Lipsyncing with Papagayo
Posted by John Einselen – December 7, 2009Using freely available tools, lipsyncing a character in Adobe After Effects doesn’t have to be a pain. Papagayo is an open source app for breaking a script down into phonemes and syncing the pieces to an audio track, while LipSync is an OS X dashboard widget that helps translate the resulting moho switch files into After Effects keyframes.
The workflow was developed at Vectorform as part of the production pipeline for Microsoft’s PowerPivot online advertising campaign (to see how the torn effects were created, check out Dynamic Paper Cutouts).
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Sliverlight 3 Launch
Posted by Lindsay Lamb – September 29, 2009
News from VF Hyderabad…This summer the Microsoft Developer and Platform Evangelism (DPE) team invited Vectorform to take part in a Silverlight 3 Launch held at the Microsoft facility in Bangalore, India. Kicking it off with a Press Release, MS introduced Silverlight 3, followed by a technical demonstration and finally, a brief of the Nano and IPL projects Vectorform worked on.
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“Extra” Praise for a Job Well Done
Posted by Vectorform – August 30, 2009America’s top celebrity news and gossip show just got a little juicier. Vectorform recently collaborated with ExtraTV to develop a unique application for the Microsoft Surface. A simple and fun interface was created to show host Mario Lopez how to interact with videos and images using multi-touch gestures and a natural user interface. The application supports telestration- in case Mario wants to draw a fake moustache on Paris Hilton! Celebrity content can be sent to the Surface via remote access for on-the-fly updates. Best of all, Vectorform’s one and only Alison Weber had the opportunity to sit down with Mario Lopez and show him how to use the application. Mario was a joy to work with and a very quick learner on the new technology. As a result of our efforts, ExtraTV has extended its glowing praise on a job well done to Vectorform.
Visit ExtraTV Online and Learn More
Vectorform on Microsoft’s Silverlight Website
Posted by Administrator – August 4, 2009Vectorform was pleasantly surprised to discover that its Silverlight project for the new Tata Motors’ Nano is currently featured on Microsoft’s Silverlight website! The profile even features a video of Vectorform’s Hyderabad President explaining the concept of the custom made application. Vectorform was presented with the task of providing customers the opportunity to create their own Nano vehicle in 450 dealerships across India, as well as on the web, as an alternative to having the car physically present. Vectorform is honored that Microsoft decided to share the project with the world!
Learn more about the Tata Nano Experience here.
The Cell Explorer
Posted by Administrator – July 20, 2009
Microsoft asked Vectorform to build a solution for the School of the Future, a collaboration between Microsoft and The School District of Philadelphia, in which technology is infused into the entirety of curriculum at a high school, serving as an example for learning communities around the world. The purpose of this project was to allow stakeholders to understand the opportunities and benefits provided by Microsoft Surface. The application needed to highlight the cellular process called protein synthesis, while providing students with an informative and immersive view into the components of animal and plant cells. The solution has already received high praise from demonstrations given at this year’s National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), which was held in Washington DC.
Vectorform designed and developed a solution that focused on two components: A Cell Explorer, which allows students to browse through a Cell SVE. Users have the ability to manipulate the components of the cell, and explore more detailed information to allow granular information to be reviewed. The Protein Synthesis Lab allows students to manipulate the specific objects involved in the protein synthesis process at a high level. While strategizing the specific order of tRNA molecules that need to be inserted into the ribosome factory to satisfy the requirements of the protein being synthesized, users are presented with the creation of a polypeptide chain, which eventually turns into protein.
Vectorform hearts Fast Company
Posted by Administrator – May 14, 2009Fast Company gets circulated around Vectorform every month, so we are thrilled that one-and-a-half of our apps were featured in Chris Dannen’s 11 Killer Apps for Microsoft Surface. The article provides information and videos for 11 applications created for the Microsoft Surface.
Our MSNBC Election Experience, created for political analyst Chuck Todd and NBC Universal, made the list, and we got some indirect coverage for a demo application created in partnership with FD Kenisis for Coldwell Banker. FD Kenisis, Coldwell Banker’s Agency of Record created a concept and UX for Coldwell Banker’s Home Search Application. We developed the application incorporating Live Maps and Coldwell Banker’s Existing web services.
We’ve got our fingers crossed that the BMW Product Navigator and SurfaceDJ round the list out to a lucky 13!
The Power of eGovernment, at Your Fingertips
Posted by Administrator – March 17, 2009The German state of Hessen teamed up with Microsoft and Vectorform to debut a first-generation eGoverment application for the Microsoft Surface. The multi-touch experience enables citizens of Hessen to interact with the latest information on politics, education and the environment. Attendants at CeBIT were the first to see what multi-touch technologies can do for eGovernment.
National Retail Federation “The Big Show 2009″
Posted by Vectorform – January 13, 2009People were out at the NRF this year and Vectorform’s retail multi-touch applications were well recieved. The NRF, in partnership with Hybridia Design, produced a conceptual music store called the Sonic Bar, which showcased how technology can be immersed in the customer experience. Vectorform was invited to contribute to the experience by creating a couple of POC’s based on a retail music store using the Surface and WinTouch platforms.
Once again, multi-touch was a big hit. The audience was very global and really excited by the technology, our applications and the possibilites, which are seemingly endless. Other features in the Sonic Bar customer experience were the Xbox 360, touch kiosks, promotional scanning systems, Microsoft Snag it tagging system, a DJ booth and an experiential marketing video wall presentation featuring a full audio and lighting rig. Another really cool thing to point out was the Wayfinding kiosks around the convention that used Win7 and touch technology to help guest find vendors by company or offering and then printed out a little map for you to take with you, along with the contact information for that company. While it was very kiosk-like, it offered a nicer interface and an overall better user expeirence.
As we wrap up here, I’ll be headed back to Detroit and will be sure to keep you posted on the events happeining at the NAIAS 2009. Vectorform, automobiles, multi-touch, iPhone, Surface…innovation. I can’t wait!
CES 2009
Posted by Vectorform – January 10, 2009First off: Wow!
Vectorform has had a blast at CES. Our NBC Universal apps and the managed experience has been a huge hit. The NBC reps handed out 2GB SD disc jump drives in a Surface tagged package that were coded so that as people set down their package, they either received a notice saying “Winner” and received really cool novelties like a toaster powered by USB, or another message to visit the wall of media to download content to their new jumps. People were fanatic about it and NBC ran out of jump drives at the middle of day two. Mobbed! So, today people are slowing down to take the time to interact with the Surface and discover the content, which is really the magic of it.
Now I’m taking a little break here to blog from the NBC blogger lounge, appreciate the gratuity of the NBC folks over the past few days as well as throughout our projects with them and to view the crowds’ continued interest in the Surface. People are really taking the time to engage with NBC’s content, likely spending more time with it then they may have in the past and having a better experience overall. Adding a whole new dimension to what media can do to people by adding the sense of touch to sight, audio and emotional connections. Its just the beginning of something really big in the Multi-touch realm. As we wrap up here, things seem to be a little more quite today. We are continuing to meet some fascinating people and see interesting technologies.
Me? I’m getting geared up for what lays in wait for us at the NRF…not necessarily geared up for the red-eye that I’m catching tonight. More from New York tomorrow!
As seen in the New York Times
Posted by Vectorform – December 3, 2008Sifting through some of the new press Vectorform has received post-BMW Configuration release, and was surprised by a write-up in the New York Times. The article is an oldie but goodie, referencing last month’s highlights, including: the Vect-O’Lantern, NBC, and SNL’s MegaPixel Touch Map.
Check it out:
Microsoft Surface in the wild