Between the Lines

Project Photofly Photo Booth – My Head Goes 3D in One Click!

Two weeks ago I visited the Autodesk San Francisco office and had the pleasure of working with the Project Photofly Photo Booth in the Autodesk Gallery at One Market in San Francisco. This is the same exhibit shown at the recent TED 2011 conference, but now even more cool.

This custom setup generates a 3D textured model of your head using 16 synchronized DSLR cameras mounted around you that take a photo all at once when your face is detected in the right alignment location as recognized by a re-purposed Microsoft Kinect camera. The photos are then sent to the Project Photofly on the cloud to convert to a 3D textured mesh and when completed it then emails the .ipm file for viewing in Autodesk’s free Inventor Publisher Mobile for iOS devices.

Here I am in in the new Project Photofly Photo Booth in the Autodesk Gallery.

Here you can se the LED screen that lets you know visually when you head is in the right location and uses a Microsoft Kinect camera to check the location of your head and provide feedback where to move your head and to hold still.

Here is my head modeled in 3D as a result using the free Project Photofly software from http://www.autodesk.com/photofly.

Here is a quick video captured by Autodesk Labs VP Brian Mathews from my iPhone showing me testing the Photo Booth. http://bit.ly/igZBeu

If you get to San Francisco you should definitely stop in the Autodesk Gallery at One Market. The Autodesk Gallery at One Market is open to the public every Wednesday from 12-5 p.m., with a guided tour at 12:30 p.m.

Cheers,
Shaan

MIT Technology Review Covers Autodesk Project Photofly v2

An article by MIT Technology Review today details more background about the upcoming Autodesk Project Photofly version 2 with an interview of Vice president of Autodesk Labs, Brian Mathews. Project Photofly is the free Technology Preview on Autodesk Labs where you can upload photos and they are automatically converted to 3D models.

http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/37631/?p1=A1&a=f

To Capture Delicate Arch in 3D

This week I am capturing several objects in 3D including the world famous Delicate Arch located in Arches National Park in SE Utah. Tomorrow two FARO employees and myself will be hiking up to the Delicate Arch with a 3D laser scanner to capture the Delicate Arch in a 3D point cloud. The new FARO 3D laser scanner we will be using is about the size of a loaf of bread or 2 DSLR cameras and weighs in at only 12 pounds with its tripod.

Why capture the Delicate Arch in 3D, because we can. Capturing the Arch is not only fun, but demonstrates there are no limits to the practical use of Reality Capture techniques and applications to document existing objects in 3D. In this case of the Delicate Arch, the 3D point cloud generated could also be used to study how the arches sandstone geometry changes over time as the sandstone arches are carved and shaved by the weather elements. Some arches like Wall Arch have collapsed with no real data on their actual detailed geometry captured for historical records or study. This will be an awesome day of technology as well as the amazing beauty of the scenery during the hike.

I am also down here using Autodesk’s Project Photofly. Project Photofly allows me to capture objects using only my digital camera and then use Project Photofly’s Photo Scene Editor to generate a 3D model from the photos using photogrammetry technology. With Project Photofly I am capturing not only some of the unique geological structures like arches, but also Native American ruins dating back 1500 years.

I am using a version of Project Photofly that is currently in development and expected to be released on Autodesk Labs as a free Technology Preview this Spring. This new version’s technology and capabilities is light years beyond where we were with the currently posted version. It is amazing and I cannot wait until we release it for you to use it and provide us feedback to evolve the product even more.

At Autodesk, we believe Reality Capture using technologies like laser scanning and photogrammetry are the future in most industries for several uses from creating a model for energy analysis, documenting existing process plant piping, capturing geometry to aide in the rebuilding of mechanical parts like they do at Jay Leno’s Big Dog Garage, and even content or digital props for Media & Entertainment. We have released many of our products with support for point clouds like the recent AutoCAD 2012, Civil 3D, and Autodesk Revit 2012. We have also released point cloud preview technologies on Autodesk Labs such as the Shape Extraction for AutoCAD.

Stay tuned for more information, photos, and images of the models from the scanning of the Arch and SE Utah Geological and Archeological projects this week.

Cheers,
Shaan

Photos from Autodesk University 2010

We have created a public Flickr group for AU2010 (http://www.flickr.com/groups/au2010/) for sharing photos by Autodesk University 2010 attendees. Flickr is free, and an excellent way to share your experiences at AU with others. The AU Team will also be announcing a video upload location in addition to this photo gallery soon.

