Introduction - What is 3D?
3D stands for three-dimensional and something which has width, height and depth is a 3D object. For instance everyday objects are three-dimensional and we are able to perceive these objects simply by looking at them because Humans have a 3D perceptions which is also known as a depth perception. Humans have several tools which are used for depth perception although it is impossible to use all of these 'tools' at the same time. For example one of these tools include having a stereoscopic vision which means the two eyes provide slightly two separate images which create a 3D image.
Three Dimensional technology has come a long way and has become extremely popular since it was first developed in 1844 by David Brewster when he first introduced the stereoscope. The stereoscope is basically a device which is like a pair of glasses and it provides each eye with a different lens that will allow the user to look at a stereoscopic pair of separate images depicting the left eye and the right eye views of the same scene to create a single three Dimensional Image. This effect is created because the device shows the same object but from two slightly different angles or viewpoints. When the user looks at the image, one image for each eye. This tricks the eye into seeing a single picture of the object but with the appearance of depth creating the three dimensional effect.
How is 3D modelling being used across a range of industries?
173 years later in 2016, 3D technology is being used in extraordinary and impressive ways. 3D is being used in the interactive media, computer games industries, education, medicine and many more industries. I am going to explain how 3D has developed and the positives and negatives three-Dimensional Technology has on each individual industry including elucidated examples.Video games Industry
Video games started off with a few pixels on a screen and the Video game industry has defiantly improved the graphics and came a long way since the video game Pong was first realised in 1972. The new technology which are available now than 14 years ago has changed the way video games are animated and created. For instance in the 1980's video games such as Donkey Kong which was released in 1981 had really basic, rigid movement and made out of pixels. It was impossible to get the detailed graphics which we have today without sacrificing the games experience. Although surprisingly also in 1981 the video game 'Monster maze' was realised. Monster maze was programmed by Malcolm Evans and was the first ever video game to include three dimensional objects. By the 90's the video games industry really started to change. The graphics started to improve into better quality and this is when the 3D games started to become introduced, recognised and loved. In 1996 Super Mario 64 was released and instead of a 2D platform game like the previous Mario Games in the franchise, Super Mario 64 was developed to have a 3D open world and quickly became archetype for the 3D genre. Since then the games industry has carried on creating both 2D and 3D video games which are available on several consoles. I am going to explain how the 3D technology has affected the games industry and a few examples of 3D games and Consoles.
Over watch
Over watch is a first person shooter game which was published by Blizzard on the 24th of May 2016. Over watch includes both 3D and 2D animation. Basically, the animation was created by Blizzards David Gibson who rendered the animation in 3D although he also used a limited amount of 2D animation to create more exaggerated emotions to help support the feel of the game. The game involves two teams of 6 players and each player has a choice which character to play out of the several heroes, each hero has its own unique abilities. Once they have selected the character they have to 'battle' against the other team although if the player dies they get given the opportunity to choose a different hero.Trine 2 & 3D graphic Cards
Trine 2 is an action-adventure/puzzle side scrolling platform game which was developed by FrzenByte and released on the 7th of December 2011. Some popular side scrolling games which are similar to Trine are the Rayman origins which is also an action-adventure side scrolling platform game. Although Trine 2 is the first PlayStation 4 game to support stereoscopic 3D. This means that you are able to Play Trine 2 on the PlayStation 4 using three dimensional television sets like the Bravia 3D TV sets. According to the reviews and feedback of the game the 3D is incredible because the game still has an impressive resolution and frame rate when played in 3D. For instance the resolution when playing in 3D goes down to 720p but still has 60 frames per second. This means that there isn’t any performance problems and Trine 2 players express how 2D games don’t feel the same after playing an amazing 3D video game.Virtual reality head set
