CGI has played such a huge part in expanding cinema’s ability to visually relay a story that these days, it’s about as standard as car chase scenes and cheesy one-liners. Despite being such a common tool for modern-day films, in reality it’s such a headache to insert CGI into any scene. Even manipulating a camera in a computer-generated 3-D environment is taxing, which would explain the hideously large paychecks that graphic designers get.
Researchers from the University of Abertay Dundee plan to change all that. They developed a system, called Motus, which allows free camera movement within a CG space. This is accomplished through the use of a proprietary remote control, which allows a user to move the camera just as he would in real space.
The technology isn’t exactly original; we’ve seen it before with Nintendo’s Wii, and Sony’s Sixaxis and upcoming Move motion controllers. However, this is the first time that motion controls are being used during the development cycle, and not within actual playthrough.
Motus Project member Matt Bett states that the technology is best used by filmmakers who want to make the next 3-D experience rivaling Avatar. A commercial version should be released as early as next year, through peripheral manufacturer Razer. Whether it’ll lower 3-D ticket prices is a question that remains to be answered.
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