Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) launched Autodesk Maya 8 software, the newest version of its Academy Award-winning 3D modeling, animation and rendering solution. Maya has been used by a variety of clients, including BMW, CNN, Disney, Epic Games, Industrial Light & Magic, Midway Games and Weta Digital, to create breathtaking 3D imagery for feature films, interactive games, broadcast graphics and industrial design. Autodesk Maya 8 meets the demands of next-generation productions by addressing the real-world production challenges 3D artists are currently facing. Maya 8 will be showcased at the Autodesk booth #1706 at SIGGRAPH 2006, August 1-3 at the Boston Convention Center. more

While new software products continue to turn up at every Siggraph, along with the latest update of core graphics programs, not much turns up to update the actual physical tools that artists use to create their work.

At Siggraph 2006, that‘s changing, with various haptic technologies on display that may soon offer more natural, interactive techniques to interface with software. (Haptic technology refers to technology which interfaces with the user via the sense of touch.)

Researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo are showing a fingertip-mounted sensing digitizer; it captures what‘s happening at a user‘s fingertip during various activities. This new fingertip-mounted device uses technologies such as a miniature thin-film force sensor, a tri-axial accelerometer, and a motion tracker. more

Hi from a sweltering Boston & my 1st Siggraph!

Good flight in from London & managed to get to a fun contributors party on union st last night despite feeling fairly jetlagged…!

I’m amazed at the gargantuan / huge & generally unsmall nature of this conference! Just got out of Joe Rohde’s keynote about Virtual Placemaking which was pretty interesting. The emerging technolgy talk this morning was fun, including a liquid touchpond & the MIT huggable bear project looks very cool. Now looking forward to the electronic theatre tonight. Laptop low on juice so time to go!

M

While chip vendors, like most manufacturers, don‘t shy away from exhilarated claims for their products, a bevy of enthusiast Web sites concur that Intel is finally back on top with the debut of its new Core 2 Duo processors (code named Conroe) in late July. The microprocessors mark the end of Intel’s long-running Pentium era, with the new chip‘s benchmarks leaving even its most recent dual-core Pentium D far behind.

One clear result from the tests: Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) faces its greatest challenge since their Athlon CPUs–typified by the top of the line Athlon 64 FX-62–beat out Intel as the most popular, high-end desktop chip line over the past two years.

In an extensive review on The Tech Report website (techreport.com) kudos sounded: “After years of wandering in the wilderness, Intel has recaptured the desktop CPU performance title in dramatic fashion. Both the Core 2 Extreme X6800 and the Core 2 Duo E6700 easily outperform the Athlon 64 FX-62 across a range of applications…” more

Mark Shirra - HP Student Blogger
Mark Shirra is the director of A great big robot from outer space ate my homework, which made Official Selection in the Siggraph 2006 Electronic Theatre, and recently won ‘Best Student Animation’ at the Leo Awards. Before making robot in the Vancouver Film School 3d Animation program, Mark worked in Broadcast & Film as a live action director & designer, winning a BDA Promax for ‘Best Newcomer in Europe’ - but whatever the medium, Marks overriding passion is to tell stories that engage and entertain people.

Chris Myers - HP Student Blogger
Chris Myers received his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Design from the Art Academy of Cincinnati where he focused on 3D Computer Graphics and Animation while receiving an intense fine arts background. He is currently working for the Savannah College of Art and Design as a Motion Graphics Artist where he is also working toward his graduate degree in Character Animation. He plans on graduating in the fall of 2007.

When not animating he loves to spend time with his wife and son, read comic books, play harmonica, listen to jam bands, read Stephen King and play with his cat and dog.

Ken Seward - HP Student Blogger
Kenneth Seward grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada. He obtained his undergraduate degrees in botany and chemistry but after a short career in forensic toxicology he began studying art. He worked in graphic arts and animation, eventually deciding to return to college to obtain his MFA in animation. He plans on graduating from Savannah College of Art and Design in the spring of 2006. more