Past AU Flickr photo groups:
AU 2009, AU 2008 and AU 2007. 

Anyone is welcome to add AU 2010 photos to the Flickr group as long as they are:

• AU 2010 related
• Your own photos
• Suitable for all audiences

Please tag your photo and videos as aulv2010 so that AU Team can also highlight your nice AU photos to other AU attendees.

It is even better if you can geotag your photos with their locations which Flickr allows you to do. Some cameras and photo software can also geotag your photos time and location it was taken.

If you want a photo of the famous Welcome to Las Vegas sign located near to the Mandalay Bay, please be careful crossing the road as there is fast and heavy traffic that will not stop for a pedestrian.

My Flickr Photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/btl/

Only 10 more days until Autodesk University 2010!

Cheers,
Shaan

Autodesk University History & AU 2010 in 49 Days

First the current upcoming Autodesk University is only 49 days away!

Cannot attend AU this year, how about attending virtually? Details on how to access AU Virtual and vote are available via the contest page: http://www.autodesk.com/yt2010

Voting now open for this year's AU YouTube Contest. Learn more and vote today: http://bit.ly/bBi3rq #AU2010

Unofficial Autodesk University history

• 1993 San Francisco California – Marin County near Autodesk HQ. First Autodesk University
• 1994 Atlanta, Georgia
• 1995 San Francisco California Moscone Center
  "More than 230 classes, including courses on extensions to AutoCAD, systems design and data management, and 80 hands-on working lab sessions, will make this year's Autodesk
  University Conference and Exhibition bigger and more comprehensive than ever. Running from October 29 to November 2, 1995 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco,
  the third Annual Autodesk University features a detailed program for professional users of AutoCAD, the world's most popular design software for engineers and architects,
  and an entirely new Multimedia Conference-Within-A- Conference to address the state-of-the-art in rendering and animation applications."
• 1996 Chicago Illinois
• 1997 Los Angeles California
• 1998 Philadelphia Pennsylvania
• 1999 there were 4 AUs
  • Boston Massachusetts
  • Dallas Texas
  • Chicago Illinois
  • San Francisco California
• 2000 Las Vegas Nevada first Vegas AU MGM Grand
• 2001 Las Vegas Nevada MGM Grand
• 2002 Las Vegas Nevada MGM Grand
• 2003 Las Vegas Nevada MGM Grand
• 2004 Las Vegas Nevada MGM Grand
• 2005 Orlando Florida  -Walt Disney World
• 2006 Las Vegas Nevada Venetian
• 2007 Las Vegas Nevada Venetian
• 2008 Las Vegas Nevada Venetian
• 2008 Shanghai China
• 2008 Tokyo Japan
• 2009 Las Vegas Nevada Venetian
• 2009 Shanghai China
• 2009 Tokyo Japan
• 2010 Las Vegas Nevada Mandalay Bay
• 2010 Shanghai China
• 2010 Tokyo Japan
  
  I hope to see you at AU #22!

That is thousands of classes, tens perhaps hundreds of thousands of attendees and a infinite knowledge and fun over the years.

For some fun reflections back on Autodesk University in photos please see my AU Flickr gallery and the AUGI AU page which even has a photo of Lynn Allen from 1997.

AUGI AU History in photos
http://www.augi.com/autodeskuniversity/default.asp?page=498

• AU 2007
• AU 2006
• AU 2005
• AU 2004
• AU 2003
• AU 2002
• AU 2001
• AU 2000
• AU 1999
• AU 1998
• AU 1997
• AU 1996

My AU Photo Gallery filled with hundreds of moments captured:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/btl/collections/72157600140938098/

AU 2010 will be my 18th Autodesk University if I count AU China and AU Japan in 2008.

Cheers,
Shaan
In DC for meetings t then San Francisco by tonight making for a 21 hour work day.

Weekend of Fun in the Sun

I will be out of the office from Thursday afternoon (April 8th, 2010) until next Tuesday. I am headed down to Tucson Arizona and points South for some hiking in the beautiful Sonoran desert. This is the time of the year when many wildflowers and cactus are blooming and the temperatures are not too hot. It is sadly also the last month that many Arizona parks will be open as many of the nicest parks in Arizona will be closing due to state budget shortfalls. 

   

My favorite/essential trekking tools are going with me.

• GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr Mini DPL900  I use this to geotag my photos location. This is the newest unit but I have used their hardware for years and love it. It takes the GPS tracks of the unit and matches up your photos time stamp to then reverse the location coordinates and even link into Google Map. There is nothing like being able to stamp the locations of all photos exactly where they were taken as my memory is not that good.
• Garmin eTrex Vista GPS unit. I use this unit for all of my navigation based on maps and specific GPS coordinates. I would never ever rely on a phone GPS to navigate anything especially where getting lost could be a deadly mistake.
• TopoFusion to create my maps and manage my GPS tracks or routes.
• Spot Satellite Messenger unit to provide a live update on where I am or send messages by satellite as well as activate an emergency rescue if needed.
• A snake hook. I love to photograph snakes and need my trusty snake hook for both the snakes and my safety and keep them at arms length.
• Last but not least or lightest I will have my camera gear to capture the visual memories.

I will be posting photos when I can in my Flickr photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/btl/ as well as posting from my Twitter account @mrcadman when there is a cell signal.

My main goal is to photograph as much of the blooms, snakes, scorpions, and landscapes I can as well as clear the mind and get some good outdoor exercise.

Cheers,
Shaan

Free Sandstone Wave Desktop Wallpaper

I wanted to share one of my photos for desktop backgrounds after seeing how nice it looks on both my PC and Mac laptops. This photo was taken on a hike into the North Coyote Butte on the Utah Arizona border about a 3 hour drive from Las Vegas but you do need a permit to hike into this fragile environment ads well as being prepared. You can see why I live where I do, with all the beautiful desert and mountains of the Southwest United States.

Now I can get back to all my Autodesk University 2009 planning and class materials.  I will be in Las Vegas in only 6 days…

Cheers,
Shaan

Autodesk University Shutterbug Tour 2009 Details

This fun adventurous event will be held again this year. We will be exploring and photographing the colorful desert and surrounding areas. Four states covered over the week including Nevada, California, Arizona, and Utah.

I have setup up an online form to gather interested people. This will be a free event but there will be a request to pitch in to those driving fellow shutterbugs for fuel and any tolls. Sign Up Form

• Sunday November 29th, 2009 – 12:00PM to 9:30PM Valley of Fire
• Monday November 30th, 2009 - 7:30AM to 3:30PM The new Colorado River bridge, Lake Mead and Hoover Dam and if time permits a trip to historic Oatman Arizona just off the Route 66 Highway.
• Friday December 4th, 2009 – 10:00AM to 9:00PM Death Valley California
• Saturday December 5th, 2009 - 7:30AM to 1:00PM Red Rock Canyon Nevada,  For those headed North I will be hitting Zion National Park Utah around 4PM 

Map of AU Shutterbug Tour 2009 Locations

View Autodesk University Shutterbug Tour 2009 in a larger map

Autodesk University 2008 Shutterbug Tour Photos

Hope to see you at Autodesk University!
Shaan

T-18 Hours Until ARES 1 DM-1 Rocket Motor Test

I will be attending the large solid fuel rocket test tomorrow here in Northern Utah with ATK & NASA.  This is the ultimate engineering geek experience. This first stage rocket engine will be a vital component of the next generation manned space flight vehicle Orion Crew Vehicle.  If all goes well with my cell connection I will be blogging live before during and after the test as well as later be posting high resolution photos to my Flickrstream. The test will also be shown live on the NASA TV streaming over the web.

• 3.6 million pounds of thrust fixed in the horizontal position
• 2 minute burn
• 2/3 the temperature of the sun turning sand into glass

This is just the perfect type of event to get young people interested in science, space, and engineering.

“To Infinity and Beyond!” – Buzz Lightyear

Cheers,
Shaan

Autodesk Week Off & ARES-1 Rocket Engine Test Here in Utah

Autodesk will be closed for a quarterly week of rest from August 31st to September 8th. While many of us deskers will be working from time to time out of pure enjoyment and habit, please understand our participation may be light until we return.

While on my week of vacation I hope to attend the NASA / ATK (Alliant Techsystems) next generation ARES-1, 5 stage solid fuel space rocket motor test next Tuesday here in Northern Utah. With an expected 3.6 million pounds of thrust it is the "equivalent of 26,000 NASCAR race cars revving their engines for two minutes”. The big first stage rocket motor will be in a fixed horizontal position and fired in this first test which is said to generate almost 2/3 the temperature of the sun. I expect this to be one intense experience to the senses. It will be a testament to the progress of the evolution of  technology, and engineering. This rocket will be a vital component of the next generation manned space flight vehicle Orion Crew Vehicle after the Space Shuttle retirement. Of course I will be photographing the test and tweeting (@mrcadman) provided I have a phone connection from Promontory Point Utah.

