3D as in Twinity, Neoreplicants, Google Goggles etc. #mtw3

Yesterday evening I went to a talk about the NewReplicants show at the Phoenix in Exeter. It turns out 3D printing is still quite expensive so casting may still be a viable option for sculpture. But the "replicants" theme is still there in theory. As digital content it is easy enough for these forms to spread. How is this compared with classic gallery objects? There was mention of a limited edition of sunglasses but no art yet where the digital original has been destroyed after a limited edition. Maybe this has happened somewhere else.

I am not sure how it works but I think a 3D object can be represented in various ways. Twinity is still not being promoted as much as I would expect. I think it may be dormant. But Exit Reality has bought it and must intend to do something. They have started a search engine which seems to find a lot of 3D websites and then displays them I tried a search on "sculpture" and my colleague Web Kirby investigated a couple of sites. See attached still photos.

Maybe Exit Reality has a general purpose world that can accept any model. Not sure.

They do have a calmer website for Learning

This has other offers as well as 3D. Maybe this has some stable income. 3D is still a bit expensive to develop I guess while there are still bandwidth limitations.

Conferences such a #mtw3 might work better through Learnbrite. I think there is a fairly small number of people interested in virtual worlds at the moment. Stills from Twinity are ok as most people can view them.

There are some Goggles in the Phoenix show. It reminded me of the Google Goggles idea. I think this is still a project but the aim is similar to Aurasma and similar ways of combining images with real situations. Augmented reality is the general term I think.

Web Kirby still talks about opening a gallery in Twinity, on a beach called Beach for You. I am not sure how hard it is to move models into a suitable format. I do know there is a shop and a currency so it could be an option.

(download)

Test PDF for Tetromino typeface

Click here to download:
Tetromino (OpenType) .pdf (74 KB)
(download)

Part of the NeoReplicants show at the Phoenix is a typeface in 3D. It also works in 2D. Not sure how Posterous will display this PDF. Created with proper Adobe software which states that Tetromino is Type 1 and an embedded subset for this PDF. So ok so far.

Later more on 3D etc.

Test video from Waterstones in Lancaster, upload at Pao Pao

I am now back in Exeter. This video was recorded on Saturday. The wifi in Waterstones ( jusst outside the one way system) was enough to view video but it cut out when uploading. Might be fair enough, they are aiming to offer content. On Sunday I found Pao Pao which worked really well. They also have iPads secured in wood panels. So this is where I would start another time.

still photos next.

Time travel with Cross Media Live and the LCC Futures conference #LCCFutures #CMShow13

I am still trying to make sense of the #LCCFutures event last week.

The video so quick on YouTube is striking. I try to get some video from most events I go to with my Kodak Zi8 but it can depend on the lighting. Then it may take a while to edit and render. It is rare in the UK for a university to arrange video recording or make it public. #LCCFutures was available as a stream and now more or less complete as archive the week after. The sound is an issue but this could be fixed next time around.

My memory of previous ones is that the staff try to balance the claims of the visiting speakers who may use slides from a trade show. Chris Linford often claims that all technology takes a long time to actually work, suggesting 40 years for electricity and petrol engines in cars. This time however he claimed that the 40 years may be about done for the internet and the personal computer. So there could be some sudden shifts but when is a bit vague.

I think the LCC conference was at Digital Solutions some time ago, certainly it was at Earl's Court. The shows were called Digital Print World and Total Print. I think. This will be checked in a later post.

Last week on Thursday after the Cross Media panel I thought about the possibility of timing the next #LCCFutures with #CMShow13 . If there is not enough space maybe involving Central St Martins in King's Cross. Then on Friday there was more about games design reminding me about Wednesday. So it may not matter about exact time and place so long as there are online connections.

My route to the Elephant and Castle was through Old Street tube station where I got lost twice. Day three I was ok. So they have become the same roundabout, you go down a subway and come up somewhere else.

The canal is an urban symbol for communication and now leisure. there is a route from King's Cross to the Design Centre. Then to the Olympic Park and the Thames. I guess there is a router to Excel. So there could be a game about finding King's Cross by next summer, then the pedestrian route when the canal is underground in time for #CMShow13, then the rest of it in time for IPEX. Along the way assess the requirements and available tech.

Meanwhile back in Exeter we could do some tests. Just needs locations and editing. There is a canal.

Some possible problems

The LCC discussion on Cross Media was more into games and less into print than I remember from Cross Media 12.

From the Topophobia show in Exeter I think people at Central St Martins could be uneasy about the web. But something in actual space would contribute anyway.

The dates for #CMShow13 next year are October 23rd and 24th, a Wednesday and Thursday. This year a Monday was difficult for some people. These dates might be ok for LCC schedules.

