Unlimited Detail: Difference between revisions
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'''Unlimited Detail''' is a [[3D computer graphics]] [[point cloud]] [[rendering system]] being developed by [[Euclideon]] who claim that it works by determining which direction the camera is facing and then searching the [[point cloud]] to find only the points required to be displayed on the screen with unneeded points not being touched.<ref>Jon Peddie's Tech Watch, March 19, 2010, Volume 10, No. 6</ref> This technology has received much criticism from various sources, including the developer of [[Minecraft]], [[Markus |
'''Unlimited Detail''' is a [[3D computer graphics]] [[point cloud]] [[rendering system]] being developed by [[Euclideon]] who claim that it works by determining which direction the camera is facing and then searching the [[point cloud]] to find only the points required to be displayed on the screen with unneeded points not being touched.<ref>Jon Peddie's Tech Watch, March 19, 2010, Volume 10, No. 6</ref> This technology has received much criticism from various sources, including the developer of [[Minecraft]], [[Markus Persson]].<ref>http://notch.tumblr.com/post/8386977075/its-a-scam</ref> |
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==Technology== |
==Technology== |
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Revision as of 08:21, 3 August 2011
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Unlimited Detail is a 3D computer graphics point cloud rendering system being developed by Euclideon who claim that it works by determining which direction the camera is facing and then searching the point cloud to find only the points required to be displayed on the screen with unneeded points not being touched.[1] This technology has received much criticism from various sources, including the developer of Minecraft, Markus Persson.[2]
Technology
Unlimited Detail is a point cloud rendering system, which means that it stores large amounts of point data, compresses it, and uses an algorithm to take in the position of the camera and search for the points that should appear on screen. For example, if the screen size is 1024x768, then the algorithm will only display the points that should appear on screen, one for each pixel. In order to work out things like distance to the camera, the system also employs a method called Mass Connected Processing. Mass Connected Processing processes large chunks of data at once, then applys small changes at the end.
Criticism
Over the past few years Euclideon (originally Unlimited Detail) has been criticized by industry professionals regarding possibly unrealistic claims about the abilities of the technology being developed. Typically general acclaim pushes the popularity of a current release into an arena popular enough to attract the attention of industry professionals willing offer their (usually highly critical) opinions on the technology.
In general, the main criticisms are that: 1) Animation would be wildly impractical, usually as an answer in response to people noting that videos of animation with the technology are not available. One counter to this is that the technology could be used for static objects, with polygons being used for anything to be animated. The second, by Euclideon, is that animations do exist and will be practical, but that the technology is still a work-in-progress, and they'll be better able and more willing to demonstrate animations after further work has been done.
2) The amount of space required for the technology is wildly impractical as well. One of the most recent critics of Unlimited Detail has been Markus 'Notch' Persson, who posted and entry on his blog on August 2, 2011, entitled "It's a Scam". His post included calculations which Persson used to support his criticisms of the technology; however, his calculations have been challenged as not entirely sound.
However, in an interview with the website Kotaku[3], CEO Bruce Dell reports that the Unlimited Detail technology is not a scam, and that the Austrailian Government has invested 2 million dollars into Euclideon's technology.
References
- ^ Jon Peddie's Tech Watch, March 19, 2010, Volume 10, No. 6
- ^ http://notch.tumblr.com/post/8386977075/its-a-scam
- ^ http://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/08/infinite-detail-and-euclideon-the-elephants-in-the-room/