If you are planning to attend the rocket motor test, contact me as we could share a or meetup out there. I know both NASA and ATK use Autodesk products in several divisions. Any nice ATK / NASA employees have a spare front row view seat so I can hang out with rocket scientists and engineers, or provide a suggestion for the location with the best public view?

I am fully 110% behind more space exploration and future manned space flights. Science and Engineering is definitely cool! 

“To Infinity and Beyond!”

Cheers,
Shaan

AU Shutterbug Tour 2009 Update and Signup Form

This fun event will be held again this year. We will be exploring and photographing the scenic  and colorful Southern Nevada desert such as:

•  Red Rock Canyon,

• Valley of Fire

• The new Colorado River bridge. Hoover Dam Bypass on US Highway 93

• Lake Mead

• Hoover Dam

• and other possible locations such as Death Valley and Zion National Park.

I have setup up an online form to gather interested people. This will be a free event but there will be a request to pitch in to those driving fellow shutterbugs for fuel and any tolls.

 

Sign Up Form

Hope to see you at Autodesk University in 99 days!
Shaan

Autodesk University 2009 Events Update (Blogger Social, Shutterbugs, and Tweetup)

I have received several emails asking what I am planning for this years Autodesk University 2009 “AU 2009” . So I wanted to give a heads up of what I know today, and I am trying to nail down times, dates, logistics and locations.

Blogger Social Reception

Date & Time TBD

After a successful first Bloggers Social was held last year we will hold that again but with new identifying name tags. Imagine around 100 Autodesk customer product bloggers and Autodesk employees from product teams, Autodesk  bloggers, and executive management meeting up to meet face to face with each other and establish friendships to take home after AU. If you are a blogger about AU and Autodesk products then this is an event you cannot miss.

AU Shutterbug Tour

This fun event will be held again this year but event more organized and better. We will be exploring the regional beauty surrounding the Southern Nevada desert such as Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, the new Colorado bridge, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and other locations. Hopefully, this year we get to see Sean Toomey juggle fire at night for some interesting long exposure photos.

 

Date & Time Multiple dates and any times we can sneak away early in the morning before classes or late after classes and events.

Tentative schedule:
Sunday December 3rd   – full day
Monday December 4th   - half day
Friday December 8th   – full day
Saturday December 9th - half day

• Autodesk University 2008 Flickr photo set
• Autodesk University Shutterbug Tour 2008

AU Tweetup

 Date & Time TBD
AU Twitter users Tweetup at AU should be fun for those social networking to congregate in a single location face to face in real life IRL. We should also hold one meetup during the AU party Thursday night as well as during the beer bust in the exhibit hall Tuesday 7-10PM.

Follow me on Twitter! @mrcadman

The famous Welcome to Las Vegas sign is just outside the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino which is the location of the Autodesk University 2009. For those wishing to photograph this famous and iconic sign please be careful crossing the busy road or go with out the free and fun AU Shutterbug Tour.

Make sure to sign up early for AU 2009! Spread the word far and wide about these fun AU activities.Stay tuned to this blog and my Twitter account @mrcadman for further updates on times, locations, and sign up details.

I hope to meet you at AU!

Cheers,
Shaan

Calling India & Turkey

On June 15th I will be taking a 6 week sabbatical. With so many United Airlines frequent flier miles to use before the end of the year since I no longer fly them I am looking for ideas.

INDIA:
I know I have a large readership from India so please post your suggestions in the comments on locations and why that location. Are their local Autodesk customer groups and students there that I can also meet with as I love talking with students and also customers from all parts of the world. Yes shocking I get time off and still take work with me.

I want to do short backpacking trips around on the cheap but the main purpose of getting off the beaten path seeing the true country, people, and the nature and wildlife like snakes and scorpions and birds most never see. I want to capture some great memorable photos as well as meeting the people and sharing in their cultures and food and making more friends and making India look simply amazing in photographs each with a story..

I was thinking perhaps Delhi,Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Chennai, Hyderabad or . What are your thoughts?

Shukriya,
Shaan

TURKEY: 
I am also considering a trip in Istanbul Turkey to see my friends from the Daily AutoCAD Blog Erhan, Orhan, and Can.

çok teşekkür ederim
Shaan

Fake or Foto – Take the Challenge

With computers and visualization software becoming more and more powerful it is getting more difficult to tell real from computer generated. Take this fun little challenge. I got 8 of 12 the first time and 12 of 12 the second time learning from my mistakes.

