SIGGRAPH 2006
I just got back from a day at SIGGRAPH 2006. It rocked. My head is about to explode! I walked around the exhibits and checked out the emerging technologies section. At first I was overwhelmed but at every one of these types of conferences, you are bound to find a nugget, and I got quite a few today. Reminded me of my first passion in technology and art - computer animation and video gaming. Seriously. I wrote to Roberta Williams when I was like 12 years old asking how to get a job in computer game design. I found the Sierra booth today, and told them so. LOL. I was dubbed “old skool”. I never thought I had enough experience to ever break into the industry. Now I know you need the fundamentals - drawing and storyboarding - and a passion for gaming to get in. Plus a tolerance for being paid next to nothing and working your way up slowly…I think I’m used to that!
I saw virtual open heart surgery, a teddy bear that responded to touch, I shared drawings and documents on a virtual tabletop, checked out demos of the techniques used in the latest animated films from Disney, ImageWorks, SoftImage, LucasFilm, and Pixar. I shook hands with a holographic, Avatar, 3D Japanese robot! I swear!
Anyway, here are some of my nuggets :
- BU’s Center for Digital Imaging Arts : Arranged to get some of their professors into teach my kids in my lab, or build articulation between our schools. He sent me to Animation Masters…
- A demo convinced me to purchase Animation Masters for myself to play with and to get price breaks for licensing in my media lab. 3D animation with video capture and sound - the kids would go wild! (as will I!) Checked that out along with CosmicBlobs.com for middle schoolers.
- Dicussed and finally decided upon the Avid vs Final Cut Pro vs Adobe Premier dilemma for video editing. Going with Adobe.
- Got a blinking key chain from Boston’s createboston group. You gotta get the free blinking stuff at these events.
- Got jazzed about 3D blogging by a Frenchman! Oh yes, be prepared…
I have to stop now since I am off to the Sox game tonight in about 10 minutes…
Related Links :
http://www.siggraph.org/s2006/ (it’s in San Diego next year!)
http://www.hash.com (Animation Masters software)
http://www.studentfilmmakers.com (free magazine and contests for aspiring film makers and animators)
http://www.officeoftomorrow.org (collaborative virtual table tops)
http://www.cosmicblobs.com (3d for elementary level)
http://www.cdiabu.com (BU’s Center for Digital Imaging program I’ve been eyeing for over a year now)
http://www.myblog3d.com (3d BLOGGING!!)
