2006 Archive

Training Scedule : September 2006

The latest Training Schedule has been announced, and includes an e-Research Induction course to be held in turn at each of the three universities; see the Training Page for details.

Page changes : March 2006

Due to recent and continuing changes to various pages and menus, please be sure to reload pages fresh from the website, rather than using copies kept in cache. This will be particularly important as updates are planned for software, systems and bookings pages.

Stereo video : February 2006

The basic techniques of generating stereo video using two mini-DV cameras has been investigated and such content can now be produced. Both standard eye-separation and hyperstereo (using a separation of 40cm) have been used.
Investigations are now under way with regard to near-field imaging (i.e. object distance of a metre or so), and use of wide-angle lenses with the cameras.

SAPAC Access Grid node : January 2006

The Access Grid room is available for use. However, some changes are to be made: conversion to an all-Linux system, and relocation of the audience camera to an eye-level position.

2005 Archive

SAPAC Access Grid node : December 2005

Work on the SAPAC Access Grid Room is largely complete. This will enable AG meetings for up to ten or so attendees at SAPAC. The facility has two screens, two 1024x768 projectors, two Sony EVID70P cameras, and Clear One AccuMic echo-cancelling microphones.

When finished, AG meetings will be booked via the Booking Forms page.

SAVRC: AVS installed : December 2005

The high-end visualisation package AVS Express (multi-pipe edition) has been installed and is available.

Stereo imaging equipment : November 2005

Two Sony DSC-V3 still and HC-21 digital video cameras have been purchased, and experiments will begin in producing stereo still and video content.

Visit by the Ruler of Sharjah : November 17th 2005

His Highness The Ruler of Sharjah appreciates a demonstration of advanced visualisation at the South Australian Virtual Reality Centre. His Highness is accompanied by Professor John Taplin, PVC (International) of the University of Adelaide. The visit was hosted by SAPAC, the Australian School of Petroleum and the University of Adelaide.

SAPAC VisLab : September 2005

SAPAC's visualisation suite is in regular use. During this month, there's a daily show as part of the SA Museum's Bragg exhibition, and the suite has thus been featured on the Postcards tourism programme in Channel 9.

SAVRC : September 2005

The modelling and rendering software 3DS Max has been installed in the SAVRC, and can run on a small rendering cluster comprised of several of the SAVRC Windows PC's.

2004 Archive

SAPAC link to Nobel Prize for Physics : December 2004

Friday, 17 December 2004
Animations created at the University of Adelaide have been on display to the world, as featured by a Nobel Prize winner for Physics in his recent Nobel Prize Lecture in Stockholm, Sweden.
The animations, created by Professor in Physics at the University of Adelaide Dr Derek Leinweber, illustrate Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), the underlying theory of the so-called "strong interactions" in quantum physics.

(Click on thumbnail below for the full animation: courtesy A/Prof. Derek Leinweber).

SAPAC synergy with Syntony : Sep.-Oct. 2004

Animations produced by SAPAC were used to complement the singing of renowned Adelaide-based vocal quartet Syntony during their Harmony of the Spheres concerts in 2004. Audiences were taken on a visual tour of the solar system whilst listening to pieces by Byrd, Schutz, Dunstaple and Maclean, and a world premiere commissioned work by Bruce Stewart (Ring out, ye crystal spheres).

Aquila installed and running : September 2004

SAPAC's newest supercomputer, Aquila, an SGI Altix 3000 with 160 processors and 160GB of RAM, has been installed successfully and is running and in use.