Technology

FocusOnDesign 2004

Begins: October 6, 2004

The FocusOnDesign conference is an interdisciplinary design conference. It will include technology product workshops, lectures and panel discussions. On Oct. 9, attendees will participate in a one-day Digital Arts Technology Symposium (DATS) entitled "Overdrive -Shift Your Career into High Gear." DATS will present a group of digital media and videogame experts to explore trends, opportunities and new design technology as part of this fourth annual conference. More information can be found at www.focusondesign.org.

In Event Types: Conferences, Discussion, Exhibits, Seminars / Workshops, Animation, Interactive, Web / Internet

Korean Researchers Anticipate New 3D Technology Boost

A group of Korean researchers from a local university have developed a new kind of high-quality MoCap technology that is so simple to use that they believe this will allow Koreans to compete internationally in vfx, reported THE CHOSUN ILBO.

In Business, Visual Effects, Business, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Film Events

5th International Trade Fair for Motion Picture Technology (cinec 2004)

Begins: September 18, 2004

The International Trade Fair for Motion Picture Technology is a bi-annual international meeting point of the film sector. In 2002, 3,127 visitors from 49 countries attended the event. Participation in the film industry's specialist trade fair is expected from the fields of camera and grip technology, production of film stock, lighting and sound, post-production and digital film editing, set decoration and accessories, technical aids, as well as services, institutes, organizations and publishing houses.

In Event Types: Conferences, Discussion, Exhibits, Seminars / Workshops, Screenings, Animation, Documentaries, Features, Live Action, Short Films, Special Effects, Visualization, Visual Effects, Other

Technology Headline News

Massive Founder Regelous Nominated for 2004 World Technology Award

Massive Software founder and product manager Stephen Regelous has been nominated for a World Technology Network Award in the entertainment category. Determined by a vote of industry peers, the awards are presented by the World Technology Network (WTN) to recognize work that has a high level of innovation and lasting significance in such fields as biotechnology, space, energy, ethics, design and entertainment. Winners will be named Oct. 8 at the World Technology Awards in San Francisco.

In Awards, Visual Effects, Awards, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Technology Headline News

3ds max 7 to Integrate ATI Pixel Shader

Discreet 3ds max 7 will utilize ATI shader technology to provide impressive realtime hardware accelerated rendering in the 3ds max viewport. Created for game developers, 3D visual effects artists and artists creating 3D cinematics, the co-developed technology by Discreet and ATI will make a realtime 3D image rendered in the 3ds max viewport appear close in appearance to the final offline rendered 3D image or animation.

In Technology, Visual Effects, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Technology Headline News

Daniel Rosen Elected Chairman of Hollywood Section SMPTE

Daniel S. Rosen, vp, engineering, Warner Bros. Advanced Media Services Inc., has been elected chairman of the Hollywood section of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE).

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Animation VFXWorld

3D Animation Takes Off in Education

Mary Ann Skweres uncovers the rapid rise of 3D animation as a valuable teaching tool in education.

In Technology | VFXWorld

Technology Headline News

Disney Gets New Tech Head

Walt Disney has promoted Bob Lambert to svp for worldwide media technology and development, reports VARIETY. In his new expanded role, he will oversee several new digital media projects, Disney's relationships with technology companies, regulatory matters and piracy protection. He will continue overseeing the New Technology and New Media group and providing corporate guidance for the Walt Disney Imagineering Research and Development unit.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Technology Headline News

Bionatics' natFX 1.9 for 3ds max Now Available

Bionatics has announced the availability of natFX 1.9 for 3ds max from Discreet. The software now offers a new generation of hybrid modeling technology, such as the texture manager or the choice of the number of billboard. Hybrid modeling is a compromise between 2D and 3D.

In Technology, Technology | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Technology Headline News

COMDEX Las Vegas 2004 Postponed

COMDEX Las Vegas 2004 has been postponed in order to reshape the event with the cooperation of information technology (IT) industry leaders, it was announced by organizer MediaLive International Inc. COMDEX 2004 had been scheduled to open November 14, 2004, in Las Vegas. The company has established a COMDEX Advisory Board representing the IT industry's foremost companies to determine how COMDEX can reboot itself to best meet the future needs of the industry.

In Event, Visual Effects, Event, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe, South America

Technology Headline News

New HP Workstations Expand 3D Visualization Capacity

HP announced a new line of personal workstations- the xw4200, xw6200 and xw8200 -- that are engineered to offer customers increased power, reliability and support, which is good news for 3D animation and vfx.

In Technology, Technology | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Technology Headline News

NVIDIA Launches New Multi-GPU Technology

NVIDIA Corp. unveiled a new technology that enables multiple NVIDIA GeForce 6 Series or NVIDIA Quadro graphics cards to operate in a single PC or workstation for a stunning increase in graphics horsepower. Appearing later this year in PCI Express-based PCs and workstations from top manufacturers, the new NVIDIA SLI technology takes full advantage of the additional bandwidth and features of this new high-bandwidth bus architecture.

In Technology, Technology | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe

Dreamworks Headline News

HP Expands Deal With DreamWorks, Cleans Up Classic at WB

HP has announced an expanded relationship with DreamWorks and a new deal with Warner Bros. to clean up the image quality of Technicolor films in Warner Bros. library.

HP and DreamWorks will team on new technologies for off-site animation rendering and remote collaboration. Built on a technology partnership that began in 2001, the collaboration provides DreamWorks Animation with state-of-the-art technology solutions from HP, which will be used on SHREK 2, SHARK TALE, MADAGASCAR and the NBC computer-animated TV series, FATHER OF THE PRIDE.