Take the Challenge

Using Autodesk Showcase I have two real-time renderings that are almost impossible to tell from a real object. Autodesk Showcase is downright amazing for visualization of your 3D content.

 

Cheers,
Shaan

AU08 Shutterbugs - Valley of Fire

This is a 360 degree QuickTime/Flash Panoramic photo taken by Mark Banas at AU 2008. This is a group of us that gathered as the AU 2008 Shutterbugs. In the photo are Mark Banas, Chris Hall, Sean Twomey, and me, The location was Northeast of Las Vegas in the desert about 15 miles from the Valley of Fire (36°8'46"N, 114°51'36"W). We wanted to shoot a photo within Valley of Fire park but the sunset came too early as we were returning from the Hoover dam so we rushed up a hill near the road.

AU08 Shutterbugs - Valley of Fire

• More AU 2008 Shutterbug photos
• Autodesk University 2008 Flickr photo set

Yes we will be doing this fun gathering of Shutterbugs again for Autodesk University 2009. More specifics will be posted to this blog as we get closer to AU 2009 (#AU2009) planned for December 2009 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Nevada. We will have a more formal agenda and I am working on some special VIP locations for shutterbugs.

Cheers,
Shaan

Shaan 3 Days of Extreme Hiking and Cold Weather Camping

In 3 hours I will be headed about 6 hours South to the Utah Arizona border for 3 days of hiking, climbing, and cold weather camping.

 

I plan to hike the WirePass to  Buckskin Gulch slot canyon, The Rimrocks sandstone hoodoo formations, The Wave, Coral Pink Sand Dunes, and North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Should be a fun and adrenalin filled adventure trek with many photos to be taken and posted to my Flickr Photostream when I return.

As usual in addition to using my Garmin Mapsource for my Garmin portable GPS plans I use Scott’s excellent Topofusion for hike planning. I also carry a PhotoTrackr Pro GPS photo tagging unit. I am  basically a walking photo lab and GPS unit.

Here is the link to my photos from the last hike into the famous wave were you must win a lottery for a permit.  The Wave (Set)

Cheers,
Shaan

2008 What a Year

I am in my final week of holiday vacation (all of Autodesk is) as well as the last Monday of the year 2008. What better time to reflect on the year. There were many highs and lows for 2008 in my life I thought I would mention a few.

The year was filled with travel to visit friends, Autodesk product user groups, and customers around the world including the countries of Brazil, China, Kuwait, Turkey, Kuwait, and UAE in addition to all over the North America. I now have a full passport and need to get new pages added or I will be left unable to travel Internationally. I really enjoy speaking with users of Autodesk software around the world and learning how they use the software and what they design.

Other highlights in no particular order:

• Getting milk and cookies in my room from the AU2008 Team.
• Meeting  celebrity Autodesk customers Jay Leno and Eddie Paul.
• Attended and presented at 3 Autodesk Universities this year China, Japan, and Las Vegas. This makes the total AU events I have attended 14.
• The First Blogger Social at AU2008 was a success and will be even bigger and better next year.
• Traveled with the Matt Murphy Clay Head Sculpture for a year including a visit with entertainer Jay Leno and then gave it to the real Matt Murphy at AU2008.
• Made so many new friends around the world.
• Presented at FOCUS Kuwait, and over 500 people attended. Thank you Binu!
• Presented in Istanbul, and while in Turkey I visited Cappadocia and experienced the wonderful food, people, and scenery. Thank you to my 3 Turkish friends Can, Orhan, and Erhan of the Daily AutoCAD Blog!
• Had a great time with members of AUGI Japan in Yokohama Japan and a spectacular trip to Kamakura with a traditional Japanese lunch included.
• Meeting the Techsmith Team who develop the two software tools I have used almost daily for 12 years.
• I continue to work with some of the smartest and most creative people in the design and visualization industry. This is not a suck up, it is absolutely true. My success is directly related to those that design, develop, test Autodesk software as well as the awesome customers that design amazing things using our software.
• 2008 was the 10th year anniversary of me working for Autodesk and since I left a mechanical design seat out there in the design world. I received my gold badge.
• Received the top hit count and visitors of any Autodesk blog, and many Autodesk web sites. This blog celebrated 5 years and had 312 posts this year and millions of readers by both web and RSS. Thank You!
• Got the additional Autodesk title of Platform Technology Evangelist which is a fancy title for a geek.
• There are so many design related blogs and the number of Autodesk product blogs continues to climb.
• My oldest son started college.

Lows of the year:

• In November I had a blast, literally when my gas fireplace malfunctioned and blew up with me in front of it.
• Rough personal start to 2008 but after many trips hiking in the deserts of Arizona and Utah got things all worked out. The desert and hiking is one of the most therapeutic environments to get a clear head and to think.
• I still have many photos to process and publish.

As I spend the remaining few days of 2008 on holiday, I am spending that priceless time relaxing with my family as well as some fun with the kids sledding on the large amount of snow we received here in Northern Utah.

  

Have a very happy and safe New Years,
Shaan

Autodesk University in Photos

In the Flickr AU 2008 photo pool there are now 383 photos. It could grow even more as people add their photos from AU to the pool. Flickr is free unless you want the Pro membership. So share your AU 2008 photos with others by adding yours to Flickr and the AU2008 Photo pool.

Cheers,
Shaan

See Wayne Newton at Autodesk University 2008

OK not exactly see Wayne Newton aka Mr. Las Vegas, but just perhaps one more reason to attend Autodesk University 2008 granted it would be pretty low on the top 1000 reasons. When flying into Las Vegas on approach to land when you are really close to touching down, you may pass over a large house and horse stables, this is Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton’s house. I am not sure why he has located it at the end of a runway as I would imagine he could afford a more quiet location.

Here is a photo of Wayne's place when I was landing in Las Vegas this September.

I had the please of also flying over Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and was able to see the new Colorado River Bridge under construction. I hope to get a chance to see the bridge while attending Autodesk University next week.
 

Hope to see you at AU! I will arrive Sunday and am driving there as I am just North in Utah.

Cheers,
Shaan

Photos from Autodesk University 2008

Just a quick blog post on where you will be able to find some photos from Autodesk University 2008 as well as the unofficial AU Shutterbug Tour. This will sever as a place to see AU2008 through the eyes of others as well as something for those unable to attend to see what is going on.

I have created a public Flickr group for AU2008 (http://www.flickr.com/groups/au2008/) just like the public group for AU 2007 last year.

Anyone is welcome to add AU2008 photos to the Flickr group as long as they are AU 2008 related and G rated only. You can get a free Flickr account if you wish to share photos with others or even keep them private if you prefer. It is even better if you can geotag your photos with their locations which Flickr allows you to do or if you have a GPS software to do this.

My own AU 2008 photo collection will be located at:

Autodesk University 2008

Autodesk University 2008 Shutterbug Tour

I am pretty sure there will be a location on AU Online as well to share photos. Photos from AU2008 should begin to appear Saturday or Sunday.

I hope to see you at AU next week!
Shaan

Konnichiwa, I am in Yokohama Japan Now

The second day of Autodesk University China 08 was excellent and my two presentations went well even though my computer was giving me a fit, and I had to follow a top notch presenter like Lynn Allen. The event was very well attended and organized.

I spent the following afternoon with Lynn Allen, Joseph Wurcher, Ray Eisenberg and Matt Olding and we hit the Autodesk Sponsored DigitalStone exhibition and and the Yuyuan gardens from the Ming dynasty.

 

 

Yesterday I road to the Shanghai airport with Jay Tedeschi on the worlds fastest train the Maglev at 422kph but the ride was only 7 minutes long. The Shanghai Airport was an architectural gem and I posted some photos on my Flickr Photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/btl/.

  
   

I am in Yokohama Japan for Autodesk University Japan 08. I have so much more to write about but must get out and explore Yokohama Japan before it rains. Things to visit on my list today is the famous Yokohama Ferry Terminal that appeared on an Autodesk box and splash image then to Sankeien Gardens for some hiking and fall leaves photos. Where I am staying in Yokohama is a sensory overload with all the lights and the amusement park below at night. There is a huge Ferris wheel that acts like a clock.

Cheers,
Shaan

What a day in Southern Turkey with Friends

I spent the day hiking and shooting over 1000 photos in the Southern Turkey region of Cappadocia. I would venture to guess the day was over 3000 vertical feet if totaled. It was amazing I found I am hooked on a natural snack named dut which is a flower of a tree, and I can’t get enough now. I even stopped at a local nut and fruit roaster and got some as well as some roasted apricot pits which taste like almonds.

