- Driving and flight training
- Accident and crime re-enactment
- Interior, architectural and set design
- Urban planning
- Early childhood development and education
- Medical training and rehearsal
- Creative development for gaming, film and television
A Revolution in Realtime 3D Scene Assembly
SmartScene(tm) from MultiGen� Inc. offers an entirely new approach to assembling realtime 3D scenes on SGI workstations. It provides a 3D visual work space that takes advantage of the natural hand-to-eye coordination and facilitates intuitive design.
By synthesizing virtual reality techniques with "smart" premodeled building blocks, SmartScene increases ease-of-use and productivity by an order of magnitude, and makes realtime 3D scene assembly more accessible and practical.
SmartScene(tm) Technical Highlights
Developed for ease of use and high productivity
Two-handed user interface - A two-handed Pinch(tm) Glove interface puts 3D widgets, model components, texture and color in the palm of the hand. Natural hand gestures are used to grab and manipulate scene components with one or both hands. The complex tasks of positioning, scaling and rotating are done simultaneously in a single, natural hand gesture. The gloves use fingertip touch pads that provide the functionality of two four-button mice. In addition, a stereo-optic 3D head mounted display immerses the builder in a 3D visual work space and increases intuitive productivity.
Visual 3D Browser - A 3D model browser and widget toolset lie naturally in the palm of the hand. Scene components are organized in a visually logical way. This makes search and selection of modeling elements quick and natural. (For example, a fire hydrant is found at the corner of the street.)
ModelTime(tm) behaviors - ModelTime automated behaviors enable models to be quickly snapped together, replicated and scaled in size. When scene components are placed in rough position, they "know" to snap into precise position in relation to other scene elements. Models are selective and behave "appropriately." (For example, trees won't attach to rooftops. Roads won't attach to buildings.)
SmartKits - Assemble new scene elements quickly by creating and manipulating model parts from SmartKits included with SmartScene. After selection, the kit elements can be stretched to any proportion and snapped into place to build larger and more complex configurations. (For example, a section of buildings can be quickly modeled into an apartment complex.)
SmartPalettes(tm) - With SmartPalettes the user is presented with appropriate colors and textures that can be applied to objects in the scene. Used in combination with SmartKits, SmartPalettes allow the user to produce rich and varied scenes rapidly and intuitively from a fixed set of smart components.
Realtime performance - The SmartScene library is optimized for seamless realtime running using Silicon Graphics Performer(tm).
Key Benefits
Broader Accessibility
SmartScene broadens the access of realtime modeling beyond the scope of today's visual simulation professionals. Through its intuitive Two-Handed Interface and Visual 3D Browser, this technology will reach both non-professionals and consumers who have the need to assemble realtime scenes in both immersive and non-immersive environments.
Higher Productivity
SmartScene offers the ability to quickly assemble content-rich scenes at an order of magnitude faster than current 3D realtime modelers. It's Volume Manager quickly organizes 3D workspaces while ModelTime Behaviors provide design appropriateness and exactness. Coupled with a vast library of MultiGen�-based models embedded with SmartScene attributes, Realtime Performance is achieved.
Practical Applications
SmartScene will expand the use of 3D visual simulation in a wide range of
applications including:
