What’s
happening?
Get interactive
A revolutionary interactive 3DTV system is being created by De
Montfort University Leicester (DMU) researchers.
The €4.2 million (roughly £3.7 million) project aims to develop
a television that can recognise where somebody is sitting and what
they wish to view and interact with on their television.
Researchers believe it is a step towards truly interactive 3D video
games where gamers use their bodies to control the action without
the need for a controller.
The project, called HELIUM3D (high effi ciency, laser-based, multi-
user, multi-modal 3D display) is also exploring ways of allowing
viewers who are watching the same television to each view a
different channel at the same time and could even let them choose
different viewing positions within the image. For example, groups of (IDRG) are leading the work, with partners from: Fraunhofer
people watching a football match in the same room could each pick Heinrich-Hertz-Institut; Philips Consumer Lifestyle; Eindhoven
the part of the stadium from which they would like to experience University of Technology; Nanjing University in China; Barco, a
the action. display hardware manufacturer in Belgium; University College
The 3D effect will be seen without special glasses and will use London; and Koç University in Turkey.
head-tracking technology developed during previous 3DTV research The project is supported by £2.8 million funding from the
projects led by DMU to deliver the perfect image to every viewer. European Commission’s Framework 7 programme.
The system will not only display standard 3DTV, it will also allow The researchers will also be exploring the display’s potential
viewers to experience an effect known as motion parallax or the in professional applications, including medical imaging, video
‘look-around effect’. This is where the image has a ‘holographic’ conferencing, engineering design and oil and gas exploration.
quality, giving it a greater sense of depth and movement than HELIUM3D runs until 2010 and researchers hope the system will
standard 3D. lead to the commercial production of interactive 3DTV sets within
Researchers at DMU’s Imaging and Displays Research Group the next decade.
A positive step
The increase in availability of engineering In addition, many of those joining the
apprenticeships, which will be created by profession as apprentices have gone on to
the Government’s National Apprenticeship become Incorporated Engineers (IEng) or
Service (NAS) was welcomed by the Chartered Engineers (CEng). And several
Engineering Council UK (ECUK). Presidents of Professional Engineering
Andrew Ramsay, Chief Executive Offi cer Institutions are, themselves, former
of ECUK said: “We see the introduction apprentices.
of the NAS as a very positive step, which “NAS provides the necessary safeguards
will undoubtedly open the door for more to ensure the quality of engineering
people of all ages to enter the engineering apprenticeships throughout the UK,” said
profession. Apprenticeships have always Andrew Ramsay. “It will play an invaluable
played an important role in engineering.” role in helping to spread the word to
The integrated training and experience employers, as well as potential apprentices. In
provided by a large number of engineering- particular, it will make sure that the essential
based Advanced Apprenticeships can offer experience of developing competence
a direct route to Engineering Technician through work in real industrial, construction
(EngTech) registration, providing the or business environments remains central to,
individual with most or all of the necessary and a highly valued aspect of, the concept of
competence. apprenticeship.”
Engineering Designer July/August 2009
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