The virtual reality head set is also known as the virtual reality goggles because the user has to basically wear eye wear which include one display or two LCD displays so there is a display per eye. In the goggles there is also lenses which are placed in between the eyes and the Pixels. The lenses focus and shape the picture for each individual eye which creates the stereoscopic 3D image. To use the virtual headset you just simply plug the headset into a PC, laptop or smart phone which will supports the app/game and wear the goggles. The Virtual reality headsets creates a 3D image which gives the player an effect of seeing the game in 3D in an almost 360 degree vision. The player can turn around in real life and the character in the game will also turn around so it’s like the ultimate first person perspective. You feel like you are in the game. For example if you turn and look right in real life, you simply turn and look right in the game.Nintendo 3DS
The Nintendo 3DS is a handhold game console produced by Nintendo. Nintendo has previously released similar handhold consoles such as the Nintendo DS lite and the Nintendo DSI. Although in 2011 when Nintendo Released the Nintendo 3DS it easily begins to succeeds the previous Nintendo’s. This is because the Nintendo 3Ds displays stereoscopic 3D effect's without needing to wear glasses or goggles. The user simply has to switch the 3D to 'ON' and the game is displayed in three dimension. By the 30th September 2016 Nintendo sold over 61.57 Million units which easily exceeds there home system console Nintendo Wii. There are loads of games available to play in 3D on the Nintendo 3Ds such as Kingdom hearts, final fantasy, warner bros, and Assassin’s creed: lost legacy and so on. The player also has the option to use the older game cartridges on the 3DS but in the 2D version. For example games from the Nintendo lite and DSI can be played on the Nintendo 3DS but only in the 2D vision because the games from the previous Nintendo’s do not support 3D unlike the new game cartridges for the Nintendo 3DS.
Televisions / 3D Television programs
The 3D Television Is just a TV which allows the user to watch 3D television Programs instead of the standard 2D Programs. There are different types of three dimensional televisions for example some 3D TVS use techniques such as the stereoscopic display which I have already explained. The stereoscopic display separated the 3D image into two different images so the user needs to wear glasses in order to convey the depth perception to the user. Other techniques can be the multi-view display which is where the viewer can interactively control the viewpoint and generate new views from any 3D position or the 2D Plus depth which is a technique which involves stereoscopic video coding. Most 3D televisions use an active shutter 3D system or a polarized 3D system.
Some Modern 3D televisions are auto-stereoscopic which means the user does not need to wear any 3D glasses. Some benefits of using a 3D TV is that when even watching the television in 2D display you still get a remarkable picture quality. It provides high-definition images and even when watching the TV in 3D the images are 1080p. Although some disadvantages of using 3D TV is that most of the three dimensional TV's do require 3D glasses. If there is a large amount of people in your house wanting to watch the 3D TV then you are going to need different pairs of glasses which can be expensive.
For example, I have a 3D TV although it is hardly used in the 3D display because we haven’t got enough glasses for everyone. However, as I’ve just explained some 3D TV’s don’t need special glasses but the TV's which don’t acquire glasses are a lot more expensive than the 3D TV's which do acquire glasses. Another disadvantage about 3D TVs which users used to complain is the lack of programmes you can watch in 3D. When 3D televisions first came out in 2010 the first TV released cost £1,799 although you needed to buy glasses as well which was £150 for a pair, the Blue-Ray DVD player was £350 and the HDMI cable was £50. Because the TV was so expensive users expected a lot more than a few 3D programs and DVD'S. This is when Broad bands such as Sky and Virgin media started to release 3D on-demand services for example sky released Sky 3D which allowed the viewers to watch several channels in 3D.
Jimmy Neutron
There are some Television Programs which are 3D animated but can be still watched on a 2D display. For example Jimmy Neutron is a children program and Film on Nickelodeon in 2002. Jimmy Neutron developers used programs which are 'off-the-shelf tools' such as light wave 3D and a 3D program from PmG. To render the animation they used RenderBoxx machines from the Boxx technologies. They explained how extremely proud they are by creating a successful series and film only using 'regular' programs. Although they said it was difficult to create a more cartoon look because it’s actually easier to create 3D realistic looks. He also explained when using 2D you can simply draw it on but in 3D, you are limited by the physical nature of the characters. This makes it a lot more difficult.Reboot
Reboot is probably one of the 'earliest' TV programs to use 3D animation. Reboot started testing their animations in 1990 and a year later reboots look was finally achieved in 1991. The production continued on future episodes of reboot and finally in 1994 the show was aired. The producers explained how difficult the process was because no other company at this time has worked on a 3D animation project of this scale and the software used on reboot was completely new software to everyone in the company.Films
A Three dimensional films is a 3D stereoscopic films, this is why you need to wear the 3D glasses when you watch a 3D film at the cinema. In the films a regular motion picture camera system is used to record the images from two different perspectives and the glasses are used to limit the visibility of each imagine to the users left or right eye only. 3D films have existed since 1915 but wasn’t popular because of the costly hardware and the processes required producing and displaying the 3D film.The power of love
One of the most popular three dimensional films in the 1900's is the power of love which was released and displayed in the cinemas in 1922. The power of love is the earliest confirmed 3D film shown to an out-of-house audience. It premiered at the Ambassador Hotel Theatre in Los Angeles on 27 September 1922. In the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, studios and filmmakers were searching for ways to display their movies in three dimensions. The dominant technology to arise in this era was stereoscopic 3D. This was the first 3D film to make use of anaglyph glasses. These glasses use lenses of opposite colours. When combined with a pair of corresponding film strips, viewers achieve the 3D effect. In 2016 3D films are probably as common as 2D films in the cinema.I am going to explain some examples of some of the biggest 3D movies which have been displayed in the cinema.
Avatar 3D
Avatar 3D is a science fiction film which is set in the midd-22nd century when humans are trying to colonize Pandora. The film used the new motion capture as its main filming technique and used RealD 3D, Dolby 3D, XpanD 3D, and IMAX 3D format for the 3D viewing. Avatar 3D made the stereoscopic filmmaking as a breakthrough in cinematic technology. The film had an initial 3D release limited to 2,200 screens and made £21230139.93 (21 million 2 hundred and 30 thousands and 100 and 39 pounds) on its first opening day and on its opening weekend it made up to £61126483.55.Transformers 3D
Transformers 3D was released June 29th in 2011. Transformers: Dark of the mood is a science fiction action film direct by Michael bay. The film was developed by using both regular 3D mm film cameras and specially-developers 3D camera the film was then rendered specifically for 3D. Transformers: Dark of the moon is now currently the 13 highest grossing film of all time and the second highest grossing film of 2011, making 880 million and 832 thousands and 459 pounds worldwide Making itself the highest grossing film in the transformers series and the 10th film to gross over 7 hundred and 93 million and 6 hundred thousand and 410 pounds.Brave 3D
Brave is a 2012 3D animated fantasy comedy drama produced by Pixar animation studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. In total it was released to 4,164 theatres but only 2,790 of these theatres included 3D. This is a new high record for Pixar, before this the record was for cars 2. They used C3D or 3D cloth to make it easier to have the perfect UC texture system which they previously tried on Toy story 3. There were 29 modular garments and 94 unique costumes within the film and the C3D system is what made all these different types of textures possible. Brave 3D made the worldwide total of $540,437,063. It was also the 13th highest-grossing film of 2012, the eighth highest-grossing Pixar film, and the third highest-grossing animated film in 2012 just behind Ice Age: Continental Drift and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted.Education
3D projector
For example, the students who were taught using the 3D projector could draw the stem cell in a 3D diagram, labelling it correctly etc. Whilst the other class room which was taught the traditional way could only do a basic diagram and struggled a bit more than the class using the 3D technology.3D projectors cost no more than the standard projector and can be used in both 2S and 3D modes. This will allows the teacher to alternate between the 2D and 3D content effortlessly without having to change their lesson plans which means they can easily incorporate this new technology and help improve kids engaging in their lessons. Below you can see a video which shows a classroom being taught by the DLP 3D classroom projectors, it explains the benefits of what the 3D projector does.
