © Oleksiy Pikalo, OnLatte |
Maglev
Haptics! Butterfly Haptic's New User-Interface Technology
Ralph Hollis, Peter Berkelman, Bert Unger, Dan O'Halloran, Matt
Pucevich, Joey Liang, Mark Dzmura, Kei Usui, Carnegie Mellon
University; Beth Hollis, Butterfly HapticsÂ
Magnetic levitation haptic devices allow users to interact with computed environments by manipulating a handle that is levitated by magnetic means. Users can translate and rotate the handle while feeling forces and torques from the virtual environment. The motors, encoders, linkages, gears, belts, cables, and bearings of traditional haptic devices are simply dispensed with in favor of a direct electrodynamic connection to the handle by the user.Â
Potential Future Use:
Haptic interaction with 3D virtual environments mediated through
magnetic levitation provides unprecedented fidelity. In addition to
many research applications, this approach can be used in
computer-aided design, medical and dental training, visualization
and interaction with multi-dimensional data, microsurgery, control
of remote robot manipulators and vehicles, arcade games, and
character animation.Â
Airborne
Ultrasound Tactile Display
Takayuki Hosh, Takayuki Iwamoto, Hiroyuki Shinoda, Mari Tatezono,
The University of TokyoÂ
Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display will substantially improve the usability of 3D CADs or stereoscopic displays by superimposing a high-fidelity pressure field onto the graphic objects presented in 3D free space, and enable the users to physically handle these objects with their bare hands.Â
Potential Future Use:
The hand tracking system used in this prototype is a simple system
comprised of a single camera. However, if the Airborne Ultrasound
Tactile Display is combined with more sophisticated hand tracking
systems, it would be a more practical haptic interaction system. It
can also be expected that by superimposing acoustic radiation
pressure onto the 3D graphic objects presented with stereoscopic
displays, it effectively enhances the reality of the 3D virtual
objects.Â
 |
Airborne Ultrasound Tactile
Display © Takayuki Iwamoto, The University of Tokyo |
More information on SIGGRAPH 2008 New Tech DemosÂ
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About SIGGRAPH
SIGGRAPH 2008 will bring an estimated 30,000 computer graphics and
interactive technology professionals from six continents to Los
Angeles, California, USA for the industry's most respected
technical and creative programs focusing on research, science, art,
animation, gaming, interactivity, education, and the web from
Monday, 11 August through Friday, 15 August 2008 at the Los Angeles
Convention Center. Celebrating its 35th year, SIGGRAPH 2008
includes a three-day exhibition of products and services from the
computer graphics and interactive marketplace from 12-14 August
2008. More than 250 international exhibiting companies are
expected. Registration for the conference and exhibition is open to
the public. More details
About ACM
ACM, the Association
for Computing Machinery, is the world's largest educational and
scientific computing society, uniting educators, researchers and
professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources and address the
field's challenges. ACM strengthens the computing profession's
collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the
highest standards, and recognition of technical excellence. ACM
supports the professional growth of its members by providing
opportunities for life-long learning, career development, and
professional networking.Â
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