Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Nine HDTVs form 3D visualization rig, but only in the name of science

If youre the kind of person who happens to have a number of LCD HDTVs lying around, we suggest you give University of California, San Diegos Calit2 Visualization Team a ring. Researchers from the group have constructed a three-column, nine-panel 3D display using flat screens from JVC, stereoscopic glasses, and "game PCs with high end NVIDIA game engines." Dubbed NexCAVE, its a much more inexpensive version of the its projector-powered StarCAVE used for data analysis, although its range is more limited -- on the plus side, however, since this is LCD, it can be used in bright rooms. At 6,000 x 1,500 pixel, the resolution isnt as mind-blowing as wed hope, but the team is currently building a version for Saudi Arabias King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST) thats 7 columns (totaling 21 panels) and 15,000 x 1,500 resolution. If nothing else, any chance we can play Mirrors Edge on this? Video demonstration of the nine-panel rig after the break.