3D printers
Preparing students for their future careers and teaching them valuable skills are not the only important aspects of implementing 3D printing in educational programs .Using 3D in Education has a lot of benefits for instance it keeps the children more interested and focused as well as simulating more interactions with hand on learning. 3D can be used in education by using 3D printers which will teach Kids to learn to solve problems through physical prototyping in an early stage of their development. 'The 3D experience allows students to enhance their understanding of complex issues by learning through observation and investigation rather than by instruction. This is a unique method of teaching that allows environments and images to be observed in full 3D detail from every angle.
Websites
There isnt many 3D elements used in web design which is surprising because of how popular 3D technology is in other medias like games and films. With 2D websites which have a flat design it is difficult to show the developers creativity whilst creating the websites and the HTML5 and the CSS3 allows the developers to add 3D elements to their websites. There are some advantages of using 3D elements on webdisgn just like there is with 2D elements. I am going to explain the pros and cons ousing 3D elements on websites and include a few examples of websites which use these elements.
Positives
- Reduces downstream errors
- Less misinterpretations of the website
- Just like 2D you can share the website
- Its easier to evolve 3D models so it has a easier design Re-Use
- 3D modelling is excellent for showing digital prototyping and simulation
Negatives
- 3D isnt designed for capturing and maturing concept designs
- When Using 3D there are multiple files
Websites which use 3D elements;
(I suggest clicking on the titles which are linked to the 3D website, it is difficult to explain how well these websites use the 3D elements.)Element
When you first click on the website it takes you to a loading screen, the mouse on the website is 3D and titles when you click on the mouse. Once the website is loaded it will display a video displaying the elements using 3D. When you click on an element such as water it 'comes forward' and starts spinning which gives it a 3D effect.
The gear of war website includes a 3D animation Played on the screen which makes the characters look like they are running past the user. It also has 3D fade out and in animations when changing the page.
The Eco zoo has some 3D elements but also the website includes a 3D world which includes a lot of 3D animation. You can look around the world and find 3D 'animals'.
Sensi Soft includes 3D animations involves the user to switch through many different 3D scenes at a different period of time.
Health/ Medicine
3D technology such as 3D printers is now being used to save lives. Hospitals internationally are beginning to use 3D printing in heath care for big things like printing a skull or creating implants for a reconstructive surgery. 3D printing has revolutionising revolutionised every aspect of the medical industry by saving lives and improving surgeries.
3D printing for medicine is a work in processes and hospitals are hoping soon that they will be able to print 2D human cells although they are extremely happy with what 3D printing has achieved over the years. A university has recently created a 3D printer which is able to produce stem cells. This is amazing because even though stem cells can grow in a laboratory the stem cells are growing in 2D so they don’t behave the same way 3D cells do in the body. By 2018 they are expecting to have 2.3 million 3D printers sold to the medical industry. For instance 3D printers have developed 3D printed skin for burned victims and even airway splints/pipes. But it also has the capability of 3D Printing Medical equipment, ear cartilage, Heart Valve, Bone and Cranium Replacement.
Allowing doctors to get Low–Cost Prosthetic Parts and so much more. Even one doctor made a ear cartilage just by showing the 3D printer a few pictures.
3D websites are also being introduced to help teach medicine to students, a example of this is MolGrabber. Molgrabber is a website which includes 3D elements and allows the users to drag the 3D drug in a different direction and perspective using 3D animation.
Molgrabber
Mathematics
3D printing can help students understand geometry and complex math by giving students a new opportunity. For example, maths teachers traditionally use Lego to help them understand cubic units and calculations. But with 3D printers it allows the students to create objects using a variety of cubes. When 3D printers got sent to several schools to see how the 3D printer affected the students in maths and science the teachers reported back that the pupil’s motivation when engaging in projects was a lot better.Engineering
The benefits of using 3D printing have effected and is revolutionising many different industries including the engineering industry. 3D printing has affected engineering in extraordinary ways. Just like Medicines are being developed using 3D printers so are engines and different components for a car in the engineering industry. In the future 3D printers might even be able to print an entire car. 3D printing makes it currently possible to produce object which have a complex structure which some current methods do not.
