[From TG Daily; additional information from other sources follows below]

Christmas Yule Log to air in 3D for first time

Mark Raby | Thu 16th Dec 2010

To countless Americans, watching the perpetually burning Yule Log on TV is a Christmas tradition, and this year it’s getting a high-tech makeover.

It’s been part of the holiday TV makeup since the 1960s and has remained relatively unchanged over the last 44 years. Hundreds of millions of viewers have tuned in to see the relaxing fireplace burning with classic Christmas music in the background.

This year, though, you can make it feel like that log is so close you can touch it. For the first time, its producers will make the TV special available in 3D. … read more. “Christmas Yule Log to air in 3D for first time”

[From MIT’s Technology Review, where the story includes a 1:26 minute video]

[Image: More than real: The Wrap 920AR glasses provide immersive augmented reality for $1,995.]

Computing

Augmented Reality Goggles

New video glasses can produce dazzling special effects, but who’ll wear them?

Wednesday, November 10, 2010
By Kristina Grifantini

I held a black-and-white square of cardboard in my hand and watched as a dragon the size of a puppy appeared on top of it and roared at me. I watched a tiny Earth orbit around a real soda can, saw virtual balls fall through a digital gap in a table, and viewed a life-sized virtual human sitting in an empty chair.

What made these impressive special effects possible was a pair of augmented reality (AR) glasses—specifically, the Wrap 920AR glasses from Vuzix. Whereas virtual reality shows you only a digital landscape, augmented reality (AR) mixes virtual information, like text or images, into your view of the real world in real-time.… read more. “Are Vuzix and other glasses the future of augmented reality?”

[From The Irish Times]

[Image: Avatars on a computer-generated version of the Front Square of Trinity College Dublin]

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Creating better digital denizens

We are incredibly sensitive to human movement and appearance, which makes it a big challenge to create believable computerised crowds, but researchers at Trinity are working on improving that.

As you settle down to watch the seasonal feast of movies on TV this Christmas – or maybe as you get stuck into computer games that found their way under the tree – take a closer look at any virtual humans that crop up.

Are they realistic? Can you get a sense of the emotion they are meant to portray? Or are they jarring and weird with gestures and tones that somehow don’t quite add up?

Getting those computer-generated avatars to act in engaging and more “human” ways is trickier than it looks.… read more. “Creating more realistic virtual humans”

[A press release from NEVERDIE Studios via SourceWire]

Virtual Worlds Pioneer Brings Fiancée Back From The Dead In Virtual Reality

Monday, 20 December 2010

20th December 2010. Hollywood, CA – Virtual worlds pioneer, Jon NEVERDIE Jacobs, has revealed that he has brought his fiancée back from the dead as an avatar, and part of the launch of his latest virtual destination, the new Club NEVERDIE. The controversial entrepreneur believes that virtual reality will be the means by which humanity transcends death itself, and has taken the first step towards this with the inclusion of the avatar representing his late fiancée, Tina Leiu, who passed away suddenly in 2005. Two weeks ago Jacobs made worldwide headlines with the sale of the first Club NEVERDIE, based on a virtual asteroid, for a new world record $635,000 USD.… read more. “Virtual worlds entrepreneur brings fiancee back from dead as avatar”

[From The Peninsula; more information about the Center is here]

Hospital training, orientation go hi-tech at Sidra center

Friday, 17 December 2010
By Sonya Schneider-Ghaddar, RN

Qatar Health 2010, an annual Health Congress and Exhibition held earlier this week, presented exciting new ways of approaching healthcare, patient care and staff training. One presentation focused on the staff orientation project for the new Sidra Medical and Research Center, which is scheduled to open by the end of 2012.

The presentation outlined the daunting and unique task of bringing onboard and orienting 5000 to 6000 new staff members for a facility that is not yet completed. The decision to use high-tech simulation equipment and methods in a lab setting has been made and the simulation management team is now hard at work creating the orientation programme. The facility is a part of Qatar Foundation and will be located near Education City.… read more. “Hospital training, orientation go hi-tech at Sidra center”