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Summary Sentence: The GVU Center welcomes Dr. Alyn Rockwood, Boulder Graphics to discuss the Simplified Three-Dimensional Surface Sketching via Recursive Subdivision of Generalized Coon’s Patches
Full Summary: This talk will discuss the design of shapes, demonstrate SuperD, describe pilot user studies and explain the generalization to the classic (bi-cubically blended) 3D Coons Patch to extend the patch from 4 to any number of sides.
Image: Alyn RockwoodAbstract:
Design of shapes – be they for planes, cars, animated characters, visualizations or consumer products - often start with interactively-created 3D concept sketches. Many 3D modeling programs, including Blender, AutoCAD and MAYA, 3D Studio Max, Modo, and Wings3D support this approach, using recursive subdivision of parametric bi-cubic surfaces. But they suffer from dimpled extra-ordinary points, regions of dense patch clusters, poor triangulation and efficiency. Our approach overcomes these and maps especially well to mobile devices because of its small database and minimization of memory fetches.
A new tablet and smart-phone application, SuperD, combines our generalization of Coon’s patches with a fast to learn, easy to use interface. Preliminary studies find that SuperD is especially attractive to young users and STEM educators. A eleven-year old designed and 3D printed a teddy bear with about fifteen minutes of instruction and a couple of hours of exploration. Educators find SuperD especially helpful in creating a playful and organic 3D spatial learning experience.
In this talk we
Speaker Bio:
Alyn Rockwood is Chief Scientist at Boulder Graphics, developing 3D computer graphics. Until recently, he was Professor of Applied Mathematics and Associate Director of the Geometric Modeling and Scientific Visualization Research Center at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Rockwood has been involved with computer graphics and related research for more than 30 years. At the pioneering graphics company Evans and Sutherland, he led a team that first achieved certification for a pilot training simulator, which allowed pilots to train completely for new aircraft on a simulator. At Silicon Graphics, Inc., he developed the method for rendering curved surfaces in real time that is integral to OpenGL today. He was SIGGRAPH Papers Chair in 1999, Conference Chair in 2003 and SIGGRAPH Asia Papers’ Chair in 2013. Before moving to KAUST, Dr. Rockwood held academic positions at both Arizona State University and Colorado School of Mines. He has received several teaching awards, the COFES 2007 Innovation in Technology Award, and the CAD Society "Heroes of Engineering" Award. This year he received SIGGRAPH’s Outstanding Service Award.
His current research is focused on developing new modeling techniques for geometric design andanimation, and engineering applications of Clifford Algebra. Dr. Rockwood has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, secured 10 patents, and published three books, including one novel entitled How Noble in Reason. He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
