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What Does a LARGE 3D Interface Look Like?

by Josh on May 7, 2008 · View Comments

It looks like something that doesn’t exist except in the movies. Since the Ironman Movie launched last week I’ve been trying to get my hands on some video of the stinkin’ cool 3D holo-CAD user interface he uses to design the MarkIII he goes kickin’ butt in.

If you’ve seen the movie you already know what I’m talking about and are wondering what the heck is taking CAD companies so long to make a system that only traumatized alcoholic millionaires can afford. The best I can do is give you a link to a video of the UI (that might be infringing on copyright laws.)

What do you think?
Is this too far off? Whoever thought of this had some idea of how things are designed and what goes into the process of how CAD systems work. You can see Tony Stark interacting with the holographic objects – moving, exploding, rotating, touching and testing out the design with his hands. Some would say it’s unrealistic. Where’s the history? the parametrics? where’s the commands? Maybe it will be none of those things or maybe it’s something cooler. The way technology looked on star trek isn’t exactly the way it looks today ya know.

{ 10 comments }

Charles May 7, 2008 at 11:22 am

My University (Missouri S&T) had a room that had flicker glass, and a projected image 8′ tall. With it you could get stereovision and manipulate things. I saw it in 2001. At least it’s a start. Have you seen the new ads for… I think it’s Ford? They show goggles and interacting with models.

Kevin May 8, 2008 at 6:32 am

….and it runs on a Mac as well :-)

Kevin May 8, 2008 at 5:32 am

….and it runs on a Mac as well :-)

ghost-cypher September 2, 2008 at 6:33 pm

I would love a system like that in Iron Man to be true. I wouldn't go so far to ask for the holo graphics an direct human motion interface. But still all the rest would already be worth the efforts.
Even if to expensive for home users, but still at work for big companies it would make my day of designing plants and pipeping.
If I could just get this coul pen and the interface of dragging and matching things, connecting, rearranging and to alter.

ghost-cypher September 2, 2008 at 6:42 pm

Ah, and by the way: the idiea isn't that new. We've seen simmilar things already in Paycheck, Minority Report and even before that in Jonny Mnemonic (just to mention a few).
BMW is using 3D interfaces in hud-displays for assambly today already and oil companies use 3D environments and motion capturing with gesture recognition for drill planning.
So I think, we arent too far away from some of that spectacular looking effects.

Josh M September 2, 2008 at 8:50 pm

I think the Ironman example of engineering and design is phenomenal, we'll be remembering it later on. I've talked about the large multi-touch screens and other display. It interests me because I think the 'flatscreen' is the wrong way to go about viewing 3D. the ironman route is the ticket. I've also done a post on that as well. thanks.

ghost-cypher September 2, 2008 at 11:33 pm

I would love a system like that in Iron Man to be true. I wouldn't go so far to ask for the holo graphics an direct human motion interface. But still all the rest would already be worth the efforts.
Even if to expensive for home users, but still at work for big companies it would make my day of designing plants and pipeping.
If I could just get this coul pen and the interface of dragging and matching things, connecting, rearranging and to alter.

ghost-cypher September 2, 2008 at 11:42 pm

Ah, and by the way: the idiea isn't that new. We've seen simmilar things already in Paycheck, Minority Report and even before that in Jonny Mnemonic (just to mention a few).
BMW is using 3D interfaces in hud-displays for assambly today already and oil companies use 3D environments and motion capturing with gesture recognition for drill planning.
So I think, we arent too far away from some of that spectacular looking effects.

Josh M September 3, 2008 at 1:50 am

I think the Ironman example of engineering and design is phenomenal, we'll be remembering it later on. I've talked about the large multi-touch screens and other display. It interests me because I think the 'flatscreen' is the wrong way to go about viewing 3D. the ironman route is the ticket. I've also done a post on that as well. thanks.

Alie Brown March 28, 2010 at 1:01 pm

3D does exist out of the movie theater, now you can purchase your own, 3D tv, its called the ldc i think…. but be carefull, some people who tried these, went crazy.. so i recommend NOT getting one, just go to the movies once in a while =)

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