Virtual sets: One Saturday Morning

Article Abstract:

Walt Disney Television Animation assigned Peter Hastings the task of designing the sets for its One Saturday Morning TV show on the ABC network. Hastings hired 3D graphics artists for the job and created a completely computer-generated virtual set. The actors can perform in real time and watch TV monitors to see the 3D environment. The cameras have sensing devices and gyroscopes that let the computer know exactly where they are. Hastings chose Pacific Ocean Post (POP) to construct the virtual set, currently the world's largest. It contains three cameras and integrated SGI Onyx2 workstations contained on a 65-by-65-foot sound stage. POP used Alias/Wavefront and Accom's Elset software to develop the set. The virtual set approach will save studios countless dollars. NBC's Dateline, for instance, paid over $500,000 for its set and it sits idle 80 percent of the time. Virtual studios can change the sets and run several shows from a single location.

Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing, Magnetic Card & Character Readers, Technology development, Virtual reality devices, Virtual reality, Virtual reality technology, Digital television

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Hyper-G: The next-generation Web server?

Article Abstract:

Hyper-G, a new Web server technology, helps to overcome Web document management problems by combining some of the best parts of Gopher with the World Wide Web. Hyper-G is a distributed hypermedia information system meant to maintain multiple documents and links. Under the Hyper-G model, each document contains associated meta data, with fields for title, author, creation time, and other parameters. This meta data permits a more accurate search to take place and simplifies server administration by automatically removing expired documents and their associated links. Web-based links are stored in a separate database, which not only simplifies editing, but avoids the common problem of links that point to Web pages that no longer exist. With this technology, users can transparently store documents on their Web servers and have the technical details handled automatically.

Technology overview, Web browser, Web browsers

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CD-ROM drives: here comes generation 8X

Article Abstract:

New 8X CD-ROM drives are slated to hit the market in the spring of 1996 with offerings from such major players as Philips, TEAC, Sony and Toshiba. The latest drive speed is capable of transferring data at 1,200 Kbps, double the rate of quad-speed drives. Current 8X offerings actually need special software to push them over the speed edge, but the forthcoming drives will be 'true' 8X. While different companies will be delivering the drives, most are actually made by Philips or consist of largely Philips components. As recently as two years ago, 8X speed was not considered a practical or realistic expectation, due to the myriad problems that such spin rates could engender. But technology has solved those problems, and 8X is here at last.

Forecasts and trends, CD-ROM Drive, CD-ROM drives, Market Trend/Market Analysis

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