There’s a very nice article on VFXWorld discussing the portability (or current lack thereof) of 3D files. It’s great to see this finally generating some real discussion; I’ve been chomping at the bit for years. From the five-page article, “3D Convergence: Bridging Design and Marketing”, written by Karen Raugust (Link):

The gaming, film and television industries are starting to look at the possibility of using CAD or other digital data as a starting point for vfx and product placement. For example, CAD is sometimes being used to design and build movie sets; the same information can then be used as a starting point to build the virtual set for vfx. Similarly, architectural CAD data could be used to recreate a cityscape, with designers getting a head start by acquiring the files used for the design and construction of the buildings being portrayed.

Meanwhile, some gaming companies are starting to ask for CAD data to help them replicate the cars featured in racing games, which aim for a high degree of accuracy.

Well worth the read.

C|Net reports that Linden Lab has received additional funding. Although the assumption is that this money will go entirely to Second Life, there’s been plenty of speculation that the company is working on another project – a successor to Second Life – which would both improve on the shortcomings of SL and position the company for potential/expected competition. I suppose funding could go to both. Time will tell. But for now, here’s a piece from the C|Net article (Link):

Linden Lab, the publisher of the popular virtual world “Second Life,” announced Tuesday an $11 million round of funding led by Globespan Capital Partners.

The new funding, which comes on the heels of an $8 million round in October 2004, came from Globespan as well as Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, Lotus founder Mitch Kapor, the Omidyar Network and Catamount Ventures.
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For now, the company isn’t profitable, and it’s not clear when it will be, said Catherine Smith, Linden Lab’s director of marketing. However, she told CNET News.com that Linden Lab plans to use its new funding for aggressive international expansion, as well as for hiring intended to boost its infrastructure.

While researching some rapid manufacturing options, I happened to notice an image on a site that piqued my interest. I learned that the piece was the work of Gil Bruvel, a sculptor employing 3D modeling software and metal fabbing machines to create limited-edition sculptures. Bruvel’s website (Link) from which the above image was taken has some interesting stuff – including plenty of background and even some QTVR imagery.

If you have any interest in this kind of transmedia work, it might be worth it to stop over and look around. The work won’t be for everyone, but the process might be worth the time.

{Image Copyright © Gil Bruvel}

I happened across this over on Blue’s News yesterday: a free version of MorphVOX (Link). Why bother mentioning this? Two reasons. The first is that there is a reluctance for people using other genders in online activities to embrace voice chat (for obvious reasons). This provides a possible solution.

The second is one of the options that MorphVOX (paid version) provides – “Man to Child”. For anyone who has been on the Second Life forums the past few days, the significance of that will be clear. Until I came across those threads, I’d not have given this option a second thought. Now I’m wondering if it’ll be made illegal.

C|Net has news of a start-up called Arch Rock that is working on something of interest to those following blogjects/spimes/kirkyans. From the C|Net article (Link):

Arch Rock is one of several companies seeking to sell systems used to build and operate networks of wireless sensors that connect to the Internet.
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For example, a bridge can be outfitted with sensors to monitor vibrations that may indicate structural damage, or vineyards can use sensors for monitoring temperature and moisture, allowing them to better plan harvests.
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Connections to the Internet can be established by using “mesh networks” that can create ad hoc networks without a single access point, he added.

I’m planning on finding some time to work on another concept, so this is interesting news to me.