H79.2510 Lecture 4 Credits
Instructor(s): Gauthier
Jump in as we look at ways to design interactive virtual spaces to help us further understand scientific visualization. This class challenges students to walk a thin line between being faithful to the physical world while expressing themselves using interactive 3D content. Scientific visualization using virtual reality applications took a new turn as interactive 3D brought that reality to a entirely different level. This class explores new possibilities offered by Maya and Virtools for creating and programming various examples of scientific visualization. The favoring of rules, behaviors, physics and artificial intelligence in the structures of video games is examined as a source of inspiration for visualizing scientific content. In addition, the dynamics and forms of real-life evolutionary systems are observed. The class presentations look into projects created for both scientific and creative fields, with the main focus addressing concepts covering medical research and archeology to A-life systems, natural phenomena and bio-mechanisms. Other topics covered in class include: the design of virtual objects with interactive controllable and transformable parameters, virtual simulations of physical spaces using light, sound and physics, and emerging topics in virtual reality including artificial intelligence and autonomous agents. Students prepare weekly assignments and a final project that may take place inside a Cave system where individuals can enter, learn, play and work inside a virtual environment. No pre-requisite is needed for this class. Please check the syllabus at http://www.tinkering.net/sciviz
