There’s been quite some hype about an upcoming movie (release date for Singapore should be 17 December) called Avatar. Unfortunately it isn’t the plot or the usual elements that people are raving about. It is the technology being employed behind the film. Supposedly, it’s more 3D than the current 3D films we’ve been seeing. The director himself, James Cameron, help to create a “fusion digital 3D camera system” which he patented some time ago and refined it for this film. From all the articles about it I’ve been reading, this film is supposed to be a breakthrough in 3D film technology, something that will bring the experience to a new level and spearhead film industry’s 3D direction even further being the first of it’s kind to be released.

Breakthrough or not, I’ll be watching this film more for the story than for the technology. Here’s a trailer of it.

The matte paintings look so good *envies* There’s also a game for it by Ubisoft by the same name as the movie. Too bad the game isn’t my type of genre or I may try playing it. Still, the environment and concept designs are impressive. It does look like an alien planet so rich in life and vibrancy. In fact, the game trailers look more interesting to me than the movie’s.

Can’t wait for 17 December to come.

Came across this video about a dog that risked it’s life to save another dog that was injured on the highway. This was caught on Chile’s highway surveillance cameras. Wonder if the injured on did survive in the end. It looked like it left “stuff” behind on the road when the heroic dog drag the injured one away. :’(

I got this link from a mailing list about an interesting concept. Basically it’s an experiment about putting something vulnerable and insignificant like a small robot with it’s final destination tagged on it and determine people’s response. Do they ignore it? Or interfere? The experiment takes place in New York, one of the well known busiest cities.

The results were surprising in that every tweenbot eventually got to their destination unharmed with random people’s help. Some just pointing the tweenbot to the right direction, some “saving” it from danger when it got stuck or was heading towards dangerous places like roads.

Read more about “tweenbots” here.

Found this pretty cool toy on deviantart called Line Rider

Please click “Play”. Don’t come back to me saying you “saw the fancy text” -__-”

There’s an updated and better version but requires you to install Microsoft Silverlight first.

At this moment, the video below is the highest rated one on youtube. There are many others that look better to me though. Some have colour and some have even more interesting tracks.