News

3D Vision of the Future developed at Durham University

(22 April 2004)

World-leading imaging technology developed at the University of Durham is set to revolutionise people's experiences of computers and mobile phones by giving them a full 3D experience without the need for specialised equipment such as glasses with red and green lenses.

University of Durham-based inThreeD is developing a toolkit from software it has invented for cutting-edge 3D display technology to make it much easier and quicker for software developers to incorporate 3D imaging capabilities into their design and development work.

Project Leader Nick Holliman from the Department of Computer Science and an expert in 3D software, came up with the idea. He says inThreeD is two years ahead of its competitors in a global multi-billion pound market. He explains how the 3D authoring software came about and the implications: "We all remember having to wear glasses with red and green lenses to view 3D films. The latest technology creates the same effect for computer displays - an auto-stereoscopic 3D appearance which guides the left and right views to each eye - but without the need for the viewer to wear glasses or other devices.

"Existing technology is notoriously difficult to use - only software developers with a deep knowledge of 3D programming have been able to use it. inThreeD's toolkit for developers will simplify the process. And, with 3D screens becoming much more affordable and the advent of 3D in mobile technology, the potential is huge.

"The benefits to developers will be significant - it will save time and cost and will make 3D imaging much more accessible."

Potential uses for the inThreeD SDK (Software Developers Kit) include biosciences, computer games and CAD architecture and design. The 3D screen market is extensive, with Japan-based Sharp Corporation as the leading multi-national manufacturer.

The toolkit will be licensed to developers. "In the same way that web developers can now buy or license off-the-shelf products to create web sites and special effects without knowing about the technology behind them, our toolkit will enable developers to create 3D imaging without having to know too much about the programming language that drives it," says Holliman.

CODEWORKS, the North East's Centre of Excellence in digital technology and media, has made its first commercial investment in inThreeD. It has invested £70,000 to support the creation of a beta/pilot version of the toolkit that will then be taken to market via a major commercial partner or through a channel relationship.

CODEWORKS' CEO Herbert Kim is excited by the software development partnership signed with Durham University. He says: "The inThreeD authoring tool for cutting-edge 3D display technology is the first commercial partnership we have signed. It is a highly innovative project developed by a leading local research group with a clear route to market. This is just the kind of project CODEWORKS will be increasingly involved with in the future. Providing early-stage financing for such innovative projects is key to CODEWORKS' strategy.

Nick Holliman concludes: "CODEWORKS' investment is absolutely crucial to developing the toolkit - without it, competitors may have caught up and we would have lost our considerable advantage in this global business opportunity. In addition, it has helped us retain graduate talent in the region."

Notes to Editors:

About CODEWORKS

CODEWORKS is the North East's Centre of Digital Excellence, building competitive advantage through the creation and application of world-class digital technologies and media. CODEWORKS aims to unite the region's business, academic and policy stakeholders into co-ordinated initiatives that further develop long-term defensible intellectual property and high value employment to the region. CODEWORKS is active in three key areas - digital industry support; corporate finance; and digital innovation.

About Durham University

Durham University has invested significantly in a new building and advanced equipment to establish the e-Science Research Institute, located on the University's Science Site. e-Science refers to collaborative research that is increasingly carried out as distributed global interactions across the Internet. Visualisation forms a key part of these collaborations delivering interactive 3D images to scientists' desks and laboratories. The University of Durham is the lead university for the North East Centre for Scientific Enterprise (NECSE) - a collaborative project of the five universities in the North East. Since its inception in 2000, NECSE has worked with the University on Durham on 80 commercialisation projects. From these, 11 businesses have been "spun out" to date.

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