Even if time and space are spread out a bit there is still scope for conversation. I think some games theory would help Cross Media. And LCC needs help with sound recording. 

My stills from #LCCFutures now on Flickr, base for making connections

I have now checked out and loaded some stills from the Futures conference at LCC last week.

The video is already loaded from the stream

I am still looking at all the content available. I am trying to compare it with the Cross Media Live event and also discussions such as #mtw3 and the Deming groups at quality organisations. My impression was that the LCC take has moved even further with social media. The panel discussion on Cross Media did include print but I don't think this was to same extent as at the Business design Centre. Maybe things are just changing over a few months.

There is management theory in the background. I noticed a couple of learning loops that seem similar to Plan - Do- Check/Study - Act but no explicit reference to quality. "Agile" development is seen as a design take from software that can include people working on graphics. But not marketing as I remember it. "Lean" is based on Toyota but then more formal quality systems could be also. I think the videos should be listened to again. 

LCC Futures Conference is on YouTube already, so my version can wait #LCCfutures #mtw3

This is the playlist for most of the sessions from last week. Can't find what is missing. I am now back in Exeter and have unpacked most of the files. I think that sometimes my sound may be better than the version from the official stream. Not sure about this yet but I will check things out.

The conference had a lot of discussion about design and creativity. I think it definitely connects with the discussion around #mtw3, Starting with leadership and organisation it has found academic publishing as an innovation focus at the Work Foundation. The LCC approach includes publishing as part of communication and there is background on organisation as well.

More later. I hope to have some stills ready to upload soon.

LCC Futures Conference is on YouTube already, so my version can wait #LCCfutures #mtw3

This is the playlist for most of the sessions from last week. Can't find what is missing. I am now back in Exeter and have unpacked most of the files. I think that sometimes my sound may be better than the version from the official stream. Not sure about this yet but I will check things out.

The conference had a lot of discussion about design and creativity. I think it definitely connects with the discussion around #mtw3, Starting with leadership and organisation it has found academic publishing as an innovation focus at the Work Foundation. The LCC approach includes publishing as part of communication and there is background on organisation as well.

More later. I hope to have some stills ready to upload soon.

Acrobat X1 11 eleven the facts from Callas, prepress pay attention #'ccfutures

I can't get past the eye candy to find the facts on Acrobat from the Adobe site. It is only social media if there is a chance to understand and respond. imho. anyway back on topic...


New Acrobat XI includes a lot of callas software know how
From PDF/A to PDF/X: Adobe Acrobat supports it all thanks to the preflight technology of callas software

(Berlin), Adobe has developed a new version of their PDF creation and viewing software: Acrobat XI.  Acrobat XI now offers extended support for the latest PDF ISO standards. It allows to easily create PDF files compliant to the ISO 32000 standard for PDF/A and PDF/E archiving. Acrobat XI also allows converting and validating PDF/X files for print production or PDF/VT files for Variable Data Printing.  This advanced functionality is made possible thanks to the preflight technology developed by callas software. This Berlin based company is one of the major contributors of the PDF technology included in the Acrobat XI software.

callas software has been providing verification technology for Adobe since 1997. The software developer also provided the Preflight module that converts and validates Acrobat PDF files to PDF/A-1 since the release of Acrobat version 8. Acrobat X already included the feature to convert PDFs to PDF/A-2 files, the new version Acrobat XI now also supports the recently released PDF/A-3 standard for long-term archiving, which allows the embedding of additional files. In addition, conversion options for all PDF/A standards have been considerably extended, so all PDF files can now be converted successfully.

Also new is the validation of PDF/VT documents. PDF/VT is an ISO standard for variable data printing, which runs on the comprehensive model of PDF graphics and allows the use of color or native transparency in the output management.

About callas software

callas software finds simple ways to handle complex PDF challenges. As a technology innovator, callas software develops and markets PDF technology for publishing, print production, document exchange and document archiving. callas software helps agencies, publishing companies and printers to meet the challenges they face by providing software to preflight, correct and repurpose PDF files for print production and electronic publishing. Businesses and government agencies all over the world rely on callas software’s future-proof, fully PDF/A compliant archiving products.

In addition, callas software technology is available as a programming library (SDK) for developers with a need for PDF optimization, validation and correction. Software vendors such as Adobe®, Quark®, Xerox®, Hewlett Packard® and many others have recognized the quality and flexibility provided by these callas tools and have incorporated them into their solutions.

callas software actively supports international standards and has been participating in ISO, CIP4, the European Color Initiative, Ghent PDF Workgroup, FOGRA, AIIM and BITKOM. In addition, callas software is a founding member of the PDF Association and in October 2010, Olaf Drümmer became its chairman. callas software is based in Berlin, Germany. For more information, visit the callas software website at www.callassoftware.com.