Visualizing the Biological

There’s a Ted talk that describes the UC Santa Barbara based AlloSphere, an impressively immersive space for viewing scientific data.  This 3 story sphere can hold about 20 researchers, all standing on a bridge running through the middle of this structure. It is connected to a super computer, and projects many data types, including visual sound mapping.

As one commentor put, X-men?

Some nice pieces of imagery are shown, but I’m curious what exactly they’re showing (and not showing) in the brain project.  The cortex is displayed as an abstract cavernous space, but nature abhors a vacuum.  The video said it was based on fMRI data, but is the positive space showing specific cell types, water density, etc?  Or is it largely sound mapping?  Maybe we’re getting a bat’s eye view of these structures.

Here’s a follow up interview from this speedy presentation: http://blog.ted.com/2009/04/allosphere_interview.php

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There’s a wonderful short film by Bruce Branit that has recently been posted online. It does a good job in showing both what can tastefully be done with CGI effects now, and in showing what may be the future of design software.  On a more medically related note, it also touches on what may come of therapy.

Branit’s company website: branit|vfx

World Builder from Bruce Branit on Vimeo.

via Lines and Colors

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