Create breathtakingly realistic 3D landscapes and animations with DAZ Bryce 5. Striking an optimum balance between power and ease of use, this innovative software is an ideal way to integrate 3D technology into your creative process. Smooth network rendering saves valuable time by letting you render images on multiple computers. The Light Lab gives you robust control over lighting direction, and the Tree Lab ensures a more accurate depiction of real-world environments. Plus, an intuitive user interface simplifies the design process.

At the moment the latest version of DAZ Bryce is 5.5 and 6.0 seems to be coming soon, which is probably the cause of this promotion to release version 5.0 for free download…

You can download Bryce 5.0 for free until September 6, so don’t wait any longer! The offer is available for both PC and Mac versions of Bryce.

- Download Bryce 5.0 for PC Absolutely Free… (about 24 MB)
- Download Bryce 5.0 for MAC Absolutely Free… (about 20 MB)

Useful Software | 1 Comment »

This is a project by three guys at the University of California: Santa Cruz in the Fall of 2005 and Winter of 2006 as part of their senior design class. The goal of FRE3SPACE was to create a wireless mouse that could operate in three dimensions. In other words, while holding the mouse in the air you could move your arm left or right, up and down, towards and away, in relation to your computer.

This project was completed in March of 2006 with some success. The mouse does work, and the position of the mouse can be detected with an accuracy of 3 centimeters, over a range of 1 to 6 meters, with the position being updated 25 times per second. The mouse contains 5 general use buttons whose status are also updated 25 times per second. The mouse is also rechargable by simply plugging it into the wall with an AC adapter. The mouse will last about 14 hours on a single charge. Mouse coordinates and button states are sent to the PC over a USB link.

The system would cost roughly $550 to construct additional units, and more than half that cost is for an Altera NiosII FPGA Dev Kit. If a new design for another PCB that contains the FPGA is made, this could lower the non-mass-produced system cost to under $400.

- Powerpoint presentation of the FRE3SPACE project…
- More in-depth information about the project in this Doc file…
- The official website of the FRE3SPACE project…

PC Peripherals | No Comments »

The ZScanner 700 brings needed speed, ease-of-use and unprecedented versatility to 3D Scanning. Scan any object in the tightest spaces and do it in real-time with one continuous scan.

Simply connect the system to your laptop with FireWire. Add the reflective targets to the object. Then quickly calibrate and start scanning within minutes. The ZScan software creates a polygon mesh of the object’s surface in real-time so you can see what has and has not been scanned as you go. Increase the scan resolution on the fly to scan the tightest spaces or most detailed areas.

Conventional scanners require fixed-position tripods, bulky mechanical arms, or external positioning devices that must be within the line of sight of the target surface. So hard-to-reach objects are nearly impossible to scan and extensive post-processing is needed to stitch multiple scans into one.

The ZScanner 700 captures a complete scan all at once – with all the mobility that comes with a handheld device. But all that convinience and ease of use comes at a price, a quite high one… after all these 3D scanners are not toys!

Technical Specifications
Weight: 980 grams (2.1 lbs)
Equipment Dimensions: 160 x 260 x 210 mm (6.25 x 10.2 8.2 in)
Measurement: 18 000 measures / s
Laser Class: II (eye safe)
Resolution in Z Axis: 0.1 mm (0.004 in)
Accuracy: Up to 0.05 mm (Up to 0.002 in)
ISO: 20 ????m + 0.2 L / 1000
Output Files: .STL, RAW
Included Accessories: Laptop computer, ZScan software, FireWire cable data transfer, Calibration plate validation, Carry-on case, Ergonomic support

The price of the ZScanner 700 is $39,000.

- For more information about the ZScanner 700, the 3D Laser Scanner…

PC Peripherals | No Comments »

The MetaMersion Immersive Gaming System is a cutting-edge gaming platform designed to let you play your favorite PC-based game titles in a fully immersive, virtual reality environment. You “step inside” the game and move through the virtual landscape – just as you would do in the real world. You can: physically walk around; crouch and take cover behind virtual objects; shoot around corners; look up, down, and even behind you. No other gaming platform comes close to the realism and interaction provided by the MetaMersion Immersive Gaming System.

How does the MetaMersion Immersive Gaming System work?
The MetaMersion Immersive Gaming System uses a combination of cutting edge patented and patent-pending hardware and middleware (software) to allow you to play your favorite PC-based game software titles in our fully immersive virtual reality environment. We use high-fidelity 3D graphics and audio, driven by a powerful computer system, controlled by a precise motion tracking system and a custom-designed wireless weapon controller to provide the most convincing gaming experience available.

There is still no information about commercial availability and price of the product…

- For more information about the MetaMersion Immersive Gaming System…

Cool Gadgets | No Comments »