One of the highlights beyond the natural geological beauty and historical sites and fresco paintings in Gereme open air museum, Zelve and Cappadocia was the unbelievable hospitality of Turkish people of all cultures.Today after hiking we returned via a rural road in a valley and noticed some local village farmers with one woman up in a tree shaking it to knock down apples on a handmade woven blanket and another assisting. They saw us asked where I was from and then proceeded to give us the best apples I have very tasted ever and each a large bunch of fresh picked grapes which were amazing. Simply amazing and had me shocked at the friendliness.

I have had so many ask where I was from and go out of their way to make me feel welcome. I did not think I would get out of the stone seed roasting store tonight once they realized I was an American as they kept giving me free samples of all the many Turkish treats. The treats, snacks, food, and people are top notch!  The culture can be a shock at first, but the Turkish people make you feel so very welcome. If you are at all concerned on safety, there are many police and military around to prevent any type of problems and it is a safe moderate place.

Turkey is one place that one does not have to worry about politics affecting local peoples hospitality and friendliness, I did not have to fib and say I was Canadian ay. ;-)

Wait till I start posting more of the spectacular places off the beaten tourist paths and my last nights scorpions catching and photos. I fell pretty good once and my shoulder is not feeling so good but it is all worth it. Also how many know and love Autodesk products here but not necessarily the price. I did however manage to accidently format one CF card with a half days photos and am now trying to recover them…

I have one more day in Southern Turkey then head back on the 10 hour drive to Istanbul then off to hot and sunny Kuwait.

Autodesk University Shutterbug Tour 2008

If you are attending Autodesk University in Las Vegas Nevada December 2 - 5, 2008 and love to take photos then this might be for you. You will need to bring your sense of adventure, camera, coat, and fun attitude. I posted about this event and possible locations back in July Autodesk University 2008 Shutterbug Tour Planning. If you wish to participate make sure to sign up on the link below so we can plan dates and times as well as consider how many vehicles there will be so we can set up some ride sharing, The longest photo treks will be on the Sunday proceeding AU (12/1) and the Saturday following (12/6), We will be doing sunrise and sunset photos treks during the week.

This is an ideal chance to escape the casino and get some fresh air, see great scenery and take photos, as well as make new friends. Places we will visit are Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon and a few other local gems perhaps even the famous Las Vegas Neon Sign Graveyard where those flashing Las Vegas signs go when they retire.

AU Shutterbug Tour Sign-Up

Thanks to Sean Twomey from Australia for reminding me to post information about the Shutterbug Tour, Sean is a Autodesk Civil 3D master with an Irish accent and a blog http://www.edgeofwedge.com/. He will also be attending the Autodesk University Blogger Social.

When AU starts you will be able to follow the photos as they are posted.

• Autodesk University 2008 Flickr photo set
• Autodesk University 2008 Shutterbug Event Flickr photo set
• Facebook Group Autodesk University 2008 Shutterbug Event

Photos From Last Years Autodesk University

Photos from AU 2007 Valley of Fire & Red Rock Canyon trip.

 

Cheers,
Shaan

Planned Presentation Visits to Turkey, Kuwait and Dubai

I will be in Turkey, Kuwait, and Dubai in just about two weeks for user group presentations and customer discussions.

• Istanbul Turkey October 16-22 Two events planned. One held at the local University Link.  I will be in Cappadocia Turkey on the weekend with my friends from the Daily AutoCAD blog Erhan and Orhan Toker.
• Kuwait City Kuwait October 22-26  FOCUS Kuwait Users Group Event on the 24th of October
• Dubai UAE October 26

I am truly excited about the events and locations and honored to have been invited. I hope to meet many people using Autodesk products while there. I am also excited to see the geography and architecture and will post photos from the events and local photo trekking,

In keeping with my invitations to chat while traveling, If you are an AutoCAD user and interested in a private discussion about AutoCAD with your team at your office or over a cup of coffee, please send me an email.

When I return I only have a few days rest before heading to Shanghai China for Autodesk University China 08 and then Yokohama Japan (AUJ) for Autodesk University Japan 08. It is like a world tour in a month all before AU 2008 in Las Vegas.

While sitting on plane is not my idea of fun, the reward is meeting our customers around the world and talking with them.

 

 

 

Cheers,
Shaan

Autodesk Gallery at One Market Opens in San Francisco

 

There is now an official press release.

Autodesk Gallery at One Market Opens in San Francisco, Showcasing Design Process

For images and more information about the Autodesk Gallery, visit http://www.autodesk.com/thegallery.

The Autodesk Gallery at One Market

Now I can show the photos I took and discuss the Autodesk Gallery from my perspective. I also heard it called the Autodesk Design Gallery and I liked that name better as it highlights Design which I got a sense of while there.

