Another collection of video reports from Siggraph 2007

Siggraph 2007 Demo Reel

Part 1 of the Softimage SIGGRAPH 2007 Video Series

Part 2 of the Softimage SIGGRAPH 2007 Video Series

Part 3 of the Softimage SIGGRAPH 2007 Video Series

A project from Microsoft Research shows how it is possible, using a simple webcam and some specially developed gesture recognition software, to control a computer using single and multiple gestures. Could be almost considered as similar to on-screen multitouch functionality, but the remoteness from the screen may prove a limiting factor.

This item is taken from the original Podtech MS Research video The Gestures of Microsoft Research, A Walking Tour which is worth watching (but is 50 minutes long).

http://www.podtech.net/home/1482/the-gestures-of-microsoft-research-a-walking-tour

Even earlier research, along similar lines, is described at the Theoretical Physics group from the University of Zaragoza in the following article A EyeToy/WebCam Mouse in Visual Basic
http://dftuz.unizar.es/~rivero/alumnos/vmouse.html

Talking about Gigapixel Images, it looks like there is a new feature in Google Earth that incorporates photos into the Earth Environment.

You can try it for yourself by switching on the “Gigapxl Photos” layer beneath the “Featured Content” layer. This will show placemarks for the available locations with gigapixel images.

There’s a sample video showing the feature in action

and an accompanying article on the Google Earth Blog here

http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2007/08/new_photo_viewer_wit.html

Here’s a sample - the Angels Window , Grand Canyon at the starting point

and zoomed in …

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Came across this short video demonstration of Google Earth - Sky Mode

Here’s a link to the Google Channel on YouTube which you may find useful.

http://uk.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=google

One of the more interesting applications using Silverlight to appear recently.

Tafiti, which means “do research” in Swahili, is an experimental search front-end from Microsoft, designed to help people use the Web for research projects that span multiple search queries and sessions by helping visualize, store, and share research results. Tafiti uses both Microsoft Silverlight and Live Search to explore the intersection of richer experiences on the Web and the increasing specialization of search.

If you already have Silverlight installed (or don’t mind installing it) find out more at

http://www.tafiti.com/

Apparently developed by a company called Jackson Fish

http://www.jacksonfish.com/

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