10 Daily Things

Google Earth has hooked up with the University of Virginia to produce a 3D rendition of Rome in the year 320AD featuring 250 “highly detailed” and 5000+ other buildings.

The modelling is, the Google Earth Blog notes, based on a physical model of the city dubbed the “Plastico di Roma Antica” created between 1933 and 1974. As well as exteriors, the virtual city displays 11 buildings with viewable interiors, including the Colosseum and the temple of Vesta.

To get the best from your Roman tour, Google also recommends you turn off the “3D Buildings” layer, after which should should be able to glide gracefully around the city.

Download Google Earth >>>

[VIA]

The 3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator for Notebooks is one of a kind input device that lets you take control of the Z axis as well the usual X and Y.

Basically, you can push knob down, twist it, pull up and even tilt it, giving you the greatest control in 3D environments. And you don’t have to worry about the device favoring only the right-handed majority since USB controller is as ambidextrous as it gets. This is immensely useful in Google Earth, AutoCAD, Adobe PhotoShop, Maya and now Second Life.

[Read the rest of this entry...]

BumpTop is a fresh and engaging new way to interact with your computer desktop. You can pile and toss documents like on a real desk. Break free from the rigid and mechanical style of standard point-and-click desktops. Interact by pushing, pulling and piling documents with elegant, self revealing gestures. BumpTop’s stunning interface makes clever use of 3D presentation and smooth physics-based animations for an engaging, vivid user experience.

BumpTop is not publicly available just yet, because it is in private beta at the moment, but you can sign up for the mailing list to be the first to try it.

[BumpTop]

This incredible 3D medical animation shows a time lapse view of labor and delivery.