 

I was at the One Market office and now including a new Autodesk Gallery located along the Embarcadero looking directly at the historic landmark San Francisco Ferry Terminal with stellar head on view. We have many of our offices and teams located in the same One Market building. I was there for a customer design validation event looking at the future of AutoCAD and getting the customer feedback with the AutoCAD Product Design Team that was held in the new Autodesk Gallery in the most high tech training room I have ever seen. We had high tech walls and even 4 high definition projectors.  The view looking out the front windows is priceless and beautiful. You can see down the waterfront, the Ferry Terminal, and the Bay Bridge all from the location of the Design Gallery. The Gallery has also been has been submitted for a LEED Platinum CI certification. I even bumped into Autodesk CEO Carl Bass while there but he was quite busy getting ready for the grand opening of the Gallery.

Design has never played a more important role in turning change into opportunity. Everyday, Autodesk customers are recreating the world around us and how we experience it – new and innovative processes to things never before seen. This gallery showcases some of that daring work and illustrates the ways an idea can become real.

The Design Gallery showcases many great products and projects from architecture, auto design, to the large Bay Bridge new span. Immediately as you step off the elevator you are presented with a large airplane turbo prop engine. The architecture of the space is modern yet relaxed like that of a gallery. Each area has information and nice pullout information drawer panels to see more about the projects. It was excellent to see that we have taken the high road and list all design software used in the projects not just Autodesk. Most anyone realizes that when a claim that a large product or project was done completely in one design software is stretching real world reality.

Jason Medal-Katz was the circus leader to put this all together and he did a fantastic job. Some of the products and Projects A large LEGO sculpture (62,000), The Bay Bridge Model including models of the rebar and tension cable which combine many smaller cables, a Ford Shelby GT 500 yes a car on the second floor instead of on the road. I tried to sneak the GT 500 down the elevator but it was too heavy and would not fit. I even got to use the One Laptop per Child laptop. There was also a model Chrysler Super Bee Concept Car in the Gallery.

Here is the complete list of items represented in the Gallery:

• Ford Motor Company – Shelby GT500
• The LEGO Group – LEGOLAND Mega Model
• Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Arup, Stantec Architecture, SWA – California Academy of Sciences
• FIRST Robotics – FIRST Robotics Competition
• 42 Surfboards – Hollow-Body Surfboard
• Yves Behar/fuseproject – One Laptop per Child
• Virtual Cinematography – Intersense and Autodesk
• California Department of Transportation; Bay Area Toll Authority; California Transportation Commission; Parsons Brinckerhoff; T. Y. Lin/Moffat & Nichol A Joint Venture – Bay Bridge Seismic Safety Project
• Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP – Cathedral of Christ the Light
• The Permasteelisa Group – Double Skin Facades
• ADEPT Airmotive – Airplane Engine
• Black Diamond – Cobra Ice Axe
• Herman Miller – the Mirra Chair
• Chrysler – Super Bee Concept Car
• SHoP Architects – 290 Mulberry
• Vandenberg Air Force Base/Digital Globe – WorldView1 Satellite Launch
• Bruce Beasley – GS022 (Sculpture)
• Robert Michael Smith – Paradise Bird Burlesque (Sculpture)
• Keith Kottingham – 3D print artist
• Jason Salavon – Print artist, US Census Bureau data
• Spark Design Awards – Various
• Technology lab includes: FARO 3D scanning equipment; Dimension Printing 3D printer; Perceptive Pixel multi-touch wall; Augmented Reality display

There is technology everywhere from the high definition visual displays on walls to the audio all run by high tech computer system behind the scenes that allows full control of the video and audio to the different sections of the Gallery. Some of the walls are high tech as well and fold up up into themselves changing the spaces.

I was in awe of the Gallery and I had only one minor complaint. As a photographer/shutterbug traveling without a tripod or external lamps with me, the lighting was difficult to take photos in due to the bright sunlight coming in from the big windows and the dimly lit interior to best show the exhibits on display. I said minor as most are interested in the exhibits themselves, not the white balance of the location required to take a photo without a tripod. :-)

The Autodesk Gallery will be open starting October 1, 2008, the first Wednesday of each month from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. to the public. If you are in San Francisco down by the waterfront, stop on in.

More of my photos of the Autodesk Gallery are located on my Flickr Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/btl/ or Autodesk Gallery tagged photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/btl/tags/autodeskgallery/

Cheers,
Shaan