In Technology, Technology | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Technology Events

Computer Game Technology Conference 2004

Begins: April 8, 2004

The Computer Game Technology Conference is dedicated to strengthening and developing the association between academic institutions and the

In Event Types: Conferences, Exhibits, Seminars / Workshops, Screenings, Trade Shows, Animation, Business / Management, Interactive, New Media, Web / Internet

Technology Events

COMDEX Canada 2003

Begins: March 24, 2004

COMDEX Canada 2003 is a technology marketplace where buyers and sellers meet, learn and make business technology decisions. The event gives professionals a look at new applications and solutions. The event allows them to generate and close leads, shorten sales cycles, support existing clients, develop channel distribution or technology partnerships, position or launch new products, increase brand awareness, gain exposure to press and analysts and generate demonstrable ROO and ROI. For more information on the event visit www.comdex.com/canada/.

In Event Types: Conferences, Exhibits, Seminars / Workshops, Trade Shows, Business / Management, Documentaries, Interactive, New Media, Visualization, Visual Effects, Web / Internet, Other

The Pixel Priestess: Art Has Bumped into the Ceiling of Technology

In her debut Pixel Priestess column, Jill Smolin ponders the tension between art and technology in vfx and where we go from here.

In VFXWorld

Technology Headline News

Sega Developing Advanced Mouth Movements Technology

Sega has announced its development of new software for future use in games that will allow for more realistic mouth movements with character voices. Magical VEngine form these movements by comparing vowels and consonants sounds against each other then use the data to create more natural facial movements in realtime. In addition, the software will analyze voice actors' speech automatically choosing the proper facial animations, thus expressing more accurate moods. Sega will unveil the technology at the Tokyo Institute of Technology at the end of the month.

In Interactive, Visual Effects, Games, Interactive, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Technology Headline News

China's NetEase Embraces Australia's BigWorld Technology

BigWorld Pty. Ltd., the developer of the award-winning BigWorld Technology, has licensed the world's most advanced Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) development package to Chinese Internet Technology company, NetEase.com.

BigWorld Technology is a customizable MMOG middleware created by Australia's Micro Fort⁄ Pty Ltd., and has been described by Microsoft as "the most advanced and comprehensive solution that has ever been offered for massively multiplayer game development".

In Interactive, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Australia

Digital Headline News

Big Chip Award Goes to Dr. Who

The 6th annual Big Chip Awards, the digital awards for North-West England, were handed out on Jan. 22, 2004 at the New Century Hall New Century House in Manchester. Cosgrove Hall took home the prize for Best Digital Animation for DOCTOR WHO: The Scream of the Shalka commissioned by and produced for BBCi. The 85-minute series is available to watch on the BBCi Website (www.bbc.co.uk/cult) and was produced to coincide with the Doctors 40th Anniversary.

Other winners included:

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Technology Events

Consumer Electronics Show

Begins: January 8, 2004

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the world's largest annual tradeshow for consumer technology. Manufacturers, developers and suppliers of consumer technology hardware, content, technology delivery systems and related products and services attend and exhibit at the event. Attendees come from more than 110 countries. More than 100 sessions with the industry's leading speakers help attendees discover the newest trends, strategies and profit opportunities in the consumer technology industry.

In Event Types: Conferences, Seminars / Workshops, Special Effects, Visual Effects, Other

Technology Headline News

FCC Chairman & CEA CEO Go 'One-on-One' at CES

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Michael Powell will address top public policy issues facing the consumer technology industry during a "One-on-One" discussion with Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) president and ceo Gary Shapiro at the 2004 International CES. The session will take place on Jan. 9 at 7:30 am in the Las Vegas Convention Center Room N257. The 2004 International CES runs Jan. 8 11, 2004.

In Event, Visual Effects, Event, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe

Technology Headline News

Maltz to Head Academy's New Science and Tech Council

Andrew Maltz, former president/ceo of Avica Technology Corp., has been named director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' new Science and Technology Council.

In People, Visual Effects, People, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe

Technology Events

9th ETA-Entertainment Technology Alliance

Begins: October 29, 2003

ETA-Entertainment Technology Alliance is dedicated to brining the entertainment industry and technologists together. The event will take place at the Hudson Hotel. Speakers will include people from such companies as AT&T, E! Online Entertainment, Microsoft Windows Digital Media, Screen Digest and Time Magazine. ETA Expo hopes to create a better understanding in the field of media technology and entertainment business. For more information, contact tel.: (310) 229-8915, e-mail: info@etaexpo.com or Web: http://www.etaexpo.com.

In Event Types: Conferences, Exhibits, Seminars / Workshops, Animation, Business / Management, Documentaries, Features, Interactive, Live Action, New Media, Short Films, Television, Visualization, Visual Effects, Web / Internet, Other

Production Headline News

Swallow Promoted at Universal's Production Technology

Universal Pictures has promoted John Swallow to evp of production technology. He will continue to report to presidents of production Mary Parent and Scott Stuber. Swallow was named svp of production technology for Universal in January 1998, having first joined the studio in Nov. 1996 as vp of production technology. Over the years, he has been responsible for supervising the production technology for such films as THE GRINCH, THE MUMMY, THE MUMMY RETURNS, THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK, THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS and OCTOBER SKY.

In People, Visual Effects, People, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Internet Events

Next Generation Internet Conference

Begins: June 24, 2003

The North American IPv6 Global Summit, is taking place June 24-27, 2003 in San Diego, at the California State University of San Diego.The next generation of the Internet (also known as Internet Protocol version 6 - the old Internet is version 4) will profoundly affect companies involved in online gaming, in telecommunications or in other heavy online traffic such as multimedia presentations. The new Internet will spawn a generation of opportunities, including jobs and yet-to-be-invented new classes of products.

In Event Types: Conferences, Seminars / Workshops, Animation, Interactive, New Media, Web / Internet