Immersion Studios is a brisk four floor walk up from the Interactive Multimedia lab. Inside is a busy hive of computer programmers and designers: everyone a geek at heart, as demonstrated by their desk clutter, i.e. toys like: bobblehead wolverine, transformers and other nicknacks.
But what's the real story behind Immersion Studios?
Well for starters its not technology specifically created for gaming, as one might guess. Instead it is used for simulations and programs designed to teach. For instance, the space movie we were treated to today had users frantically clicking to save an astronaut from being killed by parasites. Which sounds like a game, but with the realism of the graphics of the inner body, cell and skeletal structure used, simulations like this can easily be used to teach medical students.
Another project they have created is called Crime Scene Protection. Also a learning tool, this one teaches police officers to find and protect physical evidence at a crime scene. Other projects teach officers how to measure skid marks to calculate car speeds and help with gathering data at accidents and how to safely pull a vehicle off the road.
Immersion also has visualization based learning, like their Viking Mystery and the Ottawa Light Rail project. These types of elements are less interactive in their teaching but still viable as teaching aids.
Another cool project they are working on at the moment is F.A.C.E, Facial Animation Communication Engine. This program allows a computer to mimic the facial expressions of a person into a 3D rendered person on screen. Or it will when it's completely finished anyway. The technology works on 59 different points of facial recognition or control points to determine how to properly mimic a person's facial expressions. The program first starts by detecting the head, then it moves on to detect each region of the face, eyes, lips, nose etc. I'm sure once it's fully function the technology will be amazing, I'm just unsure what it's practical applications would be.
I was especially interested in the programs they used to create all the wonderful visualizations that they showed us. And even more amazed that the program they used for a bunch of their work is one I can get for free.
Ogre according to their site, is one of the world's most popular open source graphic rendering engines. This is definitely something I'm going to check out. Free technology is good technology.
I also noticed another rendering program that was advertised on a wall at Immersion Studios which is called Houdini. It's created by a company called Side Effects Software. Although it's not free or even cheap, it still seems to create some amazing effects.
Finally on Immersion Studio's website they mentioned that they have worked on games for Game boy Advance. Based on the medical graphics from the space video, it got me thinking of a game called Trauma Center: Second Opinion. This game is on the Wii and users get to play a surgeon in a busy hospital. Throughout the game you perform operations, such as removing broken glass from an accident victim's heart, exorisizing a tumor and even treating an infectious disease. Although the graphics are a little cartoony in nature, they are very accurate and life like. The game even gives you real tools of the trade to use such as syringes, scalpels, laser, forceps and an ultrasound. The game itself was challenging but lots of fun but I can see it in a new light now as being a tool for new doctors.
In closing, Immerison studios really does have some awesome technology to show the world. It's just a shame that it's not as grand as it once was.
Interesting links I think you should check out:
Immersion Studio's Site
Ottawa Light Rail Project
Facial Recognition Technology
Ogre 3D Graphic Rendering Engine
Houdini - Side Effects Software
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
Song Ho Ahn's Personal Website
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