It can be used to save car restorers, manufacturer’s considerable time, money and aggravation whilst also improving the quality of the final product.
The equipment is fully portable and can run independently of any external power source for up to 7 hours. 3D printers allow you to create prototypes, models and products out of materials such as plastics and metals. The printers do this by creating layer upon layer of your design in your chosen material until the final product is formed. 3D printing allows companies and individuals to rapidly prototype ideas for new parts or products and also promises to cut down costs on the creation of products through savings in supply-chains, product waste and storage. This is a massive advantage to help engineering because it is a lot more time and less cost consuming than it would be having to order and fix a new part, They can scan in images etc and a new model for the car will be ready to use within no time.
Architecture
Most 3D software applications are designed to be a platform which can draw 2D drafts, turn the drafts into 3D models and animate them to actually give the observers of the idea a realistic view of how the project would function. This is a lot less time consuming simply because throughout history architects have been referring to some sort of form or document when constructing the building. Instead the architects can simply create the building and show complex structures which are difficult in a 2D display. 3D modelling did not only change the way the architects represent diagrams, building plans and drafts but also had a substantial effect on how presentations and exhibitions of architectural designs are done.
Product Design
3D Printing
3D printing is also known as additive manufacturing. It is a process of making a three dimensional solid object from a digital file for instance instead of printing a picture of like a regular printer it will print of a 3D object which you can use in real life. This is done by using additive processes. An additive process is where an object is created by laying it down on a flat surface and then gradually adding layers of material until the object is finally created.
To create the object you have to prepare a 3D model before you print the 3D model this is basically telling the printer what you want the model to look like. It is then sliced down and dividing into a 3D model with hundreds and thousands layers which will need to be done by the software. Once the 3D model is sliced it is then ready to be printed by the 3D printer which can be done by wifi, USB or a SD card. Once the file is uploaded in the printer is then ready to be printed layer by layer. This is because the printer actually reads each slice as a 2D image so in order to create a 3D object it will create each individual '2D image' which eventually creates a 3D object.
Benefits of using 3D printing;
- Time to Market - Its much faster
- Save Money - Doesn't use as much tools
- Mitigate Risk- It is far cheaper to 3D print a test prototype then to redesign or alter an existing mold.
- Clear Communication- A conceptual picture of the product is better than the description
- Feedback- Getting buyers response to the product before it actually goes into production is a valuable way to verify the product has market potential.
- Get the Feel- You can hold and Feel A 3D product
- Personalize It- can personalize, customize and tweak a part
- Build your Imagination- You can 3D print anything, the results are limitless.
Links
Images
http://www.vision3d.com/stereo.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereoscope
http://littletechgirl.com/2013/06/07/the-affects-of-3d-technology-on-your-eyes/
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/lg-cinema-3d-1909-commercial.html
http://www.seventhgrove.com/thursday/2014/7/15/can-we-bring-the-future-back
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIJQOFSGKks
https://3dprint.com/39614/toyota-4-cylinder-engine-22re/
https://www.allthat3d.com/what-is-3d-printing/
Secondary Research
http://www.mediacollege.com/3d/intro.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereoscope
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_of_Overwatch
http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/3d-vision-technology-uk.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_3DS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_television
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_film
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_(2009_film)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers:_Dark_of_the_Moon
http://www.creativebloq.com/making-pixars-brave-8123080
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brave_(2012_film)
http://www.teachingtimes.com/kb/44/3d-technology.htm
http://www.slideshare.net/ConcurrentEngineering/2d-vs-3d-the-pros-and-cons-for-concept-design
http://1stwebdesigner.com/3d-websites/
https://hbr.org/2016/03/3d-printing-is-already-changing-health-care
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/251439/3D_printers_in_schools.pdf
http://studylink.com/blog/2014/09/23/3d-printing-will-change-engineering-degree/
http://www.visionnw.com/3d-architecture.html
https://ultimaker.com/en/explore/where-is-3d-printing-used/product-design
http://3dprinting.com/what-is-3d-printing/