GSTC Toolbox/Digital and physical design

Solid Models

A computer-generated representation can be of great assistance for those wishing to communicate to a fabrication partner. By creating a solid model, a graphical representation is generated which can be used for further development and assists in visually describing the desired resultant product. Downstream from the 3D model, fabricators can utilize these models in creating tooling using advanced manufacturing techniques (3D printing, CNC machining, etc).

Materials

Nothing is a perfect substitute for the actual, but you can get close. Materials that can mimic different types of tissue can be found below along with information on how to manufacture (i.e. mold to create a 3D representation) .

360-Degree Photography and Video

360-Degree photos and videos allow the viewer to interactively change the viewing orientation (but not the camera location) while they watch. Such photos and videos require special hardware to capture the scene. Playback can be on either regular displays (e.g, platforms such as Youtube and Vimeo support 360 video in their desktop and mobile players) or immersive displays such as VR headsets. 360-degree photography and video captures real scenes. To work with virtual scenes, see the following sections on augmented and virtual reality.

• A guide to 360 degree photography -basic principles of 3D space
• 360-degree video creation hardware and software explained

Augmented Reality (AR)

Sometimes creating something in physical life can be challenging, while a picture or an overlay to the physical world can help explain or give a better interpretation. For example, a complex motion (a twist and rotate while pivoting) can be shown with an augmented reality overlay with directional arrows showing the force necessary, timing or each motion, and direction all in 1 quick pictorial.

The most widely accessible type of augmented reality (AR) is video-see-through AR, in which a user views a 3D scene through their smartphone or tablet screen, which simultaneously shows a live video feed of the real scene captured by the forward-facing camera. Virtual content is then anchored to positions in the real world shown via video on screen. Creating a video-see-through AR experience requires first having appropriate 3D models [see section on Solid Modeling], and then authoring an AR scene that uses these models.

Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual Reality involves creating simulated, synthetic scenes containing 3D models that are animated or otherwise interactive. In many VR scenes, simulated objects will also have simulated behaviors, e.g. through the use of physics simulation.  Users interact with virtual reality scenes through hardware such as virtual reality headsets (also known as head-mounted displays - HMDs) and controllers. For the source of 3D models, see the section [Solid modeling].