L.A. Noire’s amazing facial motion capture system

LA NOIRE is produced by Take2Games.com

Why does a director want motion capture technology to improve?

MotionScan uses an elaborate camera rig, which places 32 high-definition cameras on the ground, ceiling and at eye-level of the actor being filmed, to capture and create a 3-D model of the performer’s face, and eventually his whole body, to use in computer-generated films and videogames. “Instead of just editing a movie, the director would be able to reconstruct the scene in any way they want,” he says. “You could change the lighting, change the angle of the camerawork, and basically design the film to your specifications, but still be able to feature a realistic performance from the actor.” Read More at WSJ>>>>

Push Pop Press is a new digital publishing platform that’s redefining the way we publish and experience books. Using Push Pop Press authors can weave together text, images, audio, video and interactive graphics into immersive multi-touch interactive books, without dealing with the complexities and costs normally involved in software development. Push Pop Press is currently in private beta being used to build more amazing titles. Read More>>>>

Software developer Mike Matas demos the first full-length interactive book for the iPad — with clever, swipeable video and graphics and some very cool data visualizations to play with. The book is “Our Choice,” Al Gore’s sequel to “An Inconvenient Truth.”

Scenes from the release of Al Gores new book on climate change, Our Choice, held on November 4, 2009. Vice President Gore, Maria Rodale, Tim LaSalle, and others discuss the urgency of solving the great environmental crisis of our time.

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With U3-X Honda rethinks the concept of personal mobility, providing the rider with freedom of movement in any direction forward, backward, sideways and diagonally by simply leaning slightly in the desired direction. The lightweight and compact one-wheeled device also features a foldable seat and retractable footrests. A lithium-ion battery pack provides power for up to one-hour of use and can be recharged by plugging in to a conventional household or office 120-volt power outlet.

Weighing roughly 22 pounds, U3-X uses an advanced Honda proprietary balance-control system which derives from its research into human walking dynamics for the development of the ASIMO bi-pedal humanoid robot. To realize full freedom of movement in all directions, the U3-X also employs the worlds first omni-directional driving wheel system (Honda Omni Traction Drive System) which utilizes a series of concentrically mounted wheels a larger, forward and backward moving inner wheel and a series of smaller sideways moving outer wheels. Diagonal motion is achieved when both forward and sideways moving wheels operate in tandem.

In addition, the compact size and one-wheel-drive design of U3-X was intended to provide user-friendly and pedestrian-friendly operation with low-mounted foot pedals that make it easy for the rider to reach the ground, and a seat height that places the rider at approximately the same eye-level as other people.