Google's Advanced Technology and Projects team is developing a new interaction sensor using radar technology. The sensor can track sub-millimeter motions at high speed and accuracy, allowing to recognize subtle hand gestures. It fits onto a chip that can be built into small devices and everyday objects, allowing for high precision interactions without the need for touchscreens. Watch a video on YouTube.

NPower Software announced the release of a new reverse engineering add-on for SolidWorks 3D that significantly improves the process for reverse engineering scanned meshes, other mesh data and SolidWorks geometry within SolidWorks. It allows to convert scanned meshes or those that have been created with subdivision surfaces into “standard” SolidWorks NURBS geometry and brings mesh cleanup and preparation tools to simplify the process. (more...)

AWN published an article in which they discuss the vfx completed by Scanline for the feature film, Big Game. You can read the full article on the AWN website.

Impressive CG work by Polish artist Piotr Adamczyk in this short about Liczyrzepa, a mountain spirit from the Karkonosze Mountains. Created with 3DS Max + V-Ray / Octane, Cinema4D + Octane, ZBrush, Mudbox, Phoenix FD, Hair Farm, SpeedTree, OnyxTree and After Effects. Watch the short film and compositing breakdown on Vimeo.

Researchers from the Laboratory for Animate Technologies at the University of Auckland (New Zealand) are developing multidisciplinary technologies to create interactive, autonomously animated agents. Their 3D characters are built on 'live' computational models of the face and brain that combine bioengineering, computational and theoretical neuroscience, artificial intelligence and interactive CG research. (more...)

Ten24 are previewing some of the new features being implemented into their upcoming 3D-scanned anatomy reference application for artists, including detailed scans of hands and the ability to slice the models to reveal the cross section at any particular point. More on Anatomy360's dev blog.

RealtimeUK has worked together with Impossible Factual and Saloon Media on a six part documentary series called Mummies Alive. RealtimeUK created a number of different characters using 3DS Max, V-Ray, Hair Farm, Krakatoa, RayFire, Particle Flow, FumeFX and Houdini. UK-based Ten24 helped with the process of scanning real faces and delivering character meshes and texture information to be edited in-house. Watch the reel and find out more on RealtimeUK's website.

Jordan-based SimLab has released the latest version of its software for transferring 3D models between CAD-related applications, scene assembly, rendering and interactive 3D PDF creation. New features include: texture baking tools, exhibition mode for presenting your 3D scenes, interactive simulations, support for more joint types in simulations, simplified sharing of content with other users of Composer, billboards, etc. More on Simlab Soft's website.