WRAL Tech Wire

3D is a ‘game changer’ – What can it do for your business, your dreams?

James Cameron's Avatar is a "game changer."

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Note: The Skinny blog is written by Rick Smith, editor and co-founder of Local Tech Wire and business editor of WRAL.com.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Smart business leaders and entrepreneurs are always looking for or trying to create the next “big thing,” the next “game changer,” the next “big wave.” The right invention, the right product at the right time can become a global smash hit, creating jobs and something in short supply these days outside of China – profits.

These are among the reasons why you need to attend the next Local Tech Wire Executive Exchange event where our guest speakers will discuss how to get an edge in the emerging business of 3D. (Visit the event site to register.)

The likely Academy Award winner “Avatar,” now the world’s biggest money-making film, is making 3D entertainment reality now. But beyond James Cameron’s smash hit are other events taking place that are making 3D part of the business landscape for much more than entertainment.

From software to hardware, rapid prototyping, virtual reality training, virtual worlds and game – all are on the agenda for the program.

But let’s take a look at how Cameron turned his own entrepreneurial dream into a smash hit – what Fox empire owner Rupert Murdoch told Business Week is a “game changer.”

Isn’t that what you want for your company – a game changer?

First, Cameron had a vision – a dream. Then he put much of his own skin in the game – money – and where necessary invented cameras and software to make the visual wonders of Avatar a reality.

He “turned himself into an inventor-entrepreneur,” Business Week said of Cameron.

Having produced a number of successful and cutting-edge films such as Titanic, The Abyss, Aliens and Terminator 2, Cameron resolved to push frontiers, not sit back and count his wealth while holding his Oscars (“King of the World,” he proclaimed) for Titanic.

Don’t all entrepreneurs have a similar attitude – Good is never good enough?

Cameron’s drive, knowledge and his ability to develop and lead a team of creative geniuses led to Avatar, which Cameron described to Business Week as “an event.”

Like Apple’s iPhone. Cameron achieved what he called a “hook in the public consciousness.”

Such a hook means money.

The spillover affect from Avatar is being felt in Hollywood (Disney’s new 3D Alice in Wonderland looks dazzling), in movie theaters (only about 10 percent of theaters in the U.S. can display 3D), in content production (very little 3D content exists), and in sports (the first 3D soccer event just took place; more events are coming).

Attendees at the LTW event will hear from Richard Boyd, chief architect of Lockheed Martin Virtual World Labs, who will present behind-the-scenes video from Avatar and talk about Cameron. He is now working with the technical team of Avatar on applications for use in a variety of industries. Boyd and Cameron go back to 1990 when Cameron first used North Carolina-based Virtus Corporation's walk through software on Abyss for 3D visualization.

The video game industry, particularly in massively multiplayer online games, or MMOs, has certainly help prepare millions of consumers worldwide to want 3D on the big screen. We’ll talk about gaming trends.

Companies such as American Research Institute also are capitalizing on 3D capabilities to develop simulation training. Richard Kristof, the company’s founder, will lead a panel discussion about 3D business applications.

And software firms such as Triangle-based Geomagic are at the forefront of 3D engineering. CAD will never be the same. We’ll have a Gemoagic executive on the panle.

Plus, what might 3D mean for education? Duke University Professor Tony O’Driscoll, one of the world’s leading authorities on the Immersive Internet and 3D applications, will discuss his new book “Learning in 3D:Adding a New Dimension to Enterprise Learning and Collaboration” and immersive learning environments.

Don’t miss this 3D event You just might come up with a “game changer” of an idea or application.

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The Skinny

WRAL Local Tech Wire Publisher and Editor Rick Smith dishes out tidbits from the local technology sector. Read more articles…